Eating Outside Food During Pregnancy

Eating cautiously during pregnancy is vital and you keep hearing about it from everyone around you. Yes, eating right is important and it cannot be emphasized enough. It is always recommended to eat the food prepared in clean environments. Since you do not have a control on this and with so many adulteration issues, eating outside food is totally forbidden during pregnancy. You do not want to end up falling sick during this period as it might affect your fetus.

This being said, many a times eating outside food is inevitable. Some common reasons for eating out are team outings from the office, unable to cook due to fatigue or mood swings, family gatherings and functions, etc. So, how do you manage eating healthy when you have to dine out? In this article, I am going to help you make wise choices and share a few tips to keep your health at check when you have to eat out during pregnancy.

Choose the restaurant, if you can

If you have a choice to pick a restaurant to dine out, these are the points to consider.

• Hygiene – A restaurant that serves food cooked in clean environments should be in your wishlist. You do not want to end up having infections after that sumptuous meal.
• A healthy menu – Have a look at the restaurant's menu. Many restaurants have their menu available online. Choose the ones that serve a large variety of healthy dishes so you will have choice to pick what is best and safe for you and your baby to put on your plate.
  
• Distance matters! – If there is a quality restaurant that doesn't need you to travel a lot, then choose it. It is always good to stay at close proximity to your comfort zones while you are pregnant.
• Ambiance – A restaurant that is well ventilated and one that is not very stuffy is a good choice to consider.

What foods should you avoid?

• There are high chances for seafood to cause food poisoning because of the harmful bacteria and viruses they carry. Having seafood during pregnancy is best avoided. However, if you have a craving for it, pick seafood dishes that are cooked thoroughly. Raw seafood or under cooked seafood do more harm than good to your body during this phase.
• Several Indian, Japanese and Chinese foods have a lot of ajinomoto added in them to enhance the flavor of the dish. Ajinomoto contains mono-sodium glutamate which is known to obstruct the food supply to the little one in your womb. If you can ask the cooks to prepare your dishes without ajinomoto, then, nothing like it!
  
• Salads are such a healthy food option. But, if you are served a raw sprouts salad, politely refuse! Raw sprouts are not for pregnant women as there are high chances for bacteria in sprouts. These bacteria will continue to exist in the sprouts although they are washed thoroughly.
  
• Heartburn are a common problem during pregnancy. Spicy foods aggravate heartburn and hence are best to be avoided. Make a special mention to the waiter to serve you the gravies that are less spicy. Order foods that are not hot but are still tasty to eat. Do not reach out for that extra pepper to top up your soup or the green chutney for your salads.
  
• Alcohol is a big no during pregnancy. Reach out and limit to one glass of wine, if you have to indulge in drinking alcohol. But do remember alcohol consumption has a huge impact on your darling baby's growth. It is best to refrain from consuming alcohol in the entire pregnancy period.
  
• You see a variety of desserts on the counter and they are all so tempting. Control that sweet tooth because many pregnant women are prone to gestational diabetes and sweets prepared outside definitely contain a lot of refined sugar and other sweeteners which aren't good for you.
• You must beware of dishes that contain raw egg like tiramisu, souffle and eggnog to name a few. Mayonnaise in salad dressings or as a topping to your sandwich or burger is also good to be avoided.
  
• Many Indian breads like naan and kulcha are made of maida. The white flour used in these dishes are only an addition to the calorie count and have absolutely no nutritional value. Maida is known to increase the sugar levels in your blood and also leads to constipation. Bakery products and other dishes prepared using maida need not be completely avoided. But it is better to have such food items in moderation.

You must remember not to experiment with food categories that did not suit your body before pregnancy. Drink a lot of water to keep yourself hydrated. This also ensures you do not fall prey to digestion problems because of the change in your usual diet.

Eating outside is not a strict no as long as you watch what you eat and also have a check on the portions consumed. Having said that, do not make it a habit to eat out just because you are able to control what you eat. Eat outside food during pregnancy only if you do not want to miss a family get together or an important team outing at office. Your diet defines a major part of your health during pregnancy and it is better to be safe than invite problems.

Here's wishing you a lovely pregnancy. Eat healthy, stay safe!