Alison is sensible to be thinking about her diet while pregnant, as what she eats can affect her wellbeing and the health of the baby. There are some definite don’ts:

• Avoid eating for two. No extra calories are needed for the first six months, and even in the final trimester, only a little more is needed – just 200 calories a day
• Limit caffeine to 200mg per day – the equivalent of two cups of instant coffee
• Steer clear of liver and liver products, such as pâté, as these are high in vitamin A and can cause developmental problems in the baby
• Don’t eat shark, swordfish or marlin, and limit tuna to two fresh steaks or four cans per week. No more than two portions of oily fish, for example salmon and mackerel, should be eaten weekly, due to concerns that the mercury found in all these foodstuffs can be harmful in terms of foetal development
• Avoid unpasteurised milk and dairy products, and blue and ripened soft cheeses such as Brie to reduce the risk of listeriosis. For the same reason, undercooked food is a no-go, and ready-prepared food should be piping hot when reheated
• To reduce the risk of contracting salmonella, raw or partially cooked eggs or food containing them (for example, some mayonnaises and mousses) should be avoided, alongside raw and partially cooked meat, particularly poultry and shellfish
• Fruit and vegetables should be rinsed before eating or preparing, meat should be cooked thoroughly, and hands washed before and after handling food because of the risk of toxoplasmosis
• Cut down on foods high in fat or sugar, as these have little nutritional value.

There are also some dos:

• Eat breakfast to reduce snacking
• Base meals on carbohydrates such as rice, pasta and potatoes, opting for whole grain varieties where possible
• Eat five portions of fruit and vegetables per day
• Have some protein every day, making healthier choices such as lean meat, fish, lentils, beans and tofu
• Keep fibre intake high by eating foods such as oats, grains and seeds
• Low-fat dairy products such as skimmed milk are rich but healthy calcium sources.