Deli Meat question

Hannie417

Hey Ladies,

I am just shy of 8 weeks pregnant and I have a question about deli meat...can I not eat ANY deli meat during my pregnancy???  I have eaten 2 deli meat sandwhiches since I found out that I am pregnant (one turkey and one ham/cheese).  Deli sandwhiches are always my first choice at lunch time, but now that I am pregnant, I know I should stay away from it, but I feel like I am actually eating more garbage lunch foods like mac n' cheese, spaghettios, etc. When I have enough left overs from my previous nights dinner, I always eat those, but sometimes we don't have any leftovers. I just want a turkey sandwhich with all the fixings! Haha. Let me know what you think.  99% of the time I eat great dinners...always have lots veggies at my dinner...and I am doing great on eating lots of fruit too. But let me know what your thoughts are on the deli idea. Thanks! :-)

RunningGal900

It's a personal choice. My dr told me to stay away from deli meats because of the chance of listeria, so I am staying away or heating up my sandwiches (which is not nearly as good). Many of the girls on the board did some research and have decided they the risk is so small that they are going to continue eating uncooked deli meat. Ask your dr what they think, do a little research and make a decision that works for you!

I don't like deli meat that much and I'd just worry about the risk so it's not worth it to me. 

 

Rindesai

I know it kind of defeats the purpose, but I heard you're supposed to heat them up before eating them to get rid of whatever bacteria makes them unsafe to eat. So maybe microwave it and then let it cool again before eating? I'm not sure, I wasn't a big deli meat person, my sin is tuna, and I've had two of those since I found out, but it says tuna in moderation... so, idk if I'm even being very safe.

1stTimeMommyToBe2011

I love deli meat and I havent had any! I'm dying for a sandwich but I'm too afraid. Is heating up just the meat part and letting it cool down safe?

weelass24

Eat the farking deli meat if you want to.

mrs.monica

I buy fresh sliced turkey at the local grocery store and I ate a turkey sandwich with my son everyday...he's happy and healthy.  Risks are soooo small I wouldn't worry.  That' sjust me.  With this baby...I'm not going to forgo much.

armandos_girl

I have a sandwich once or twice a week if I don't have leftovers from dinner to take with me to work.  We buy Boar's Head from the deli at the grocery store.  It's cheaper than buying lunch and certainly healthier than buying fast food since that's all that is available near where I work.

DanceDeva4

I get a toasted turkey sub from subway, then zap it again in the microwave before I eat it.  I love meat... a lot, so there is no way I could completely give it up.  My doctor is pretty laid back and said everything in moderation, he thinks it's better to get the nutrients from eating deli meat the smart way than to avoid it for 9 months and I agree.

m0132

I think thats up to you but talk to your OB if you'd feel better about it. I was told be the dietician at my perinatologist office for GD with my first pregnancy that you can have deli meats that are fresh sliced, like Boar's Head if you get a sub at Publix or something. She said the pre packaged ones are what you need to watch out for. That being said, I have a sandwich once in a while if I want one.

ToshaGirl

weelass24:

Eat the farking deli meat if you want to.

jessjo04

kdodge423:

Jesus Hell, some of you are in dire need of a basic food handling course (or common sense, I'm not sure which). Heating it then letting it cool has the same effect as not heating it to begin with unless you are in a sterile environment (which your kitchen is not). If the meat touches the bread, then you remove it to heat it, you need to dispose of the bread because it has been in contact with a possible contamination source and you will need to scrub your hands before touching the meat again (or fork if you are going that route). Are you also sterilizing the buttons on the microwave between putting the meat in and taking it out? Probably not. Another possible recontamination source.

Did you know you can also get listeria from fruits and vegetables? Oh noes!

Either eat the meat or don't.

 

Are those my only options? Can I chew it and spit it out? Is that safe?!

MattnNat

I've still been eating turkey deli sandwiches, but I've also started buying a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and making chicken sandwiches with that for as long as it will last. Its wayyy tastier than lunchmeat anyways :-) 

kg_08

I ate deli meat through my whole pregnancy, and *gasp* I ate mostly all of them cold! haha

I got my meat from a reputable place that I actually used to work at, so I knew the place was clean and the meat was fresh. DD was born 100% healthy. My midwife actually told me at the beginning of the pregnancy that people were overyly paranoid about that.

Bekr24

personal choice between you and your OB...but i just finished a foot-long subway melt myself   yum.

bonniewallace

I ate it several times with the assumption that it wasn't that big of a deal, but after doing some research, I found that pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get listeria than normal people.  27% of all Listeria cases are pregnant women.  And you may not know you are infected for 30 days later.  It just worries me personally...I don't like to play the odd's game!  But if you get subs that are toasted you should be fine.

weelass24

Sooooo, 73% of listeria cases are not pregnant women?

Gotcha

Hotomale

If you heat up your sandwich until the point of steaming, any possible listeria would be killed.

 

loanbpham

Hotomale:

If you heat up your sandwich until the point of steaming, any possible listeria would be killed.

 

 

Yeah..it will also defeat the purpose of eating something that tasted good as well. I mean..what's the point?

weelass24

CTGirl30:

Hotomale:

If you heat up your sandwich until the point of steaming, any possible listeria would be killed.

That would personally make me want to vomit more than any ms would. I want a cold, tasty turkey sandwich. Not a steaming pile of hot meat. Vom.  

 

What, you don't want to decontruct your ham and cheese?  Wipe off the mayo and microwave the shiit out of it so that the edges are all dark and icky?

No? 

Hannie417

Ummm ok...thanks for all the responses, haha.  I feel like maybe this may have pushed a few peoples buttons.  I will just eat it if I am in the mood for it, haha. I will avoid the prepackaged stuff and buy fresh sandwiches from a restuarant when I want a deli sandwich.  Thanks for all the helpful tips though! :-)

bonniewallace

weelass24:

Sooooo, 73% of listeria cases are not pregnant women?

Gotcha

Hey, if a 73% chance that you aren't going to get a disease that could be deadly for you and/or your baby is good enough for you that is totally your decision.  Deli meat just isn't that worth it to me.

comfortable

m0132:

I think thats up to you but talk to your OB if you'd feel better about it. I was told be the dietician at my perinatologist office for GD with my first pregnancy that you can have deli meats that are fresh sliced, like Boar's Head if you get a sub at Publix or something. She said the pre packaged ones are what you need to watch out for. That being said, I have a sandwich once in a while if I want one.

 

This is what I've heard also.  I gave in and got a 1/2 hot ham sandwich yesterday, which should be totally fine.  Honestly, I'd be more worried about mayo having been sitting out and causing food poisoning when it comes to deli sandwiches, than the meat itself.  

MrsTotty

I've been eating at least one sliced (pre-packaged!!! GASP) turkey sandwich a day for the past 2 weeks.  

caromartin

Rindesai21<3:

I know it kind of defeats the purpose, but I heard you're supposed to heat them up before eating them to get rid of whatever bacteria makes them unsafe to eat. So maybe microwave it and then let it cool again before eating? I'm not sure, I wasn't a big deli meat person, my sin is tuna, and I've had two of those since I found out, but it says tuna in moderation... so, idk if I'm even being very safe.

 

Microwave is nto enough because it doesnt heat your food evenly.. You would need to "cook" it in a pan and then you can let it cool down before you eat it if you want.