Thanksgiving is a time when eating with family is such a joy to do. But as a pregnant mom, you should remember that not all foods are good for you and your baby. To help you enjoy the holiday and lessen your worries about the sumptuous offerings on the table, here are some rules to remember:
Avoid Raw or Undercooked Food
The Bump advised against gobbling up on any raw or undercooked food. This includes sushi, steak tartare, and raw oysters. Babble also cautioned against undercooked turkey, which can be a source for salmonella.
If you happen to prepare the food yourself, be careful to have them all cooked thoroughly. As for the turkey, take extra care not to let any fluid touch your eyes, mouth or open wounds.
The USDA Food Safety Service advised that turkey be cooked at temperatures not lower than 165 degrees. Should you have any worries about the bird still coming out undercooked, heating it up to 180 degrees will do the trick.
Avoid Unpasteurized Soft Cheeses
Baby Center recommended against eating unpasteurized soft cheeses like blue cheese, Brie, Camembert, Feta, Roquefort and goat cheese. Unpasteurized cheeses, as well as milk, might contain listeria, which is eliminated during the pasteurization process.
The FDA advised checking any labels from cheese packaging and containers. If it is impossible to read the labels, it would be best to just stay away from the dairy treats altogether.
Avoid Alcohol
PopSugar said this one is obvious. Alcohol is a no-no to any pregnant woman. Should you long for that goblet of wine or that cold bottle of beer, remember that alcohol can cause birth defects to your baby.
Baby Center added that alcohol-soaked fruitcake and other desserts will still have some alcohol left even after cooking, so it would be best to steer away from such foods as well.
Lower Your Caffeine Intake
Currently there are conflicting views regarding any possible negative effects that caffeine has on pregnancy. However, it would be best to stay on the safe side, according to Rachel Meltzer Warren, MS, RDN, of RMW Nutrition in New York.
“I recommend keeping it to no more than 200 mg of caffeine per day, around the amount in one 12-ounce coffee,” Meltzer Warren said. She also advised taking note of other possible caffeine sources such as chocolate and tea.
Cut Back on Sweets
Sugar should always be taken in moderation, and even for thanksgiving, the rule doesn't change at all.
Meltzer Warren added choosing real sugar over artificial sweeteners, although the latter has been approved by the FDA as “safe for pregnant women.”
Have a happy Thanksgiving!
