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Dietary restrictions

Dietary restrictions in PregnancyPal are the food rules and allergies you set so your diet plan skips foods you can't or won't eat. Alongside them, the app shows a general "Foods to Avoid" reference for pregnancy, split into High Risk and Limit categories. This reference is educational, not personalized medical advice.

Pregnancy comes with a lot of food questions. Some are about your own choices — vegetarian, halal, low-sodium. Others are about safety — which foods are commonly limited during pregnancy. PregnancyPal lets you record the first kind so your plan respects them, and shows you the second kind as general, easy-to-read guidance.

Food-safety advice is general here, not personal. Guidelines vary by country and by your own health. Always treat the Foods to Avoid list as a starting point for a conversation with your provider, not as the final word for your specific pregnancy.

What you can do with dietary restrictions​

  • Check standard restrictions — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, halal, kosher, and low-sodium.
  • Enter allergies as comma-separated free text so the plan steers around them.
  • See your restrictions reflected in your regenerated diet plan.
  • Review "Foods to Avoid" in two clear groups: High Risk and Limit.
  • Adjust anytime — your choices aren't permanent and can change each trimester.

How to set restrictions and allergies​

  1. Open your plan: Dashboard → Diet Plan.
  2. Tap "Edit Preferences" to open the preferences dialog.
  3. Check your Dietary Restrictions — tick every box that applies (you can pick more than one, like vegetarian + low-sodium).
  4. Type your Allergies in the free-text field, separated by commas — for example, peanuts, shellfish, eggs.
  5. Save — the plan regenerates and avoids the foods you flagged.
  6. Scroll to "Foods to Avoid" on the main plan view to read the High Risk and Limit guidance.

Examples​

  • Halal + nut allergy — You check "halal" and type "peanuts, almonds" in Allergies. The regenerated plan avoids non-halal items and those nuts, while the Foods to Avoid card still reminds you about general high-risk foods.
  • Vegan switch — You move from vegetarian to vegan mid-pregnancy. You uncheck nothing extra — just check "vegan" and save. The plan rebuilds without animal products, and you bring up B12 and iron with your provider.
  • Low-sodium request — Your provider mentions watching salt. You check "low-sodium," save, and the plan leans toward lower-sodium meals while you follow your provider's specific target.

Foods commonly limited in pregnancy (general guidance)​

PregnancyPal's "Foods to Avoid" section groups items as High Risk or Limit. As general guidance, many pregnancy resources commonly include:

  • High Risk — raw or undercooked fish (such as sushi), unpasteurized ("raw") dairy and soft cheeses, raw or undercooked eggs, undercooked meat, and unwashed produce, because of foodborne-illness risk.
  • Limit — high-mercury fish (such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel), deli or processed meats unless heated, excess caffeine, and added sugar.

These are general examples, not a personal medical plan. Your provider may add to or relax this list based on your health and where you live.

Tips​

  • Use the checkboxes for diets, the free-text for allergies. Allergies that aren't in the standard list still belong in the Allergies field.
  • Re-check your restrictions each trimester. Aversions and cravings shift; your plan should follow.
  • Heat deli meats until steaming if you eat them — a common, simple safety step.
  • Wash fruits and vegetables well. It's one of the easiest risk-reducers.
  • When in doubt, ask before you eat it. A quick message to your provider beats guessing.

Frequently asked questions​

Does PregnancyPal guarantee my plan is allergy-safe?​

No. The plan tries to avoid foods you flag, but an app can't guarantee an allergen-free meal. Always read ingredient labels and check with restaurants yourself.

Are the "Foods to Avoid" rules specific to me?​

No. They're general pregnancy guidance shown for education. Your provider tailors food safety to your health, your region's guidelines, and any condition you have.

Can I pick more than one restriction?​

Yes. Check as many as apply — for example, vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-sodium together. The plan honors all of them when it regenerates.

Why are some foods "High Risk" and others "Limit"?​

High Risk foods carry a higher chance of foodborne illness and are generally avoided; Limit foods are usually fine in small amounts but worth keeping modest. The split is a general framing, not a personal verdict.

What if a food I love is on the list?​

Talk to your provider. Many "avoid" foods are about how they're prepared (raw vs. cooked) rather than the food itself, and your provider can give you a personal answer.

Does changing restrictions delete my old plan?​

It replaces the active plan with a regenerated one that matches your new inputs. You can change back anytime by editing preferences again.

What this feature does NOT do​

  • Does not give personalized medical food-safety advice — the Foods to Avoid list is general education.
  • Does not guarantee allergen-free meals — verify ingredients yourself.
  • Does not diagnose, treat, or predict food intolerances, allergies, or pregnancy complications.
  • Does not account for your country's specific guidelines or your individual medical history.
  • Does not replace a conversation with your provider about what's safe for you to eat.

The dietary guidance in PregnancyPal is for general education only and is not medical advice. Food-safety needs vary by person, pregnancy, and region — always consult your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian about your specific restrictions, allergies, and any food you're unsure about.

Updated 2026-06-23 by Ahsan Mahmood — aoneahsan.com — LinkedIn — GitHub