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It can be unnerving trying to feed a family when every day seems to bring another health risk. Not that they are all new, we are just finding out more about them. Pregnant women have been warned to avoid certain foods for fear of miscarriage or birth defects. Babies and children are more vulnerable than adults since they are all still growing and their small bodies have less well developed defenses. Luckily it is the same story as with food poisoning, a few simple precautions cut out most of the danger.

This is time when good quality food counts more than ever, helping the baby to develop as well as nourishing you. You should actually start taking folic acid supplements before you conceive. It helps prevent birth defects such a spina bifida, but starting when you know you are pregnant may be too late. Since not many of us know when you are going to conceive in three months’ time, it is worth taking folic acid if there is any chance you might get pregnant. A 400mcg daily supplement is safe for women to take long term, even if they are not planning a pregnancy.

Most women know not to eat soft, mould ripened cheese when they are pregnant. Listeria has caused too many miscarriages and stillbirths to be worth risking. Cook chilled meals and chicken that is sold ready to eat are supposed to be safe if you heat them till they are piping hot. But you may prefer to give these a miss till after the baby’s born. You also need to be more careful than most people with raw egg. Mayonnaise and meringues may be worth the risk at other times, but not when you are pregnant.

Peanuts are also best avoided while you are pregnant or breast feeding. It is now known that children can be born allergic to substances their mothers used a lot during the pregnancy. Peanuts seem to be a common culprit, perhaps because peanut oil is also found in bottle milk and nipple creams. They cause a particularly dangerous allergy, so they are worth avoiding. Remember that peanut oil is also contained in many processed foods. For the same reason, try not to binge too much on one food while you are pregnant.

Liver is so packed with vitamin A that it can actually be dangerous when you are pregnant, since an overdose of vitamin A can cause birth defects. True, the only known cases have involved women either eating huge amounts of liver every day or taking vitamin A supplements, but to be on the safe side it is best not eat a lot of liver if you are pregnant, and definitely not to take vitamin A supplements. A daily multivitamin should be all right, since it should not exceed recommended doses.

It is a pity really, since liver is also full of extra iron you need when you are carrying. Doctors used to dose pregnant women with iron supplements routinely, but the latest thinking is that you probably do not need them unless you are obviously short of icon. You can keep you levels topped up naturally by eating plenty of meat, fish, whole meal bread, margarine, dried fruit and fortified breakfast cereals. Vegetables are good sources of iron too, especially watercress, broccoli, green peppers, kidney beans, tomatoes, salad leaves and other green, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds. If you do have to take an iron supplement, those in liquid form are less likely to cause constipation.

Needless to say, it is not a good idea to drink alcohol or take any other drugs when you are pregnant, since these can harm the baby. Heavy drinking early in pregnancy can cause very serious birth defects, but unfortunately this can happen before you know you are pregnant. Still, it makes sense to stop drinking as soon as you miss a period. Some women do not have any choice, the very smell of alcohol or even coffee when they are pregnant makes them feel sick. Some experts say the odd glass of wine later in pregnancy won not do any harm. Others disagree, on the grounds that anything you eat or drink goes into the baby’s bloodstream too and you would not put alcohol in a baby’s bottle. If you have miscarried, or had a difficult pregnancy in the past, it is worth being extra cautions.

Even medicines can be harmful, so check with your doctor before taking any. If you have to take regular medication, let your GP or specialist know when you start planning pregnancy so you can discuss any changes you may need to make.

Toxoplasmosis, spread by cats, is another risk pregnant women need to avoid. It is not very common, so it certainly does not mean you should say goodbye to your cat. The measures you take to avoid toxoplasmosis are part of normal kitchen hygiene away, just be especially careful to observe them if you are pregnant, or cooking for someone who is. It is also carried on unwashed fruit and vegetables or undercooked meat, so make sure the produce is washed and the meat well done. Wash your hand after stroking the cat and before you eat or prepare food. One extra thing pregnant women should do is to get someone else to take out the cat litter and clean up any mess the cat makes. That is a risk you should not take.

Daphnie is a food lover who has been involved in food industry for 10 years. She learned the easy and simple way cooking style from her mother and grandmother. She prefer to have the home make cooking style instead of outside food. She knew how much housewives will appreciate the recipes. Special thought has been given to the speed and ease of preparation to streamline cooking chores whenever possible to the minimum. Not only are these dishes attractive, they really are simple and speedy to make. Test and try out any of these dishes and you will agree that as well as being entirely successful, they all live up to our claim that they are not only delicious but quick and easy to prepare.

You can visit my website at http://www.a1cookrecipes.com.