What do you do when you just *need* to have a sandwich from a deli?

hordol

I have been craving a deli meat sandwich for a loooong time. Finally, my husband and I decided to go to Which Wich last night (a delicious sub shop for those who don't have one near them) and I decided I would order a hot sandwich and all would be fine. Well, I got my sandwich as as I started eating it, I realized it definitely wasn't hot enough to kill anything. But it was delicious and I ate it all.

Afterwards, my paranoid pregnant brain started freaking out so I did some research on listeria again and came to the conclusion that I'm sure everything is fine--there are only 1700 cases a year in the US so the best thing I can do is just move on because there probably isn't an issue.

However, eating this sandwich has heightened my sandwich cravings to an all time high. All I want to do is eat more sandwiches.

So, what do you do when order a sandwich from a sub shop? Do you just risk it and eat the sandwich? Do you ask them to wrap up your meat and microwave it for one minute? Do you order it to go and take it home and pop it in the oven or microwave? (I can't get behind that method because that means hot soggy vegetables and mayo eewww.)

momofmanyinthemitten

I'm not into the food avoidance thing. I've been eating lunch meat, hot dogs, feta cheese, sips of wine. I do stay away from tuna and raw fish. I followed all the guidelines with my first, but with my following pregnancies, most things were fair game in my book.

2010weddinggal

I eat sandwiches at least 2-3 times a week, no I do not heat it up and if you do not want to you do not have to. Now I want a Italian grinder lol....

hordol

Thanks!  I'm a FTM so I'm probably a little more of a rule follower now than I need to be/will be in the future but it's good to know I'm not a selfish horrible mother for needing my sandwiches, haha.

deidremaria

Thanks to these other ladies reassuring me that listeria isn't super likely and they eat sandwiches I order one and devour it. I just had a nice cold sub yesterday that was perfect in every way. I've never gotten listeria from the deli I go to before so why would I now right?

Clsmart027

I had never even heard such a thing with my first two who are 8 and 4. I asked my dr and he said that is from places that don't clean or store meat properly. He said any place that is like a panera you will be fine! The odd thing is since he told me that I still haven't had one. But now I want one. I think I will have one today! Yum! Well one without bread!

J&NL

You'll be fine. My Dr told me I could eat deli meat as long as it hasn't been in the fridge for longer than 5 days.

katieharpiceland

Wow, I seriously want one now too. LOL

deidremaria

hordol said:

Thanks!  I'm a FTM so I'm probably a little more of a rule follower now than I need to be/will be in the future but it's good to know I'm not a selfish horrible mother for needing my sandwiches, haha.

I'm a FTM too. Posting things like this helps you to loosen up a bit about the rules. Sometimes it never hurts to simply ask your doctor. I remember in the earlier weeks I had a coke and felt extremely guilty. When I told my midwife she was like "a coke is fine once in a while"

hordol

deidremaria said:

Thanks!  I'm a FTM so I'm probably a little more of a rule follower now than I need to be/will be in the future but it's good to know I'm not a selfish horrible mother for needing my sandwiches, haha.

I'm a FTM too. Posting things like this helps you to loosen up a bit about the rules. Sometimes it never hurts to simply ask your doctor. I remember in the earlier weeks I had a coke and felt extremely guilty. When I told my midwife she was like "a coke is fine once in a while"

Lol, yeah, next time I see my doc I'm going to ask him what things I should truly be avoiding. At my first OB appointment, all he said was, "Do you have cats? Cause you should not change the kitty litter. Otherwise, you can do anything you were doing before." Everyone on here is talking about literature their doctor gave them and "do not eat" lists or whatever, but my doctor gave me nothing. I'm sure there has to be more I should avoid than just cat litter....I was a one to two drink a day kind of girl before pregnancy so obviously I had to change that but my doctor didn't even say anything about alcohol. I'm assuming that he just assumed alcohol was common sense haha but still! I need some concrete info!

bwelding85

Agree with PPs. If the place is reputable, go for it. I was more anal about this with my first, but I've been eating sandwiches fairly often this time. The idea of heating them sounds gross to me.

cd92007

I've been contemplating jimmy johns for a while and I'll probably just end up getting it soon

thomas930

Firehouse Subs is amazing and all their subs are steamed, its usually the only place we get subs from on a normal basis!

AcaAwkward

I eat deli meat from reputable places. I like hot subs anyway but I don't stress about if its hot enough to kill bacteria. Plus, a decent chunk of those listeria cases are from improperly washed produce...I'm way more careful with bagged spinach than I am a Which Wich!

4maddison

STM, just had a footlong cold cut from Subway yesterday. It was delicious and I'm still alive.

thomas930

@LalaMama81

I believe its the whole sandwich. The bread is soft but never soggy. They use Boar's Head meat and the steaming brings out the sweetness of the meat...its so yummy. Dang! now I want one!

GoldenGibson

I would totally eat it. In fact, I've asked DH to bring me home a turkey sub today! I've been craving one for a few days now, it's all I can think about

dmresnick

I think I'd eat one. Yesterday I gave into a homemade egg sandwich that was over easy.

Rrrrrachel

Eat the sandwich.

Angie&Junichi

I eat lunch meat all the time and did with my son and he's just fine.

abbeylanecb

I've lived off of turkey sandwiches from Subway this pregnancy. I do get them to toast it.

janice9821

I choose a clean-looking deli that is busy so there is less chance of the meat having sat there too long, and I enjoy my sandwich!

LittleLady77

I just ask them to microwave or toast the meat before they put in on your sandwich. I have gotten a few weird looks but most places know the drill.

mrscrcalli

This made my day I've been craving a loaded sub with oil and vinegar!

myschlove

I like places where they cut the meat in front of you, like jersey mikes! I also always toast/heat mine up! if you don't you're probably fine but it makes me feel better!

klgallup

I had food poisoning from a milkshake just a few months ago that I am pretty sure was listeria. It has made me paranoid so I am avoiding lunch meats. It is not worth the risk. I either have it toasted or I enjoy a cheese sandwich. It hasn't been that big of a deal because all I really want is the bread anyway.

cstory316

I eat it! That's all I really want anyway. My doctor told me it was fine. Just don't eat it if its been sitting out a long time in the heat ( I wouldn't do that anyway)! I eat them a lot!

NicoleAnne416

Honestly, I try to nuke it in the microwave (bring it home) or toast it. But sometimes, I don't care. And I have survived. wow. I will eat hot dogs if I feel like it, I avoid alcohol when I'd personally have a half or even whole glass once in awhile because DH feels strongly against it, and it's his kid, too. But honestly, the likelihood of anything happening is so slim.

Sisimama10

I don't like meat heated up. I've still been eating turkey.

1983sas

They tell you to avoid it for a reason, so if it isn't heated up, I won't eat it. This is my second time around and my new dr was even more firm on this than my old one. No lunch meat, hot dogs, soft cheeses, etc.

BiggerinRealLife

I just heard of Which Wich. I gotta go! My doc and I were just talking about this. She said not to worry about the occasional deli sandwich. As long as those "forbidden foods" weren't all i was eating, I should be fine. And I've read studies that show that of the cases with deli meat, turkey's the higher culpret. So maybe ham and roast beef. If you're worried about it talk to your doctor. That way you can always fall back on "my doc said it was ok!" and feel better.

Heeb918

They tell you to avoid it for a reason, so if it isn't heated up, I won't eat it. This is my second time around and my new dr was even more firm on this than my old one. No lunch meat, hot dogs, soft cheeses, etc.

Agreed. My Dr was adamant about making sure she told me not to have deli meats and she is pretty lax about everything else. To be honest, the listeria may not affect YOU or make you feel bad but it can affect your baby. Personally after losing 2 babies I am not going to do ANYTHING that my Dr says no to. I would love a Jimmy Johns sandwich but it's not worth it to me to take a chance.

myschlove

my dr specifically said its ok as long as long as I nuke it in the microwave first so that's what I do! she also said that you can make a sandwich out of meat you've cooked , ie rotisserie chicken or roast meat that you've pulled apart to make a sandwich!

Mamamonzo

Confession:  I just ate a bologna sandwich with 2 slices of bologna and cheese and I didn't warm it up.  It was AMAZING.  I have been craving it for weeks, and really have tried to ignore it.  Yesterday I had my favorite turkey wrap from our favorite sports bar, and they warmed up the turkey...just didn't cut it, but man this bologna sandwich was FANTASTIC!!!

JessieAlbin

Mrs+Hebert said:

1983sas said:

They tell you to avoid it for a reason, so if it isn't heated up, I won't eat it. This is my second time around and my new dr was even more firm on this than my old one. No lunch meat, hot dogs, soft cheeses, etc.

Agreed. My Dr was adamant about making sure she told me not to have deli meats and she is pretty lax about everything else. To be honest, the listeria may not affect YOU or make you feel bad but it can affect your baby. Personally after losing 2 babies I am not going to do ANYTHING that my Dr says no to. I would love a Jimmy Johns sandwich but it's not worth it to me to take a chance.

On a side note... The jimmy johns veggie sub is kind of amazing.

Kristy774

Because of this thread I had a turkey sandwich and about 6 bites of an Italian cold cut today. You guys are a bad influence lol (just kidding!)

hordol

BiggerinRealLife said:

I just heard of Which Wich. I gotta go! My doc and I were just talking about this. She said not to worry about the occasional deli sandwich. As long as those "forbidden foods" weren't all i was eating, I should be fine. And I've read studies that show that of the cases with deli meat, turkey's the higher culpret. So maybe ham and roast beef. If you're worried about it talk to your doctor. That way you can always fall back on "my doc said it was ok!" and feel better.

I chose roast beef yesterday, woo! Good choice, me!

Sheybre

I made myself 3 cold turkey sandwiches this week. They were delicious. X_X

mrscrcalli

poru said:

I had oysters last night. And a non heated deli sandwich the day before. I am not very concerned.

:x I like your style

mskitty1985

I ate subway footlongs during both of my previous pregnancies didnt know til this pregnancy that its not safe(oh well, my kids turned out fine)theres bacteria in everything so if i want a sandwich imma get one

katieharpiceland

yea, cantaloupe, spinach and unwashed salad /lettuceveggies scare me more than deli meats :-P