Food No No's

augbride87

So I was reading...somewhere--maybe here??  Honestly my pregnancy brain is ridiculous right now.  Anyway, I was reading that we can't have left over Turkey, cold that is.  Does that mean that we can't have chicken chunks either??  Like from Panera ??  I know deli meat is a no no, but I didn't think that included cooked chicken on salads.  Is this really something we should avoid? 

NicknShan

You probably don't want my advice, because I am going to tell you it is fine.  I am also going to tell you to eat deli meat.  My OB does not find it necessary to avoid deli meat, and says you are more likely going to get deadly food poisoning from many other food items before you should concern yourself over deli meat.  She said if she could recommend avoiding anything - it would be chicken from a public restaurant.  The most common source of deadly food illnesses is undercooked chicken.

So, I don't avoid deli meat.  And I will be eating cold chicken or turkey.

Wyattnash00

I eat chicken salad all the time! And I heat deli meat for 20 seconds. I think ur fine with all thanksgiving leftovers:) eat away!

augbride87

Wyattnash00 said:

I eat chicken salad all the time! And I heat deli meat for 20 seconds. I think ur fine with all thanksgiving leftovers:) eat away!

Chicken salad you make or that you bought?  Chicken Salad sounds really yummy right now!! 

fishwife799

I'm with @NicknShan. It's fine for you to eat leftover turkey.

First off I have never heard or read that. Second one of the big the concerns with deli meat is the possibility of listeria which you are more likely to get from eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Should we be cutting those out of our diet as well? Not to sound snarky but the risk is so unbelievably low when eating those foods that it seems insane to cut them out for me. Someone on my last BMB posted an article about a woman who actually read the details of the studies that "prove" that you shouldn't eat certain things and  it was pretty eye opening. I will try to find it and link it here for you.

matthewsdm

@NicknShan I'm in agreement with you! As long as I know it hasn't been sitting out forever, I don't avoid deli meat. Undercooked meat and raw fish were really what I was told to avoid. And anything pasteurized, which is pretty hard to find anyway!

Wyattnash00

augbride87 said:

Wyattnash00 said:

I eat chicken salad all the time! And I heat deli meat for 20 seconds. I think ur fine with all thanksgiving leftovers:) eat away!

Chicken salad you make or that you bought?  Chicken Salad sounds really yummy right now!! 


Usually I make @augbride87! But I did have it from firehouse subs the other day. I also eat fully cooked sushi ladies, I'm a risktaker;)

DeePaddy24

...now all I want is a sub, chicken salad, or a bologna sandwich (because I'm 8, apparently, lol).

augbride87

You ladies make me feel so much better

Atlast111

Cold turkey is absolutely fine.

msuzannah

DeePaddy24 said:

...now all I want is a sub, chicken salad, or a bologna sandwich (because I'm 8, apparently, lol).

And Mac and cheese!

augbride87

msuzannah said:

...now all I want is a sub, chicken salad, or a bologna sandwich (because I'm 8, apparently, lol).

And Mac and cheese!

Mac and cheese sounds so great!!

fishwife799

augbride87 said:

msuzannah said:

...now all I want is a sub, chicken salad, or a bologna sandwich (because I'm 8, apparently, lol).

And Mac and cheese!

Mac and cheese sounds so great!!

I used to love Mac and Cheese but ever since my last pregnancy Kraft tastes metallic to me! It's awful. I can eat othre brands but Kraft was my favorite

sthomas1222

Eat all the things. All of them. Nom nom nom

chloe97

I like this thread. Can I get a ruling that it's okay to eat soft cheeses, raw cheeses, artisanal cheese. Really any kind of cheese? Thank you.

augbride87

chloe97 said:

I like this thread. Can I get a ruling that it's okay to eat soft cheeses, raw cheeses, artisanal cheese. Really any kind of cheese? Thank you.

I think as long as it is pasteurized and not a mold ripened cheese you are ok. I think it all depends on the amount of risk you are willing to take.  I will still be eating my chicken breast....I love my Panera salads too much

augbride87

I also found a list of soft cheeses that are okay if you dont want to take the risk

Soft cheeses that are safe to eat during pregnancy include:

• Cottage cheese
• Mozzarella
• Feta
• Cream cheese
• Paneer
• Ricotta
• Mascarpone
• Halloumi
• Processed cheese eg Dairylea, Laughing Cow, Primula
• Quark
• Boursin

ucfgemini

@NicknShan , I like your style!!

catherinekate

@chloe97 -- I totally plan to eat cheese (not raw though -- it's extremely hard to find here) once m/s subsides. I may even go crazy and have some sushi rolls. I'm firmly of the camp that odd treats here and there aren't going to kill you or hurt the baby, but I have a higher level of risk than some. And I know many would call this selfish, so please no flames.  

CourtJack

It's fine! Don't worry. And besides, what kind of cruel world would we be living in if we even had to quit cold turkey, cold turkey?!?!

Linsbins

I've said this before, but if stuff like this worries you, read Expecting Better. It calms down your nerves a lot and explains the reasons why you are supposed to stay away from certain things, and what the actual studies say. Made me feel a lot better about having caffeine (even though I'm still way under the limit) and soft cheeses.

scotten

@NicknShan I like you and your approach to pregnancy. I think we could be friends.

stxaggie

Ive had all the foods on the no-no list other than alcohol....but come third trimester I will be enjoying a small glass of cab every once in awhile. Oysters, check. Real sushi, check. Soft cheese, check. Lunchmeat, check. Medium rare steak, check. BTW all this was ok'd by my Dr. "as long as im not buying it on the side of the road"

Bear14+

Magen16 said:

Ive had all the foods on the no-no list other than alcohol....but come third trimester I will be enjoying a small glass of cab every once in awhile. Oysters, check. Real sushi, check. Soft cheese, check. Lunchmeat, check. Medium rare steak, check. BTW all this was ok'd by my Dr. "as long as im not buying it on the side of the road"

Raw oysters? You're brave! They are my favorite, but I've also gotten sick from them in the past not pregnant. After my last pregnancy all I wanted was champagne & oysters. It was amazing & it will be after I have this baby!

goldie987

You have to pick your battles for lack of a better word. The night I got my BFP we went out to dinner and I had med-rare steak because that is how I like it. My doctor basically said if you've eaten there consistently and not gotten sick, chances are you'll be fine to keeep eating it. Don't try new places and order something that could be risky, but don't deny yourself something when its never made you ill before. That being said, I do microwave lunch meats if I intend to use them, mostly because its super easy to do.

stxaggie

It was a place I have gone before and I have never gotten sick. Thats kinda my motto...if it was fine before I was pregnant, it will be fine now. Sure things can happen but that's just life. The worst food poisoning I've ever gotten was off a lettuce and tomato salad at a reputable restaurant. I still eat salad.

splsmama2016

My OB told me lunch meats were fine and suggested to get them from the deli counter from reputable stores. If the deli counter looks sketch, don't get it from there lol. I love jersey mikes, and I know they clean their slicer all the time. She also told me nothing that's unpasteurized.

Atlast111

Bear14+ said:

Magen16 said:

Ive had all the foods on the no-no list other than alcohol....but come third trimester I will be enjoying a small glass of cab every once in awhile. Oysters, check. Real sushi, check. Soft cheese, check. Lunchmeat, check. Medium rare steak, check. BTW all this was ok'd by my Dr. "as long as im not buying it on the side of the road"

Raw oysters? You're brave! They are my favorite, but I've also gotten sick from them in the past not pregnant. After my last pregnancy all I wanted was champagne & oysters. It was amazing & it will be after I have this baby!

The only thing I would skip here is the oysters. I have had really bad food poisoning from muscles so shellfish is off the menu for me! The problem with shellfish is no matter how good the establishment is you can always get a duff muscle or oyster in the batch.

Bear14+

Atlast111 said:

Bear14+ said:

Magen16 said:

Ive had all the foods on the no-no list other than alcohol....but come third trimester I will be enjoying a small glass of cab every once in awhile. Oysters, check. Real sushi, check. Soft cheese, check. Lunchmeat, check. Medium rare steak, check. BTW all this was ok'd by my Dr. "as long as im not buying it on the side of the road"

Raw oysters? You're brave! They are my favorite, but I've also gotten sick from them in the past not pregnant. After my last pregnancy all I wanted was champagne & oysters. It was amazing & it will be after I have this baby!

The only thing I would skip here is the oysters. I have had really bad food poisoning from muscles so shellfish is off the menu for me! The problem with shellfish is no matter how good the establishment is you can always get a duff muscle or oyster in the batch.

Agreed! It was worth it for me to wait until after with my son. Super super risky.

lolonvive

I've had soft and raw cheeses as well. If I trust where I'm eating it and have eaten it before I am going for it! I haven't had raw sushi yet, when I crave it I get veggie rolls or cooked fish rolls. I eat kosher so no shellfish for me anyway! But I always though the thing with the deli meats was also about nitrates? Anyone else hear this? I want a hot dog like once a week.

purplefan1

I had been craving turkey sticks and summer sausage. My doc told me the same thing as PP-you have a higher likelihood of getting listeria from veggies than meat and you have a MUCH higher risk of being injuried in a car accident than eat something tainted. Still worry a bit, but only because of my Catholic guilt. ;-)

fishwife799

Eat all the lunch meat!!

chloe97

Ugh but I want to eat all of the cheeses!!!!!!!!

H and I went to this restaurant in NYC that is known for its fresh mozzarella. I was so excited about the cheese only to find out that I couldn't eat any of it because it was all made in-house! Ugh it was devastating.

Emztron500

I did a lot of research on food choices during pregnancy last time around and came to the conclusion that it's kind of silly. It varies hugely culture to culture...Japanese women eat tons of sushi because the omega-3s are so good for you and the risk of illness is so small...European women won't eat fresh fruits and vegetables because of the food poisoning risk but here that seems silly. I eat whatever I want but take care to handle food safely. Most food poisoning happens at home. If you're concerned about turkey leftovers, try to set some aside (in the fridge) immediately after the bird is carved rather than letting it sit at room temperature for hours before refrigerating.

MynaBird

chloe97 said:

Ugh but I want to eat all of the cheeses!!!!!!!! H and I went to this restaurant in NYC that is known for its fresh mozzarella. I was so excited about the cheese only to find out that I couldn't eat any of it because it was all made in-house! Ugh it was devastating.

I would have eaten the cheese.

Atlast111

@Ishamah. It's not so much nitrates I would worry about but certain foods are made using mechanically separated meat. These would include hotdogs, chicken nuggets etc. Anywhere where you don't see whole meat being used as breast or steak.
Ladies, I used to love hot dogs until I saw how Mechanically seaparated meat is made! It was completely disturbing....they basically blast the chicken off the carcass and turn it into a pink slime. It's gross! Please buy chicken breast/whole meat instead. You deserve decent quality free range food.

https://www.theinsidetrainer.com/6174/mechanically-separated-meat/

Rosehip15

chloe97 said:

Ugh but I want to eat all of the cheeses!!!!!!!! H and I went to this restaurant in NYC that is known for its fresh mozzarella. I was so excited about the cheese only to find out that I couldn't eat any of it because it was all made in-house! Ugh it was devastating.

I am NOT giving up my fresh mozzarella - Casa della Mozzarella, if you're in the Bronx - the BEST, and it's so fresh and delicious that you can freeze it, and it's still way better than 90% of the competition after thawing.  I'd be pretty surprised if you found mozzarella that's made with unpasteurized milk in mainstream places.

BPaisley

FYI - on the chicken salad topic, if you haven't seen. Costco has had their chicken salad linked to cases of E.Coli right now so just don't eat THAT chicken salad.

Wyattnash00

I JUST saw that @BPaisley. Costco chicken salad sounds pretty nasty anyway!

mocktailmama04

As long as the turkey is cooked to 165 degrees and refrigerated within 2 hours, you should be fine! They do say to steer clear of stuffing cooked within the turkey b/c the cavity does not reach the same internal temperature. Hence not all of the bacteria is killed off. I asked my stepmom to cook it seperately b/c I love my stuffing and gravy!

danalynn86

I'm probably in the minority, but I've been eating Rogue blue cheese about once a week, it's raw and absolutely amazing. I just can't handle knowing how much care is taken with their cheese, and that I've had it a million times in the past, but now that I'm pregnant it will somehow give me a food born illness.

Pregnant ladies aren't given enough credit to make simple, common sense decisions on their own. Will I eat random raw cheese from the farmers market that I've never heard of before? Hell no, and I likely wouldn't without some research even if I weren't pregnant. But reputable companies that you are comfortable with should be just fine when it comes to things like cold cuts, raw cheeses, and sushi.