Your pregnancy diet

So you've had your first doctor appointment, where they hand you a folder or book (sometimes both) full of pregnancy dos and don'ts. One of the topics in there is a list of foods that you cannot have. They include things like sushi, soft cheeses, and deli meat—all of which can carry a form of food poisoning called listeria. You are also supposed to limit your hot dogs and caffeine. And in some countries, they advise you to avoid shellfish and peanuts; thank God the U.S. has not jumped on that train.

For some reason, when a pregnant woman reads all these don'ts, her pregnancy craving becomes something on this list. I have a friend who ate so many Subway sandwiches during her pregnancy, she should have bought a franchise. Seriously.

With my second pregnancy, I wanted feta cheese so bad. Not only did I crave it, I knew it was the way to eternal internal peace. Finally, I couldn't take it any more. I went to Panera Bread and ordered the Greek salad, wiping up every last morsel of cheese with the baguette that comes with it.

And how did I feel when I was finished? Satisfied? Content? Down-right pleased with myself. No. I felt HORRIBLE! I was filled with guilt, the kind only a mother can feel. I went straight to the internet and researched listeria, convinced that if my baby made it, he or she would be permanently damaged.

But then I researched feta cheese in the United States. Guess what! The vast majority of feta in this country is pasteurized, which makes it perfectly safe for pregnancy cravings. A quick visit to the Panera web site confirmed that theirs was A-OK for me and my belly. (Why then, don't those diet lists note that most cheeses are probably okay, I don't know. Probably because men wrote them.)

The point of the whole thing is not to let these dos and don'ts freak you out if you slip. You should stay away from cigs and booze; but an occasional latte won't cause permanent damage. As long as you take general care of yourself, your body and God will do the rest.