There is nothing more refreshing than the consumption of a cold and crunchy salad. Salads provide numerous essential nutrients like folate, calcium, and iron which are known to work wonders for the health of the body. However, pregnant women should be careful while consuming salads as there are certain salads that are best avoided during pregnancy. It is recommended not to eat raw eggs, raw fish, cold cut meats, smoked fish, and seafood as these are often high in mercury content. You should add legumes and cheese to your salad.
Important points to know about salads
- It is a great idea to include dark spinach in your diet as it will help account for folic acid intake.
- When making a salad, remember to wash the fruits and vegetables thoroughly with fresh water to remove all debris and bacteria.
- Experts recommend avoiding raw fish, seafood, and meats at all cost since the mercury content can have detrimental effects on the baby’s health
- Garden salads are a great choice since they pack in lots of iron and folates.
- You can add cheese to increase calcium intake but stay clear of cheese that contains listeria, a bacterium that can lead to a miscarriage.
- Fresh fruit salads with bananas, kiwi, strawberries, raspberries, apples, blueberries, and peaches are very popular. These contain lots of vitamins and minerals that will keep the baby healthy.
- You can also try a bean or pasta salad. Add in bell peppers, corn, and sweet potatoes and sprinkle some citrus fruit juice.
- It is best to consult with your doctor who will be the best judge when it comes to deciding which foods to eat and which ones to avoid for your specific case. Make it a point to consult with him/her from time to time.
