Can I Eat Chocolate While Pregnant?

Q: Can I eat chocolate while pregnant?

Generally safe. ACOG raises no special concern about chocolate itself, so it remains a perfectly fine indulgence. The one thing to keep in mind is that chocolate contains caffeine, and dark chocolate more than milk chocolate, so it adds to your daily caffeine total. As long as you account for that, chocolate has no pregnancy-specific risk.

Generally safe

General guidance from ACOG. Please always check with your provider.

You can absolutely enjoy chocolate during pregnancy, so go ahead and savor a treat.

Why

ACOG raises no special concern about chocolate itself, so it remains a perfectly fine indulgence. The one thing to keep in mind is that chocolate contains caffeine, and dark chocolate more than milk chocolate, so it adds to your daily caffeine total. As long as you account for that, chocolate has no pregnancy-specific risk.

How to enjoy it safely

Enjoy chocolate in moderate amounts and fold its caffeine into your 200 mg daily limit alongside coffee, tea, and soda. Reaching for milk chocolate or smaller portions of dark chocolate keeps the caffeine contribution low.

When to ask your provider

Ask your Garden OB/GYN provider for help tallying your daily caffeine if you regularly have dark chocolate plus coffee or tea.

Source: ACOG

More foods that are generally safe

This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from ACOG, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.

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