Food Question

[13liza]

I've been reading (a lot) about what to eat/not eat during pregnancy. How closely do you follow guidelines? Any precautions you take when eating certain things?

This question brought to you by my love of hot dogs in the summer...

[tina515]

As long as they are cooked through to something like 165 degrees I think, hot dogs are supposed to be ok. Even deli meat is ok, as long as it's cooked to steaming first. I'm only staying away from raw and under-cooked food, as well as that stuff with high levels of mercury. But I wouldn't consider myself an expert, just comparing different books and online sources.

[cnf2013]

Apr 9, 2015 17:34:38 GMT -5 tina515 said:

As long as they are cooked through to something like 165 degrees I think, hot dogs are supposed to be ok. Even deli meat is ok, as long as it's cooked to steaming first. I'm only staying away from raw and under-cooked food, as well as that stuff with high levels of mercury. But I wouldn't consider myself an expert, just comparing different books and online sources.

+1

I've already grilled hot dogs once since getting my BFP. And I eat a Wegmans sub like once a week always because they are amazing. Food rebel. 

[13liza]

This is how I feel, but wanted to make sure I wouldn't be taking too many risks.

[cnf2013]

Apr 9, 2015 17:47:55 GMT -5 13liza said:

This is how I feel, but wanted to make sure I wouldn't be taking too many risks.

I think as long as you're not pounding raw sushi everyday or buying deli meat that comes prepacked in the hotdog section (get real stuff from the counter) you're probably fine. 

[13liza]

cnf2013 that's a good point about real deli meat vs the prepackaged. If rather have the real stuff anyway. I do love making subs for dinner sometimes.

[mamomma5]

My major craving has been subs with hot pepper mash so I have been eating the fresh deli meat too. I think caffeine and sushi and undercooked food are the main ones I would avoid

[anonymouseliza]

Everyone has their own level of comfort. I drink pregnancy tea that has stinging nettle and red raspberry leaf in it, and I drink red raspberry leaf tea. I eat cold deli meat, if it's been properly refrigerated. I eat sushi from reputably sourced restaurants. Those things are within my comfort zone, but maybe not someone else's comfort area.

I just try to read up and make educated decisions and understand life isn't perfect and we can't protect ourselves from all risk. Listeria has shown up in fruits, vegetables, frozen meals and ice cream lately. But not lunchmeat. Go figure.

[13liza]

anonymouseliza Oh yeah, I also read that you shouldn't drink herbal tea. What? I love my herbal tea!

[mrssqueegy]

The only things I limit are alcohol in 1st tri, then maybe a small glass of wine after that, sushi from sketchy places and too much fish containing mercury. I eat and drink everything else.

[BeachBum678]

Apr 9, 2015 18:07:41 GMT -5 13liza said:

anonymouseliza Oh yeah, I also read that you shouldn't drink herbal tea. What? I love my herbal tea!

The only teas you need to worry about are the super heavy concentrated kind, like the medicinal quality teas you would get from an herbalist or an alternative health store. Things like Celestial Seasonings are totally fine. I drink a cup of mint tea almost every night!

[cnf2013]

Not going to lie, I'm having a really hard time cutting back on coffee. I'm still refilling my mug during third period at school, but I just only sip it. I've been dumping more than I drink. I think it's more of a mental thing for me, but I just can't quit it.

[BeachBum678]

Apr 9, 2015 18:20:22 GMT -5 cnf2013 said:

Not going to lie, I'm having a really hard time cutting back on coffee. I'm still refilling my mug during third period at school, but I just only sip it. I've been dumping more than I drink. I think it's more of a mental thing for me, but I just can't quit it.

The only reason it's been easy for me is that my taste buds are so screwed up lately, all coffee tastes bitter as shit, no matter how much creamer I add. Happened last time with DD too. Grr.......

[cnf2013]

Apr 9, 2015 18:25:52 GMT -5 BeachBum678 said:

Apr 9, 2015 18:20:22 GMT -5 cnf2013 said:

Not going to lie, I'm having a really hard time cutting back on coffee. I'm still refilling my mug during third period at school, but I just only sip it. I've been dumping more than I drink. I think it's more of a mental thing for me, but I just can't quit it.

The only reason it's been easy for me is that my taste buds are so screwed up lately, all coffee tastes bitter as shit, no matter how much creamer I add. Happened last time with DD too. Grr.......

Well I'm glad I'm not the only one with an off sense of taste all of the sudden. I just made a tuna fish sandwich and my mayo totally tasty super sugary and sweet. It was weird and not very good. 

[byjove]

I'll drink some coffee when I'm up for it again that will be glorious.

My biggest things were avoiding undercooked food and being aware of mercury levels. Otherwise it's fair game. Most thing in moderation.

[mosy]

I eat mainly whatever I want, using my better judgment with certain things at picnics or potlucks, and potentially iffy restaurants where I can't vouch for their food safety & sanitation.

[13liza]

Apr 9, 2015 18:12:28 GMT -5 BeachBum678 said:

Apr 9, 2015 18:07:41 GMT -5 13liza said:

anonymouseliza Oh yeah, I also read that you shouldn't drink herbal tea. What? I love my herbal tea!

The only teas you need to worry about are the super heavy concentrated kind, like the medicinal quality teas you would get from an herbalist or an alternative health store. Things like Celestial Seasonings are totally fine. I drink a cup of mint tea almost every night!

I travel to CO often and have a stock pile of Celestial Seasonings tea so was sad when I read that herbal teas were out. Glad to know it's the medicinal quality stuff.

[anonymouseliza]

I am not sure I completely agree with that statement. There are ingredients that need to be avoided because they ate known abortifacients or because the effect of them is unknown. It is better to stick with real herbalists who know what they are doing and source herbs carefully and don't use loose blends without being certain of the ingredients.

Celestial Seasonings is safe though. They are very public with their sourcing and only using herbs that are pregnancy safe.

[chuggingwater]

I'm more scared of the recalls for listeria than of soft cheeses.

[anonymouseliza]

Most cheese sold in the US outside specialty delis and stores is pastuerized. Even soft cheeses.

I love cheese. I've got a stinky stilton in the fridge waiting for me.

[chuggingwater]

That's why I'm not afraid of lunch meat or soft cheeses.

[anonymouseliza]

An interesting exercise is to view the US restrictions and compare them to other countries. Things are generally a looooooot more restricted here, because we tend to operate on a general principle of "Don't sue me" so items in which the correct thing to say is "There is insufficient data as to the relative harm or safety of this item in pregnancy" becomes "DO NOT EAT OR DRINK" because the general tone of society is quicker to call a lawyer than to use common sense or to research things for themselves. In a lot of ways, America is very fear-driven, which is unfortunate, especially when emotion overrules science.

An anecdote:

My friend Tamlyn is British, married to an American. When pregnant with her first, they lived in England. Tamlyn subscribed to both BabyCenter (USA) and BabyCentre (Uk) for pregnancy stuff. Each week, she received 2 emails about growth, development, recommendations, etc. One week, early second tri (like, 15/16 weeks), she read the USA email first and there was an article about the dubious safety of herbal teas and how it was essential to avoid certain herbs like stinging nettle and chamomile, which were not proven safe. Then she read the UK email, and it had an article about how soothing and relaxing hot tea was, and to reduce caffeine intake, why not substitute a nice, calming cup of chamomile tea?

Same with alcohol in pregnancy - Americans are conditioned to be horrified at the thought, and there is no proven safe amount of alcohol to consume. However, nearly every other country is far less stringent in their official recommendations. And in fact, some research is showing that it may be more about how a mother metabolizes alcohol than the amount itself. Regardless, my point is that it is very different everywhere in the world and hell, even doctor to doctor you will get a lot of differences.

I think it's worth researching as much as you can, and making your own decision. I don't think you should avoid lunchmeat because of listeria concerns, but maybe the nitrates are worth a pause. I'm not suggesting that you should open a bottle of wine right now, but I won't personally judge a glass now and then. Just aim for reasonable decisions.

[BeachBum678]

Apr 9, 2015 20:42:59 GMT -5 anonymouseliza said:

I am not sure I completely agree with that statement. There are ingredients that need to be avoided because they ate known abortifacients or because the effect of them is unknown. It is better to stick with real herbalists who know what they are doing and source herbs carefully and don't use loose blends without being certain of the ingredients.

Celestial Seasonings is safe though. They are very public with their sourcing and only using herbs that are pregnancy safe.

The majority of commercially available teas are considered safe for pregnancy. Yes, there are herbs you should avoid--chamomile and cohosh, for example--because, in large and concentrated doses, they can cause miscarriage. For this reason, you should be careful with teas that aren't commercially produced, that contain very large quantities of herbs, or contain herbs that are known to be toxic. You're very unlikely to meet any of these conditions with your garden variety grocery store tea bag.

[expatmama11]

I am being cautious right now because it's so early and also because of where I live. I would feel more comfortable eating iffy foods in the U.S. because I trust the food safety guidelines a lot more.

For example, lunch meat here is all imported and there is no telling if it was stored at proper temperatures so it's not worth the risk to me. I can guarantee when we visit my husbands family in FL, I will enjoy the hell out of a Publix sub with boarshead lunch meat!

[Lola]

I thought the risk was higher in deli counter meat than pre-packaged?

[murrt]

I'm following everything pretty closely. It would be devastating to miscarry and never know if it was that lunch meat or coffee or herbal tea.

[RoLoMa]

I ate a (very) medium rare steak with seared foie gras the day after I found out. I would eat it again today. However, I wouldn't eat it at a roadside diner along a dusty highway. I personally feel like as long as it is in moderation and from a reputable/safe source, most things are acceptable. But of course, that's just me.

[kfran84]

Apr 9, 2015 18:04:04 GMT -5 anonymouseliza said:

Everyone has their own level of comfort. I drink pregnancy tea that has stinging nettle and red raspberry leaf in it, and I drink red raspberry leaf tea. I eat cold deli meat, if it's been properly refrigerated. I eat sushi from reputably sourced restaurants. Those things are within my comfort zone, but maybe not someone else's comfort area.

I just try to read up and make educated decisions and understand life isn't perfect and we can't protect ourselves from all risk. Listeria has shown up in fruits, vegetables, frozen meals and ice cream lately. But not lunchmeat. Go figure.

Don't forget hummus! 

Last time I was strict about heating up my lunchmeat. This time not so much due to the fact that listeria has shown up in so many different products lately. 

I do avoid raw sushi (I'm in Oklahoma so it's not exactly fresh from the sea), but I'll eat runny egg yolks.

Most cheese in the U.S. is pasteurized, but I do avoid unpasteurized cheese. We were in a fancy cheese club when I was pregnant last time and the lady would swap out the unpasteurized imports for me.

I drink coffee, but limit to two cups and no more caffeine for the day. 

You really just have to decide what you're comfortable with and use your best judgement. 

[anonymouseliza]

Apr 10, 2015 6:29:33 GMT -5 murrt said:

I'm following everything pretty closely. It would be devastating to miscarry and never know if it was that lunch meat or coffee or herbal tea.

Absolutely - again, it's all in your comfort level.  You have to live in  your own skin and with the results of your choices.

That said, this is pregnancy #9 for me.  I've had just about every kind of loss now.  None of them had anything to do with something I ate or drank.  That's not to say I didn't ask those questions, especially the first couple of times.  But generally, reasonable food choices will not impact the health or safety of your pregnancy.

If you aren't comfortable drinking coffee or herbal tea or eating lunch meat - that is ok!  No judgement here.  I only get pissy when you hit the extremes in either side (condescending, judging assholish behavior from a superior pregnant woman who only eats organic, home-grown food on one side, or condescending, judging assholish behavior from someone posting hashtagged instagram photos of their beer and deli sandwich - basically, it's the behavior I judge, not the choices themselves).

[tina515]

I would definitely agree about comfort level. My main issue right now is my upcoming trip to Mexico. We are staying at a very nice resort, but it's still Mexico, and I'm nervous about eating sushi and raw fruits/veggies. I'm definitely going to be drinking bottled water, but I'm going back and forth about the food, just because of the status of the resort.

Thoughts from you ladies?