Hyperemesis Diet

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 20, 2025.

What is it?

• Every pregnant woman reacts to food in a different way during her pregnancy. A hyperemesis (hi-per-em-uh-sis) diet is a list of foods and ideas that may help your nausea and vomiting while pregnant. You should try many healthy foods to make sure you are eating correctly for you and your baby.
• You may need high protein and high calorie foods if you are having trouble gaining weight because of nausea and vomiting. Try to eat foods from the meat, dairy, and fat lists below each day to get extra calories and protein. Talk to your dietitian (di-uh-tih-shun) to be sure you are getting enough calories and other vitamins and minerals.
• This diet is not a complete diet to meet all your food needs during pregnancy. But it will give you ideas to try when you are having nausea and vomiting. Ask your caregiver for the CareNote pregnancy diet. The pregnancy diet will tell you how many servings to eat every day from each food group.

Care: Try the following ideas to help you with nausea and vomiting during your pregnancy.

• Eat a small meal or snack every 2 hours rather than 3 large meals every day. By doing this you may prevent nausea because you will never be hungry.
• Eat a small snack before going to sleep at night. This may prevent nausea in the morning when you wake up.
• Chew and swallow your foods very slowly.
• Try to eat cold and dry foods, like cereal, crackers, or toast.
• Drink most of your liquids between meals. You may want, instead, to drink small amounts of liquids with your meals. Try to drink 8 (soda pop can size) glasses of liquids every day.
• Pure (100%) fruit juice or lemonade may help your nausea.
• Do not drink alcohol or drinks that contain caffeine, such as soda, coffee, or black tea.
• If you are nauseated in the morning, eat 2 to3 saltine crackers or a slice of dry toast before getting out of bed.
• Avoid foods that have a strong smell. Or you may want to ask someone to cook your meals if smells bother you.
• Do not eat high fat foods, like fried foods, gravies, heavy sauces, or rich desserts.
• Lie down after eating with your head raised on 1 or 2 pillows.
• Spend time outside to get fresh air. You may feel better if you do not get too hot either inside or outside your house.

Serving Sizes:

• 1-1/2 cups (12 ounces) of liquid is the size of a soda-pop can.
• 1 cup (8 ounces) of food is the size of a large handful.
• 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of food is about half of a large handful.
• 2 tablespoons (Tbsp) is about the size of a large walnut.
• 1 tablespoon is about the size of the tip of your thumb (from the last crease).
• 1 teaspoon (tsp) is about the size of the tip of your little finger (from the last crease).
• A serving means the size of food after it is cooked. Three ounces of cooked meat, fish, or poultry is about the size of a deck of cards.

BREADS / STARCHES:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Bagel
    • Baked potato
    • Cold cereal without milk
    • Corn
    • Dry toast
    • Graham crackers
    • Hard dinner rolls
    • Melba toast
    • Mashed potatoes
    • Pasta
    • Peas
• Pretzels (without salt)
• Rice or rice cakes
• Rye crackers
• Saltine crackers
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Croissants
    • Donuts
    • French toast
    • Pancakes

MILK / DAIRY:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Lowfat custard
    • Lowfat fruit yogurt
    • Lowfat pudding
    • Skim milk, in small amounts
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • 2% or whole milk
    • Eggnog
    • Milkshakes and malts
• MEAT / MEAT SUBSTITUTES /MAIN DISHES:
• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Baked chicken or turkey breast
    • Broiled or baked lean beef or ham
    • Cottage or ricotta cheese
    • Plain cheeses
    • Salted nuts
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Blue, Swiss, Brie, or other strong cheeses
    • Boiled and scrambled eggs
    • Cooked dried beans and legumes
    • Cream soups
    • Fish and seafood
    • Fried meats
    • Gravies
    • Peanut butter
    • Sauces
    • Spicy or highly spiced foods

VEGETABLES:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Fresh vegetables, such as carrots, cucumbers, or celery
    • Starchy vegetables listed above in the Breads/Starches food group.
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Broccoli
    • Cabbage
    • Cauliflower
    • Garlic
    • Onions

FRUITS:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Applesauce
    • Canned fruit
    • Dried fruit
    • Fresh apples
    • Jam or jelly on breads (for extra calories)
    • Pears
    • Plums
    • Raisins
    • Sips of juices
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Bananas
    • Melons

FATS:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Lowfat cream cheese
    • Lowfat salad dressing
    • Small amounts of butter or margarine
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Deep fried foods, such as french fries
    • Mayonnaise
    • Regular salad dressings

DESSERTS:

• You may want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Gelatin, plain, or with canned fruit
    • Ginger snaps or other lowfat cookies
    • Plain cake or cookies
    • Vanilla wafers
• You may NOT want to eat the following foods.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Chocolate and other rich cakes
    • Cream pies
    • Ice cream
    • Pastries
    • Rich pudding or custard

LIQUIDS:

• You may want to eat or drink the following things.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Frozen fruit juices
    • Ginger ale
    • Italian ice
    • Lemon lime soda pop
    • Popsicles™
    • Sherbet
    • Sips of broth or bouillon
• You may NOT want to drink the following liquids.
  • Food Group Choices:
    • Coffee or tea
    • Cola
    • Root beer

CALL YOUR CARE GIVER IF:

• You have questions about the serving sizes on this diet.
• You have questions about how to prepare or cook foods on this diet.
• You have questions about how or where to buy foods on this diet.
• You have questions or concerns about your pregnancy, medicine, or this diet.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. To help with this plan you must learn about your diet. You can then discuss your treatment options with your caregiver. You can work with him to decide what care will be used to treat you. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer