Sandra Mahut - Craving: Eating Well Throughout Your Pregnancy

• Eat enough, but not too much! The old adage eating for two is true in that you do need to take your own needs into account, as well as those of your unborn baby.

  But this doesnt mean you need to eat as much food as two fully-grown adults.

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet. This is the time to take up or return to good eating habits and eat good-quality foods.
• Eat within the guidelines provided by the medical professionals caring for you. Food guidelines and restrictions during pregnancy can vary from state to state and country to country, so educate yourself as early in your pregnancy as possible, and do your best to follow the guidelines. Taking care of yourself and your baby also means avoiding any risk of infection or intoxication. You will have to come to terms with a few temporary bans but the benefits far outweigh any frustration you may feel.
• Eat what you crave, as long as it is safe to do so. Learn how to listen to your instincts and how to indulge yourself so you sail through the next nine months feeling happy and satisfied.

Because of that, some foods are off-limits for the time being. Golden rules In addition to the lists that follow, here are a few simple, but very important guidelines to follow when pregnant.

• No alcohol
• No smoking
• Check all medication with your obstetrician, midwife or GP to ensure it is safe to take during pregnancy.
• Eat clean, fresh and well-cooked food. If in doubt, dont eat it. You will only worry if you do.
• Always wash your hands before preparing and eating food.
• Wash fruit and vegetables well before eating.
• Ensure chopping boards (especially wooden ones) and all cooking utensils are clean when preparing food.
• Avoid cold sliced meats, soft-serve ice creams, pts, raw seafood, prepared salads and cheeses such as brie, camembert, feta and ricotta.
• Avoid foods that have been heated in a bain marie.
• Always wear gloves when gardening and changing cat litter trays. Wash hands properly after removing gloves.

Apart from these standard ailments, some illnesses that are normally mild can be serious for the foetus. The aim is to avoid these by cutting out consumption of risky foods, or consuming them in moderation. Listeriosis Listeriosis is an infection caused by the Listeria bacterium. In a healthy individual, it often passes unnoticed but it can be serious for young children, pregnant women and those with a compromised immune system. The illness can pass through the placental barrier and reach the foetus, so it is important to be very vigilant during pregnancy. water, soil, plants), and in animals that ingest it. water, soil, plants), and in animals that ingest it.

It is resistant to cold but not heat, which is why raw foods especially need to be avoided. It can be killed by cooking food to boiling point. If you reheat food, ensure it is piping hot all the way through. PRECAUTIONS AND FOODS TO AVOID:

• raw (unpasteurised) milk, raw milk cheeses and other raw milk products
• commercial pre-packaged grated cheeses
• raw or undercooked fish, shellfish, crustaceans and meats