What Not to Eat During Pregnancy: A Survival Guide

Ah, the irony of pregnancy: You’re constantly ravenous (if you’re not nauseated), yet you can’t eat what you want. As if the indignity of constipation, heartburn, and stretch marks weren’t enough. Coffee? Questionable. Deli meats? Suspect. Sushi? So long, old friend.

Some of this restriction is simply due to an abundance of caution, says Deb Gowen, a certified nurse midwife who’s worked in Boston hospitals for three decades. Because many of these foods and drinks haven’t been extensively studied, it’s safer to advise pregnant women to avoid them.

But while a naughty sip of alcohol at a wedding or an all-important morning coffee probably isn’t going to totally derail your pregnancy, it might leave some nagging worries in the back of your head. “Know your risk tolerance,” says Gowen. “Examine who you are. If you think you’re going to look back and wonder if [something you ate] hurt your baby, don’t do it.”

As such, I lived like a nun during my first pregnancy. This time around (yep, I’ve got another bun in the oven), I’m treating my welt-ridden stretch marks with the occasional Tylenol or Benadryl (bliss). I’ll have a sip of wine at a dinner party. And I have even—gasp!—enjoyed an Italian sub at a reputable deli. 

If you’re pining for a spicy tuna roll or wondering how to get through your college roommate’s third wedding without a sip of booze, read on.