Tired of soup

[Wildwaterfalls]

Anyone else pregnant and getting their daily lunch from somewhere like pret?

I have been avoiding almost everything on the basis that it has cold meat / potentially unwashed salad / seafood etc etc. So essentially that leaves me with soup. Every day. I just caved massively and had a duck wrap, although I am now feeling guilty about it.

What do you buy for your lunch? Am I over cautious? Please don't tell me to make my own lunch as between work, toddler to look after and first trimester exhaustion I do not have a spare minute!!

Thanks

Definitely over cautious! Don't worry about it and enjoy

Thanks Em. I do tend to worry a bit too much.

It's a struggle to find things I want to eat right now anyway.

I do think you're being over cautious! There's nothing wrong with most cold meat providing it's been cooked properly and stored which I imagine pret will do.

I'm due any day now and have stuck rigidly to NHS guidelines on food, but, on speaking with others there are lots of people who don't and eat prawns/pate etc and babies/mum are all fine. But that's their preference, I'd prefer to stick to the guidelines and avoid alcohol etc

I do know how much you worry though through pregnancy, but try and not stress too much, take each day as it comes and enjoy feeling your little one grow inside you.

Thank you Fozzie. Sounds like we're in quite a similar place re wanting to follow guidelines. I expect you're right though and places like pret are pretty good on food hygiene.

I have decided cheese sandwiches must be fine (not Brie obviously), as are hard-boiled egg sandwiches. Also cooked meat as you say, but not prosciutto. Going to steer clear if prawns / salmon etc to be safe. Occasional tuna ok though probably.

Excited to have a few more choices

Thank you Fozzie. Sounds like we're in quite a similar place re wanting to follow guidelines. I expect you're right though and places like pret are pretty good on food hygiene.

I have decided cheese sandwiches must be fine (not Brie obviously), as are hard-boiled egg sandwiches. Also cooked meat as you say, but not prosciutto. Going to steer clear if prawns / salmon etc to be safe. Occasional tuna ok though probably.

Excited to have a few more choices

Wild - The NHS position is that cooked, prepared meats are fine - avoiding them is an American reccommendation. Also cooked seafood is fine by the NHS, if I remember correctly! Their info is easily found on google. Salmon (including smoked) is great for you - NHS says stick to 2 portions of oily fish per week, a portion being 140g. Canned tuna is somewhat less good, I think you're allowed 2 cans per week.

I think you might find the book 'Expecting Better' by Emily Oster a good read - she explains the reasons behind all these restrictions and also says when they're overly cautious and why. And also she has a chart of which fish are safest :) It's from an American perspective mostly, but has applications here for sure.

Thanks Julie. That makes sense. My problem is I google everything and believe the most alarmist cautious thing I read.

I am a lot more relaxed than I was with DD1 though (if you can believe it)

You could always have a hot panini or toasted sandwich, the heat will kill any potential germs (listeria i think it is). Or jacket potato if they do them?

I'm pretty sure seafood is fine, as long as it's cooked

I really like the Asian type soups you can get from places like Eat, Wasabi, Itsu etc.

I know your sick of soup but this might be a bit different.

Thanks - liking the Asian soup and hot panini tips. Yum!

Seafood is fine as long as it has been thoroughly cooked or frozen for at least 24 hours. So that means you could even eat raw fish (sushi) if you freeze the meat before usung it. I personally prefer fresh fish, so am avoiding sushi while pregnant.

However, I do have cooked seafood mix in my freezer which I use to make salads by thawing out what I need in cold water.

Guidelines about fish also say something about avoiding predator type fish which might contain levels of mecrury. Such as shark. But I don't usually eat that much shark (not sure I have ever eaten it), so not bothered about not having it.

I ate loads of Pret Superfood Salad with DD - didn't realise salad was an issue, tbh. Yum!