Foods to avoid during pregnancy - how did you cope - share your tips with PG tips Decaf and you could win £250 NOW CLOSED

[AnnMumsnet]

We all know that there's lots of advice out there about what food and drink (and ingredients in food and drink) to avoid during pregnancy.

For the Mumsnet guide to this please click here.

The team at PG tips Decaf say "With PG tips decaf, you can still enjoy the splendid luxury and taste of a nice cuppa, without having to think about the caffeine as it contains less than 10mg per cup - available in packs of 40, 80 or 160."

PG tips Decaff would love to know how, when you are pregnant, you managed to find substitutes for the foods and ingredients you were avoiding.

For example: did you use a strong pasteurised cheese in place of Stilton on a salad, did you try sparkling fruity water in place of wine etc?

Decaff tea and coffee is perhaps an easy one: do share what you did - they'd also love to know if you tried their tea what you thought!

Please share your tips and stories relating to the food changes made to your diet when you were pregnant on this thread - everyone who does will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £250 voucher for the store of their choice.

thanks and good luck

MNHQ

[themitch21]

My one craving during my first pregnancy was iced coffee, I was obsessed with it! Obviously not the best thing to be craving when you're supposed to be reducing your caffeine intake. As my partner got fed up with having to trawl the shops to find decaff options he ended up buying a blender so we could make our own at home. This allowed us to use decaf coffee as well as reducing the sugar in the drinks.

[lizboo87]

I am pregnant with number four and have always coped by making outrageous sensible substitutions for the things I can't have.

For example, I can't have wine with my dinner, so I allow myself half a cheesecake for afters a little extra dessert.

The only thing I really miss is the forbidden cheeses, but that is remedied by a lovely baked Camembert, (cooked to bubbling to kill off any nasties) with crusty bread for dunking.

My other saviour is a bag of wine gums in the glove box of the car, for emergencies such as when I'm hungry or annoyed.

As long as you get lots of good healthy stuff first, having a bit of what you fancy does you good.

[custardcream1000]

I didn't crave any food during either of my pregnancys. I had the opposite problem; due to having morning sickness until the day both my sons were born the only foods I could tolerate were mushrooms and tomatoes.

I did struggle to cut out caffeine drinks though. I switched my normal tea to decaf, and switched from Dr Pepper to lemonade.

[MotherOfDragon]

I lived on cups of tea with no milk and mashed potatoes for about three months.

Once that passed I was desperate for blue cheese. I didn't avoid i totally ( I will often have a blue cheese sandwich when non preggo) But I used to make a blue cheese salad.

Handful of rocket,
5 or 6 quartered strawberries,
Some diced cooked bacon lardons,
A handful of cashew nuts,
A tiny bit of blue cheese crumbled over,


If I was feeling decedent some balsalmic glaze.
I know it's only a tiny bit of cheese but TBH it did the trick,

[janekirk]

Never liked decaff so stayed with my usual. Although I did give up the wine which surprised even me!

[daisybrown]

Gave up coffee as I seemed to be more sensitive to it whilst pregnant.
I've never really liked soft cheeses so that was no great loss to me.
Did develop a rather un-social habit of eating over cooked sprouts.

[nerysw]

I continued drinking normal tea and cut out booze completely - strangely I didn't miss it at all and didn't go back to drinking really (apart from the odd glass of wine) afterwards. The tea thing was tricky but I drank less than normal (and a lot more squash) as I wasn't as keen on the decaff options.

[Marbleroses]

I suffered the decaf...I didn't mind it but missed the kick.
I missed Bree soo much and smoked salmon. I dreamt of it.
No drinking was a no brainer ... I only missed the Xmas tipple

[Dolallytats]

I didn't need to make any changes as I am teetotal, I already drink decaf tea and my IBS flared up meaning cheese and pate of any kind were off the menu!

[OsMalleytheCat]

I loved my wine pre-pregnancy and tried non alcoholic stuff but found it didn't quite cut it! Same with most things including decaf tea!! So for the most part I completely avoided food/drinks I wasn't supposed to have or found alternatives that weren't the same iyswim, Ie fruit teas and hot chocolate instead of decaf; and I completely over indulged in my other favourites and my cravings!

And I made sure DH had a giant steak waiting for me as I left hospital, practically still mooing!

[deels]

there was nothing i stopped eating to be honest... however i developed a craving for exotic fruits.. mango, pineapple etc

[Thunderpantsarego]

I might as well have taken out shares in digestive biscuits and ribena for the amount I consumed in pregnancy.

Yes to decaff tea and was very happy with PG Tips. My tip for decaff tea is to leave the bag in- just needs longer to brew.

Otherwise I didn't really do any tricks to substitute the foods I'd decided not to eat. My husband substituted my customary fillet steak valentines present (usually 'cooked' blue) with lobster this year. I was happy enough with that

[BornOfFrustration]

I can't drink tea when I'm pregnant, it's the first thing I go off unfortunately. I get low iron reserves, and I think it's something to do with the tannin in tea that stops you absorbing iron as efficiently. I usually hate fresh orange juice, but go through gallons of it when I'm pregnant, and that helps you absorb iron I think. Amazing thing the human body, how it knows what it needs and makes sure you get it.

[Treaclepot]

I missed mussels more than anything, and ate some about an hour post labour. I also craved pate though hate it normally.

Drank lots of decaf tea, but post birth found it vile!

I dont buy PG Tips as I only buy fair trade but on the occassions I have drunk it it seems nice, not as strong as I prefer but good,

[starfishmummy]

Most of the restrictions didn't bother me too much - there was one moment when Mil served up pate - we hadn't told people at that stage so I just had to pretend that I didn't like it!

Went off tea and coffee anyway - had the odd cup but not my usual amount. That said I don't recall caffeine being flagged up as a problems back then!

[AnnMumsnet]

Thanks everyone for your tips
Am pleased to say Keepcalmanddrinkwine wins the £250 voucher. Well done!

[Keepcalmanddrinkwine]

Thank you ever so much! I'm really chuffed.
:)

[1intheoven]

I went off tea with my first but I bought decaf anyway as I drank it when I was breastfeeding. This time tea seems to be ok.
This time I discovered a delicious non alcoholic beer. It's a wheat beer called Bavaria and is really fruity. I don't usually drink beer at all but this stuff is lovely and was great over Christmas and new year.
I really miss Stilton. There aren't any good substitutes really. I found some crisps in Italy called fonzy's and they were about the closest.
With my first I found that sour sweets and junk food were the only way to keep the sickness at bay. I was also a bit of a meat fiend although I went off chocolate. This time I am delighted to be able to eat fruit, vegetables and soup. Funny thing is I'm off meat and have been eating a bit of quorn instead. I've also had a craving for Alberto balsam's apple shampoo - luckily not to eat - just the smell. So strange how different these pregnancies are. I know I'm having a boy this time and I have a little girl, I wonder if that has anything to do with it.