Q: Can I eat fish while I’m pregnant?

A: Yes. Fish and shellfish can be an extremely healthy part of your pregnancy diet — they contain beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and are high in protein and low in saturated fat. A good average is 12 ounces (two servings) per week.

Q: What kinds of fish can I eat?

A: Shrimp, salmon, catfish, tilapia, clams - just about anything with little or no mercury, which can cause damage to the developing nervous system of a fetus.

Q: What are some fish to avoid?

A: Shark, swordfish, tilefish, king mackerel, canned albacore (or white) tuna, tuna steaks - any fish with high contents of mercury. Talk with your doctor if you have any questions about how much and which fish you can eat. For more information on fish and pregnancy, go to: www.epa.gov/OST/fish

Q: Can I eat cheese while I’m pregnant?

A: Yes, cheese is an important source of protein and calcium for pregnant women. Some cheeses are more inclined to allow growth of bacteria, such as listeria, which can harm your unborn child and should be avoided.

Q: What kinds of cheese should be avoided?

A: Brie, Blue Brie, Cambozola, Camembert, Chaumes, chèvre (goats cheese with a white rind), Pont L'Eveque, Taleggio, Vacherin-Fribourgeois Blue-veined cheeses: Bergader, Bleu d'Auvergne, Blue Wensleydale, Shropshire Blue, Danish Blue, Dolcelatte, Gorgonzola, Roncal, Roquefort, Stilton, tomme, Wensleydale (blue). Soft, unpasteurized cheese, including goat and sheep's cheeses: Chabichou, Pyramide, Torta del Cesar.

Q: What kinds of cheese are safe to eat?

A: Austrian smoked, Babybel, Caerphilly, Cheddar, Cheshire, Derby, Double Gloucester, Edam, Emmental, English goat's cheddar, feta, Gouda, Gruyere, Halloumi, Havarti, Jarlsberg, Lancashire, Manchego, Orkney, paneer, Parmesan, Pecorino (hard), Provolone, Red Leicester, Boursin, cottage cheese, cream cheese, feta, goat's cheese without a white rind, mascarpone, mozzarella, Philadelphia, processed cheese (such as cheese spread), Quark, ricotta. Yogurts (all varieties), probiotic drinks, fromage frais, soured cream and crème fraîche- any variety, including natural, flavored and biologically active - are all safe to eat.

Q: What kind of meat should I avoid?

A: Cold cuts (deli meat) have been known to be contaminated with listeria, and should be heated until it is steaming.