Pregnancy

What to eat on Christmas or New Year’s Eve if you are pregnant?

Christmas while pregnant can be a truly magical time! Expecting a child can give a whole new meaning to parties and make the atmosphere even more joyful and exciting for the whole family.

On the other hand, it is also true that being pregnant at Christmas could involve some small renunciation of the table , especially for future mothers not immune to toxoplasmosis or struggling with digestive disorders such as nausea and heartburn .

So how to behave in order to live serenely and safely at this particular time of the year, when conviviality is so important? Is it possible to eat everything that tradition offers or is it necessary to have a little more foresight?

Let’s see together what are the advice of the experts.

Eating yes, but without overeating!

During the Christmas period, it is normal to indulge in a few more indulgences at the table. The important thing is not to overdo it, so as not to suddenly find yourself with  too many excess pounds , which could favor the appearance of complications such as gestational diabetes during pregnancy . For this reason, if some exceptions to the rule are allowed on holidays, it is important to try to eat in a healthy and balanced way for the rest of the week .

A little trick is to always plan 3 main meals and 2 snacks . In this way, you will avoid arriving too hungry for lunch or dinner, resulting in binge eating that could increase the risk of nausea or heartburn .

In addition, to avoid sudden weight gain, it would be good to limit sweets and sugary drinks , preferring the consumption of complex and above all whole grain carbohydrates whenever possible . Furthermore, to reduce the absorption of sugars, it is very useful to combine proteins and fibers with the same meal .

Finally, the last tip is to take advantage of the free time available to do some physical activity : a simple walk after lunch will be a panacea for digestion and will help get rid of too many calories!

No to unsafe foods

Even at Christmas and New Year there are rules that cannot be broken. One of these is that foods not recommended during pregnancy continue to be prohibited even during the holidays .

For expectant mothers, therefore, the following risky foods should be avoided :

  • raw fish
  • raw crustaceans and molluscs
  • smoked fish
  • seafood (some gynecologists advise against them even cooked)
  • raw foie gras
  • unpasteurized milk and cheeses (including brie, camembert or gorgonzola)
  • raw or not fully cooked eggs (as in carbonara or tiramisu)
  • mayonnaise or mascarpone cream (when homemade with fresh raw eggs)

In fact, these foods can be the cause of food infections that are dangerous for the health of mother and child, such as listeriosis or salmonellosis for example .

Furthermore, future mothers who are not immune to toxoplasmosis must avoid paying particular attention to consuming fruit and vegetables only if they are well washed and avoid:

  • raw or undercooked meats (as in the case of carpaccio or tartare)
  • cold cuts and sausages that are not seasoned (less than 30 days), especially if produced at the family level

What to put on the table for the holidays?

Whether it’s a meat or fish menu , the important thing is that the dishes are well cooked . The same goes for egg -based recipes , which can only be eaten raw if pasteurized .

Legumes are always an excellent solution: they are rich in protein, complex carbohydrates, iron and folic acid , all of which are very important for the well-being of mother and child.

Even cheeses , provided they are not made with raw milk, can be eaten without risk. To increase the absorption of iron , however, it would be advisable not to combine them with legumes .

Finally, vegetables should always be present at the table, possibly starting with appetizers and served with raw extra virgin olive oil . In particular, it is always good to remember that a healthy diet during pregnancy should include at least 2 portions of vegetables and 3 of fruit a day , consumed as snacks or side dishes, in accompaniment to other dishes.

At the restaurant? Yes, but with a little more attention

The same rules applied at home also apply in restaurants, although of course when you have lunch or dinner out you don’t have complete control over how the food is prepared. For greater safety, the advice is to inform the waiters of your condition and to choose hot, well-cooked dishes that are not prepared in advance .

And for the toast?

The important thing is that it is non-alcoholic! In fact, the  consumption of alcohol should be absolutely avoided during pregnancy , because to date it is not known whether there is a dose that can be considered safe for the fetus. Alternatively, the suggestion is to opt for aperitifs based on fresh fruit or, to toast the new year, a 0.0% non-alcoholic sparkling wine .

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

Leave a Reply

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