• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Holiday parties: Foods to avoid now that you’re pregnant

by Emme Lukasik Leave a Comment

The key to having a holly, jolly Christmas? Or a super Super Bowl party? Or celebrating with friends at any occasion when tempting snacks are served? Knowing what food and drink to avoid before you sit down to dinner with loved ones. Take the angst out of holiday meals and put the focus back on celebrating by vowing to keep these foods off your plate this season:

Drinks

We know we don’t have to tell you to steer clear of the bar area – but it’s wise to be extra vigilant about the drinks you sip this holiday. Use caution when pouring mulled apple cider and eggnog, as both have the potential to be unpasteurized and contain alcohol. What’s the fuss about unpasteurized cider or eggnog? Both can be a source of listeria, a harmful bacteria that could cause flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and nausea. While listeria presents no threat to healthy adults, to a pregnant woman, the resulting sickness can prove fatal for her unborn child. So, be sure to ask your host about the night’s beverages before you raise a glass with family and friends.

Read more: Top 10 reasons why it’s awesome being pregnant during the holidays 

Charcuterie and cheese plate

When it comes to this assortment of cold, cured meats and myriad cheeses, it’s best to pass the tray on to your fellow party-goers. Smoked meats and deli slices – along with soft cheeses like brie and camembert – can contain the harmful bacteria listeria mentioned above. Play it extra safe this holiday season by skipping out on any hard cheeses that share the same plate, as you’ll want to be wary of cross-contamination.

Smoked seafood

Be aware that smoked seafood is yet another potential source of listeria. If you’re tempted by a seafood appetizer, ask your hostess for a peek at the dish’s packaging. You’ll want to avoid any items labeled as lox, jerky, nova style or kippered. Here’s some good news: Feel free to nibble away at cooked dishes containing smoked seafood. If a meal’s been through the oven, it’s most likely safe to eat, as the heat will kill off any harmful bacteria.

Raw eggs

Of course we don’t expect your party hosts to be serving up raw eggs this holiday season – but there may be a dish or two on the table that contains raw or undercooked eggs and you’ll certainly want to avoid them. Consuming raw eggs increases your risk for food borne illnesses, mainly salmonella, which could be harmful to your little one. Pull your host aside and inquire about chocolate mousse, custards, homemade ice cream, meringues, Hollandaise sauce or Caesar dressing.

Read more: Can eating fish during pregnancy make your baby smarter?

Filed Under: Pregnancy

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT