May I introduce myself? My name is Katrin, I am 30 years old and pregnant. The list of prohibited foods for pregnant women is quite long. Why I oppose the eating ban.
When you are pregnant for the first time, you try to get an overview of everything possible: What awaits me? How does the baby grow and when? How is my body changing? What does my baby need? And what should I consider during pregnancy ?
Quickly you come to the topic of nutrition and reads – rightly – women should eat healthy during pregnancy, please. The growing baby needs nutrients, vitamins, minerals and enough water to thrive. Understandable.
You can not eat that! Haha.
But where dining recommendations are to be found, eating prohibitions are not far (especially in Germany!). And there are not very few pregnant women, as the following list proves ( recommendations for action of the nationwide network Healthy and Living ):
- Sushi, sashimi, carpaccio
- smoked and marinated fish
- Predatory fish, such as tuna, swordfish, and Steinbeißer
- Shellfish
- salami
- smoked ham
- Soft cheeses such as Camembert, Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Brie
- pickled cheese and cream cheese from open containers at the refrigerated counter
- the bark of Gouda, butter cheese and edam cheese and other hard cheese
- Parmesan
- Mett, Tatar
- Tea sausage, Hackepeter
- Raw sausage and raw pickled meat products
- Steak (medium or rare)
- Liver, liver pate (especially in the first trimester of pregnancy)
- Tiramisu
- Soft ice cream
- liquorice
- Mousse au Chocolat
- mayonnaise
- Ice cream, chocolates, pies, cake with alcohol
- packaged salads
- Fruit pieces from the refrigerated counter
- raw sprouts and seedlings
- Wild mushrooms
- Herbs such as parsley, lovage, cinnamon
- Chocolates only in moderation (because of the cofffein- and sugar content)
- Coffee, tea, energy drinks only in small quantities
The reasons for the banned foods range from possibly increased risk of Listeria (eg in raw meat) and increased pollutant content (eg in forest mushrooms) on hygiene (eg when grating and packaging of cheese) and heavy metal pollution (such as saltwater fish) to potential toxoplasmosis Pathogens and an overdose of vitamin A (such as in liver). Certain herbs and teas, on the other hand, should stimulate the uterus and lead to a theoretical premature birth. Too much caffeine and sugar could harm the unborn baby.
Ääääääähm. Yes.
Let’s take a look at other countries of our world. In Canada, for example, raw milk products for pregnant women are classified as non-hazardous, as are products made from raw eggs (such as mayonnaise). The reason: The risk of infection is too low. In Japan, experts advise pregnant women to eat raw fish – convinced that he is healthy. The only thing all countries can agree on worldwide is the ban on alcohol.
Raw milk? For Canadians harmless!
If all the warnings and guidelines circulating in Germany about food prohibition in pregnancy were actually of such great health risks, numerous pregnant women and / or unborn babies would have to struggle with complications in Canada, Japan & Co. Small spoiler: But not so.
To anticipate one thing: this should not be a call to rebel against the “official dietary recommendations”. I think it’s good that certain risks are communicated publicly and every pregnant woman is given a kind of guide to eating.
But I also think it’s important that pregnant women make it clear to us that we do not endanger ourselves or our baby seriously, if we grab fries with mayo, eat a salami sandwich, if we crave it, and that the gorgonzola on the pizza is harmless with very high probability.
Yes, that’s my outing
As far as I am concerned, I think of just under 50 of the above-mentioned index products at just 3.5: no alcoholic products, no raw meat, no raw fish, caffeinated drinks only in moderation.
Let’s be honest: the cravings that you normally have “only” during menstruation, you have as pregnant women about nine months in a row. Anyone who knows me would not want to deny me chocolate, cheese and mayonnaise at this stage. From self-protection.
Incidentally, I often had to roll my eyes to the detailed search of the above list. I remembered the crowd of Parmesan I recently sprinkled over my cordon bleu in the canteen. At my salami bread for dinner yesterday. At the smoked salmon to my baked potato. To the daily (un) amount of cheese, which I still consume. To the liter of soft ice cream I killed with my friend at the beginning of my pregnancy – in about 20 minutes. The licorice pralines, which were recently in the editorial (delicious!). To the cinnamon, which is scattered on all Franzbrötchen in Hamburg. And the chocolate bars that I eat every few days. In a row.
In the club of anonymous eaters
Yes, that’s my outing. I feel great to say it publicly. Because in everyday life, I feel like I would have to join a club of anonymous eater, so as not to be beheaded for my eating behavior during pregnancy.
I’m still alive. My unborn baby too. Why is that? At a reasonable balance where to eat what food under what circumstances. I suppose I would take a break from some food in the Pampas. But in Germany, good supermarkets and restaurants are subject to food safety. In addition, I pay attention to the measure. Of course, I do not consume a kilo of smoked salmon, a meter long salami or eat 500 ml of ice every day. Only sometimes. If the desire grabs me. And I can too. After all, I’m pregnant and my body already tells me what he needs when.
A cheese roll is no reason to panic!
I do not want to incite anyone to eat unhealthily – and certainly not during pregnancy. Also, it is not my claim to encourage pregnant women to imprudence. But on the contrary. My plea is as follows: Dear Pregnant, eat mindfully and soundly – but do not let yourself go crazy! Trust your intuition, your knowledge and conscience and do not panic at the sight of a cheese roll!