Ugh these food rules are so complicated.

ashleyrsotomayor · December 2010

Is it just me or have they gone crazy with the list of foods you shouldn't eat during pregnancy? I am trying really hard to eat healthy but it is so hard with the food aversions I have been having. I used to hate deli sandwiches, but of course now I am craving them. Last week I had some turkey and cheese sandwiches for lunch that I heated in the toaster oven, but tonight when we went to the grocery store I was craving bologna (gross I know). I bought a pack of the 98% fat free chicken/beef bologna (thinking it would at least be a little healthier) and then when I got home I felt too guilty to eat any because I just feel like I am feeding the baby nitrates and junk. Even heated up, I still feel like it was a bad purchase. Everything I eat makes me feel guilty if it's not healthy, and I am constantly worried about accidentally eating something I shouldn't.

x0stephanie · December 2010

Honestly.... I dont follow the food rules. I want a turkey sub from subway, I get one :P. If I feel like an Iced cappuccino I'm having one of those too. (apparently 300mg caffeine/day is okay. My midwife would have told me if I *really* needed to avoid certain foods. She hasnt mentioned food at all.

camdenfaithful · December 2010

I haven't had any problems yet but it does seem like the list of foods gets longer and longer every year.

I'm a vegetarian so I won't have too much problem with deli meat; my big thing is cheeses.

alliejoe · December 2010

I am part of a group called Centering Pregnancy for my prenatal care and my MW leads it, but there is an OB who is part of the group so I feel like I get the "crunchy" and "medical" view of things... ANYWAY, the food thing was part of our discussion topics last week and the general consensus on lunch meat (from the MW and the OB) was that some lunch meat is fine. You should try to find nitrate free/no nitrate added and it should be from a trusted source (their example was going to the deli counter, getting a 1/4 lb. of lunch meat and eating it over 1-3 days). They said the listeria factor is really very slim.

It's all up to what you are comfortable with and what your OB says, of course, but it was nice to hear someone with a professional background tell me that if I eat lunch meat once or twice a month I'm not going to hurt my baby.

Mrs.EmmaLouise · December 2010

x0stephanie:
Honestly.... I dont follow the food rules. I want a turkey sub from subway, I get one :P. If I feel like an Iced cappuccino I'm having one of those too. (apparently 300mg caffeine/day is okay. My midwife would have told me if I *really* needed to avoid certain foods. She hasnt mentioned food at all.

This. I love subway- but I wouldn't eat it every day. My MW said everything in moderation in fine. And I've had several u/s's and baby only has one head and the usual number of appendages.

damabo80 · December 2010

lrachelle80:
I don't follow them either, really. I don't smoke or drink, but I eat deli meat, have had soft serve ice cream and malts, have had a soda and tea or two, and if the opportunity for sushi came up, I'd have some!

Yep. This.

I think it's all about common sense. I wouldn't eat a sandwich from an airport deli that been sitting out for God only knows how long. But, I will eat sushi from reputable places, etc. Stay away from alcohol, tobacco, and consume caffine in moderation.

Try to get fiber in each day (raw veggies)...mostly to ward off constipation Wink

vflipo · December 2010

I was real crazy about them up until about a month ago, then I just let loose. I wasn't strong enough to go 9 months without a Dr Pepper, and let me tell you, I'm glad I gave in. Also, I absolutely love Subway. And... I ate a lot of fast food for a while in 2nd tri. The baby is fine, I've gained a little more weight than I've wanted but still way less than a lot of people who just eat everything in sight. I just kept remembering that after each m/c, my doc always told me it was nothing I ate, did, or said, that caused them. I say, enjoy your bologna (in moderation)!

MCH77 · December 2010

camdenfaithful:

I haven't had any problems yet but it does seem like the list of foods gets longer and longer every year.

I'm a vegetarian so I won't have too much problem with deli meat; my big thing is cheeses.

I agree. I am not having a hard time with meats. But soft cheeses... mmmmm... I miss them.

krissymac · December 2010

damabo80:
lrachelle80:
I don't follow them either, really. I don't smoke or drink, but I eat deli meat, have had soft serve ice cream and malts, have had a soda and tea or two, and if the opportunity for sushi came up, I'd have some!
Yep. This.
I think it's all about common sense. I wouldn't eat a sandwich from an airport deli that been sitting out for God only knows how long. But, I will eat sushi from reputable places, etc. Stay away from alcohol, tobacco, and consume caffine in moderation.
Try to get fiber in each day (raw veggies)...mostly to ward off constipation

Mmmm hmmm this this and this. I even took a sip of DH's beer the other night. I watched my friends go absolutely crazy with this and you know what? Their kids already have food allergies or are super moody/no one can comfort them but their mom and they are less than a year old. I'm not saying it's because they didn't expose their baby to certain things, but I think it's ridiculous.

Now if only I could get myself to eat some veggies......it is not going well with all these christmas cookies around......

slgbreeden · December 2010

I'm doing everything in moderation:) But I am still heating up deli meat b/c it makes me nervous if I don't do it

sunflowr0803 · December 2010

Mrs.EmmaLouise:
x0stephanie:
Honestly.... I dont follow the food rules. I want a turkey sub from subway, I get one :P. If I feel like an Iced cappuccino I'm having one of those too. (apparently 300mg caffeine/day is okay. My midwife would have told me if I *really* needed to avoid certain foods. She hasnt mentioned food at all.
This. I love subway- but I wouldn't eat it every day. My MW said everything in moderation in fine. And I've had several u/s's and baby only has one head and the usual number of appendages.

I agree!

And vflipo, I went 8 weeks without a Dr. Pepper and couldn't hold back! I only had a can, but I'm allowing myself a small amount every few weeks.

celestej619 · December 2010

I say as long as your OB is okay with it, eat/drink what you are comfortable with.

e_uecker · December 2010

I haven't been following the food rules either. I eat what I can stomach. Most of the time it's not 100% healthy. I still eat sushi and have a soda from time to time. It will be ok.

circe811 · December 2010

alliejoe:
I am part of a group called Centering Pregnancy for my prenatal care and my MW leads it, but there is an OB who is part of the group so I feel like I get the "crunchy" and "medical" view of things... ANYWAY, the food thing was part of our discussion topics last week and the general consensus on lunch meat (from the MW and the OB) was that some lunch meat is fine. You should try to find nitrate free/no nitrate added and it should be from a trusted source (their example was going to the deli counter, getting a 1/4 lb. of lunch meat and eating it over 1-3 days). They said the listeria factor is really very slim.
It's all up to what you are comfortable with and what your OB says, of course, but it was nice to hear someone with a professional background tell me that if I eat lunch meat once or twice a month I'm not going to hurt my baby.

Just as a random aside, we do a very modified version of Centering Pregnancy/Parenting at the program I work for.

kndeckar · December 2010

I'm another food "rebel" I guess. Because I have had deli meat several times during my pregnancy (and even a few of them I didn't even heat it up *gasp*). I allow myself to drink caffeine (no more than 1 a day). If I couldn't have a Coke every now and then I'd go CRAZY!!

Oh and as for your bologna craving...I also had one too during 1st tri. I allowed myself to eat 1-2 bologna sandwiches a week during those couple weeks I was craving it. Most likely it will pass soon! Luckily, I craved apples and couldn't stop eating those, so I felt like that balanced out my 'bad' cravings!!

Bottom line, I feel like stressing over this stuff is worse for the baby than just eating some a dang turkey sandwich and a Coke!!

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Ugh these food rules are so complicated.

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