Can I Eat?

Pregnancy Food Guide

Pregnancy Food Guide

Vegetables

Adzuki Beans

Also known as aduki, azuki, or red mung beans.

Safe

Alfalfa

Always wash thoroughly.

Careful

American Groundnut

Careful

Aonori (Green Laver)

Wash if fresh. Be aware of other ingredients if used in bread or as a snack.
Safe
Not medicinally

Artichoke

Always wash thoroughly.

Be aware of other ingredients if from a deli counter or jar and not fresh.

Safe
Multiple ingredients

Asparagus

Safe
Not medicinally

Aubergine (Eggplant)

Safe
Not medicinally

Avocado

Safe

Baked Beans

Canned baked beans are often in a tomato sauce. Be aware of added ingredients.

Safe
Multiple ingredients

Bamboo Shoots

Only if it is thoroughly cooked, melting and slightly burnt.

Raw bamboo shoots contain toxins which are only removed through the cooking process (canned shoots are usually pre-cooked, but best to double check).
Careful

Beansprouts

Only if it is thoroughly cooked, melting and slightly burnt.

Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can be present in raw seeds and beans.
Source
Careful

Beetroot

Safe
Not medicinally

Bell Pepper

Safe
Not medicinally

Bitter Gourd (Bitter Melon, Kerala)

Can induce contractions, bleeding, or miscarriage.
Source
Unsafe

Black Beans (Black Turtle Beans)

Safe

Black Garlic

Safe

Black-Eyed Peas (Black-Eyed Beans)

Safe

Borage

Not safe in oil or supplement form.
Careful
Not medicinally

Broad Beans (Fava Beans)

Safe

Broccoli

Safe
Not medicinally

Broccolini

Safe
Not medicinally

Brussels Sprouts

Always wash thoroughly.

Safe
Not medicinally

Burdock

Although thought to increase lactation, some studies show certain components can trigger uterus stimulation.
Source
Unsafe

Butter Beans (Lima Beans)

Safe

Cabbage

Safe
Not medicinally

Cannellini Beans

Safe

Capers

Safe
Not medicinally

Carrot

Wash thoroughly if using the skin.
Safe
Not medicinally

Cassava

Only if it is thoroughly cooked, melting and slightly burnt.

Raw cassava can contain toxins which are harmful to your health. Be sure to cook thoroughly before eating.
Careful

Cauliflower

Safe
Not medicinally

Celeriac

Safe
Not medicinally

Celery

Safe
Not medicinally

Chickpeas (Garbanzo Beans)

Safe

Chicory

Can bring on menstruation as classed as an emmenagogue.
Source
Unsafe

Chili (Chilli, Chile)

Reported to cause severe heartburn and nausea if the peppers are especially hot. Safe whole or as a seasoning/spice.
Safe
Not medicinally

Chinese Artichoke

Safe
Not medicinally

Clover

Always wash thoroughly.

Careful

Collard Greens

Safe
Not medicinally

Courgette (Zucchini)

Safe
Not medicinally

Cress

Wash carefully if cress cut direct from packet containing soil due to contaminants that might be present.
Careful
Not medicinally

Cucumber

Safe
Not medicinally

Daikon Radish

Large quantities can cause digestive tract irritation.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Dulse

Safe
Not medicinally

Edamame (Soybeans)

Safe

Elephant Garlic

Safe

Endive

Safe
Not medicinally

Fennel

Safe
Not medicinally

Fiddlehead Ferns

Safe
Not medicinally

Galangal

Safe
Not medicinally

Garlic

Safe

Ginger

Safe

Grape/Vine Leaves

Safe
Not medicinally

Great Northern Beans

Safe

Green Beans (French Beans)

Safe
Not medicinally

Hijiri

Unsafe for human consumption due to high arsenic levels (according to UK and US food agencies).
Source
Unsafe

Horseradish

Source
Unsafe

Jerusalem Artichoke (Sunchoke)

Safe
Not medicinally

Kale

Safe
Not medicinally

Kidney Beans

Safe

Kohlrabi

Safe
Not medicinally

Lamb's Lettuce

Safe
Not medicinally

Leek

Safe
Not medicinally

Lentils

All types of lentil are safe.
Safe

Lettuce

Safe
Not medicinally

Lotus Root

Safe
Not medicinally

Marrow

Safe
Not medicinally

Mizuna

Safe
Not medicinally

Mulukhiyah

Safe
Not medicinally

Mung Beans

Make sure it is well cooked.

Always wash thoroughly.

Sprouts and sprouting beans can contain bacteria when raw.
Careful

Mushrooms

Only if it is thoroughly cooked, melting and slightly burnt.

All edible mushrooms varieties are safe but be sure to cook thoroughly and avoid foraged/wild mushrooms due to potential contaminants.
Source
Careful

Mustard Greens

Brassica juncea is also commonly known as brown mustard, as well as Chinese mustard, Indian mustard, leaf mustard, Oriental mustard, and vegetable mustard. The leaves, stems, and seeds can be eaten.

Safe

Napa Cabbage

Safe
Not medicinally

Navy Beans (Haricot Beans, Boston Beans)

Also known as white haricot, white pea, and pea beans.

Safe

Nori (Laver)

Wash if fresh. Be aware of other ingredients if used in bread or as a snack.
Safe
Not medicinally

Okra

Safe
Not medicinally

Olive

Be aware of fillings, spices, seasonings, and oils if preserved or from a deli counter.
Safe
Multiple ingredients

Onion

Safe

Parsnip

Wash thoroughly if using the skin.
Safe
Not medicinally

Pea

Wash carefully if using the outer pod.
Safe
Not medicinally

Pearl Onion

Safe

Pigeon Pea

Safe

Pinto Beans

Safe

Potato

Too much potato consumption during pregnancy has been linked to diabetes.
Source
Safe
Not too much

Prickly Pear Cactus

Safe
Not medicinally

Pumpkin

Safe
Not medicinally

Radicchio

Safe
Not medicinally

Radish

Always wash thoroughly.

Wash carefully and do not use radish sprouts - these can contain bacteria which can't be removed through washing.
Source
Careful
Not medicinally

Rapeseed

Safe
Not medicinally

Rapini (Broccoli Raab)

Safe
Not medicinally

Rocket (Arugula)

Safe
Not medicinally

Runner Beans

Safe
Not medicinally

Salsify

Safe
Not medicinally

Samphire

Safe
Not medicinally

Sea Kale

Safe
Not medicinally

Shallot

Safe

Snow Peas (Mangetout)

Safe
Not medicinally

Sorrel

Contains oxalic acid, which is harmful in large quantities.

Careful
Not medicinally Not too much

Soybeans

Safe
Not medicinally

Spinach

Safe
Not medicinally

Spring Onion (Green Onion, Scallion)

Safe
Not medicinally

Squash

Safe
Not medicinally

Sugar Snap Peas (Mangetout)

Safe
Not medicinally

Swede (Rutabaga, Neep)

Safe
Not medicinally

Sweet Potato

Safe

Sweetcorn (Maize)

Safe

Swiss Chard

Safe
Not medicinally

Taro (Arbi)

Safe
Not medicinally

Tomatillo

Safe

Tomato

Safe
Not medicinally

Truffle

Always wash thoroughly.

Make sure it is well cooked.

Like mushrooms, truffles (of all varieties) are safe to eat but should be carefully washed to remove soil and cooked to eliminate the presence of potentially harmful bacteria.

Careful

Turnip

Safe
Not medicinally

Velvet Beans

Unsafe

Wakame

Safe
Not medicinally

Wasabi

Wasabi in all forms is considered safe. Wash thoroughly if using the root whole.
Safe
Not medicinally

Water Chestnuts

Only if it is thoroughly cooked, melting and slightly burnt.

The surface of raw water chestnuts can be home to fasciolopsiasis bacteria.
Careful

Watercress

Safe
Not medicinally

Welsh Onion

Safe
Not medicinally

Wheatgrass

No safe way to eradicate bacteria on the plants which is unsafe during pregnancy.
Source
Unsafe
Listeriosis

Wild Garlic (Ramps)

Source
Unsafe

Winter Melon (Wax Gourd)

Safe
Not medicinally

Yam

Safe
Not medicinally