Eating for Two is Hard!!

Lunch!

There are A LOT of food restrictions while you are pregnant. They have drastically changed what is on the menu in our JVM household and eating out is nearly impossible! Nothing unpasteurized touches these lips (how I miss you Parmesan cheese and feta)and my steaks...WELL done. It's such a crime. It's amazing how many things can affect poor little growing JVM... here's a quick summary (Compliments of BabyCenter.com): 

• Eggs: undercooked eggs can contain bacteria so it's suggested I cook my eggs myself! That also means no homemade Mayo or Caesar dressing too! 
• Meat: No raw or undercooked meat. No deli or cured meats (for fear for listeriosis and toxoplasmosis). No Liver or pate because too much Vitamin A can cause birth defects. 
• Fish: No more than two portions a week of oily fish or shellfish (with low mercury levels) because of environmental pollutant factors. Shark, swordfish and marlin are completely off limits because of their mercury levels and tuna should be kept at super bare minimum for the same reasons. All shellfish I am supposed to cook myself to ensure it's been cooked properly! And obviously no sushi because raw seafood can cause food poisoning... I really miss the sushi.
• Caffeine: Experts recommend avoiding all together because it crossed the placenta and babies can't process it. It also is linked to miscarriage. At the bare minimum, I'm allowed 200 mg a day. That's like 2 tall lattes at Starbucks (I've checked!). I switched to decaf when I crave a little Starbucks action. Oh and guess what, Chocolate has caffeine in it too! 

Luckily during the pregnancy I haven't had much of a sweet tooth which seriously disturbs those who know me. Guess the body knows what it needs to grow a tiny human! 


Over the weekend, Andrew and I took a stroll around Kensington High Street and stumbled upon a cute little organic cafe. The YUMMY lunch we had there inspired lunch today. I made a yummy Red Pepper & Tomato Soup and then the Sandwiches are toasted with Olive tapanade, tomatoes, cucumbers, avocado and hard goats cheese (pasteurized, I checked!!). I guess not all good things are lost even with all the restrictions. 


I'm hoping by me following these rules that Baby JVM is nice and healthy :)