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There are some foods that are simply best avoided whilst you're pregnant - and some that you should just take a little more care with. For a happy, healthy pregnancy it's worth giving up a few treats! Fresh fruit and veg are full of vitamins and positive nutrients - but wash them carefully before you eat them to remove any traces of chemicals and bacteria. Even organic and home-grown veg should be washed to get rid of any soil - which can contain a parasite known as 'toxoplasma gondii' which can cause 'toxoplasmosis', a serious condition which can lead to miscarriage and health problems for your baby. Soft, unpasteurised cheeses, such as goat's cheese, brie, camembert, feta and blue cheeses can contain listeria - harmful bacteria that causes listeriosis which can result in miscarriage. Unpasteurised milk should also be avoided. Hard cheeses such as cheddar or processed cheeses are all fine to eat and a good source of calcium. Pâté is another potential source of listeria so it's best to avoid all types. Raw or partially cooked eggs can contain salmonella, which causes a type of food poisoning. Whilst it's unlikely to harm your baby it is likely to make you ill -which is not a good outcome. Eat only eggs that have been thoroughly cooked and avoid foods that may contain raw or partially-cooked eggs - such as homemade mayonnaise, mousse or ice creams. Most shop-bought mayonnaise and ice-creams contain pasteurised egg, which is fine. Salmonella can also be found in undercooked meats and poultry and food that has been left uncovered in a warm environment. Raw or undercooked meat or fish - make sure it's hot all the way through and is no longer pink in colour. Some types of fish can contain mercury, which at high levels might affect the development of your baby's nervous system. Avoid shark, swordfish and marlin, and limit your intake of tuna to minimise the toxicity risk - although all other types of fish, especially oily fish, are full of essential nutrients and omega oils so should be part of your regular weekly diet. Raw shellfish and seafood should be avoided as they can contain a bacteria called 'vibro vulnificus' -which is not good! No more oysters or fresh sushi! However, smoking, freezing, salting or pickling will destroy the bacteria and well-cooked shellfish is fine to eat. Alcohol Heavy drinking during pregnancy can harm your baby and there's evidence that it's associated with birth defects and lower birth weight. Behaviour problems, learning disabilities and hyperactivity have all been linked to drinking in pregnancy - as well as low birth weight and foetal alcohol syndrome. Minimise your intake or better still - give up alcohol altogether. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists say there's no evidence that a couple of units once or twice a week will harm a baby but - but giving up altogether is better for both of you. And remember, a unit is no more than half a pint of beer or a small glass of wine so go easy! Caffeine, found in tea, coffee and many soft drinks, interferes with the body's absorption of iron and other nutrients. Current recommendations suggest that pregnant women should have no more than 200mg of caffeine per day, which is equivalent to four cups of coffee, six cups of tea, or eight cans of cola. Tannin: Found in tea makes it harder for your body to absorb iron from plant sources - although the absorption of iron from animal sources is generally not affected. Herbal teas such as peppermint or chamomile have fewer types of tannin. Don't leave your teabag in too long as over steeping your tea increases the level of tannin. Alexandra McCabe is a founder of FittaMamma, the healthy pregnancy experts. FittaMamma is a free resource to help women enjoy an active pregnancy with workout videos, recipes and step by step yoga guides. Read here for tips on what to eat when you're pregnant and how to enjoy a healthy prenatal diet
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