Pregnancy Diet Don'ts

The main rule of healthy eating during pregnancy is having a balanced diet. This means your diet should include plenty of fruits and vegetables, protein, grains and lots of hydrating fluids.

But what are foods you should try to avoid during pregnancy? Though there are a couple of things that are genuinely dangerous for your pregnancy, there are few absolute rules. This means that if you happened to eat something on this list last week, don't worry. Your baby will be fine. Just adjust your diet so you can avoid these things in the future.

I'm giving you the nitty gritty details here. But don't let this detailed list of foods to avoid scare you. It all boils down to one thing: Good food is good for you.

It's not news to you that some of the foods you crave during pregnancy are not all that good for you. They just give you empty calories (and extra pounds) without the nutritional benefits of healthier foods. I know, some nacho chips or a caramel candy bar here and there can be impossible to resist, but my advice is to curb your cravings: Try an apple instead of a doughnut.

These two substances can turn up in unexpected places, like a liqueur-filled truffle or coffee ice cream. And be aware that chocolate is also high in caffeine, so watch that sweet tooth. Caffeine and alcohol actually prevent absorption of folic acid and iron – two essential nutrients during pregnancy – and pull calcium out of your bones, not to mention that they also directly affect the fetus and can have long-term developmental effects.

Believe it or not, the average American diet is 37 percent fat. A healthy diet should be around 20 percent fat, even during pregnancy. To tell you the truth, you only need 5 percent fat in your diet to stay healthy. Believe me, you don't have to worry about not getting enough fat either. Practically all foods have some fat. Fruits have 3 to 14 percent fat, grains have 3 to 10 percent fat, and even veggies have 1 to 10 percent fat. So you can't avoid it. The good news is that your body does need some fat, and even a little cholesterol is important for your baby's development.

Many foods we enjoy are full of preservatives, flavor enhancers, colorings and even hormones and antibiotics. Surprised? Food additives help foods look and taste better – sometimes – and last longer on the shelf. Organic foods and produce have the fewest chemical residues and additives and often taste much better, too.

Most additives are safe during pregnancy. After all, the majority of women don't change their diets much during pregnancy and still have perfectly healthy babies. However, there are a few additives that you should watch out for. Read labels more carefully during pregnancy.

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