It seems that everywhere you look, there are different ideas and lists of what you should or should not eat while you are pregnant. Wouldn’t it be easier if they compiled one list of pregnancy diet dos and don’ts? If that is what you have been thinking, then you have found exactly what you are looking for.

And when it comes to having a healthy pregnancy, things like what you eat and the amount of rest you get are very important.  So here is a simple overview of what to eat and what to avoid while pregnant to ensure the health of both mother and child.

What you should be doing with your diet

In general, aim for a healthy and varied diet to ensure that you are getting a good mix of vitamins and minerals. Specifically, try to include the following in your diet on a regular basis:

• Spinach. It is a good source of folate which helps prevent neural tube defects.
• Whole grains. These are rich in fiber that will help your digestion, including alleviating the constipation that occurs in many pregnant women.
• Lots of fruits and vegetables. This will help you get a greater amount of your vitamins from their sources and will provide additional fiber for your digestive system. Also, these foods often contain a great deal of water, helping you achieve your ideal fluid intake each day.
• Water. Drink a lot of water to prevent dehydration, replenish your body’s fluids, and aid digestion.
• Milk. Calcium in milk is valuable to both mother and child, and stronger bones will help you sustain the strain of pregnancy more easily.

While the rules are pretty flexible on many things, there are certain foods to be avoided as much as possible for the best interest of mother and child.

Some of those include:

• Too much vitamin A
• Alcohol
• More than 300mg caffeine daily
• Mercury (found in many fish, including swordfish)
• Unpasteurized dairy products such as soft cheeses
• Smoked raw seafood
• Deli meats
• Artificial sweeteners