eating out when pregnant

[Hopex3]

hi all,

just out of curiosity - where do you stand on what you avoid when eating out? not sure if its over the top but as an example we went to a hungry horse for lunch and I ordered a chicken sandwich. I picked all the salad out because I cant get it out of my head that they might not of washed it properly. so I was just curious as to what level you've taken precautions etc. or have you just been carrying on as you were before? x

I follow the NHS guidance.

You will drive yourself mad being that picky, and probably have a fairly bland and unvaried diet!

I follow the NHS guidelines. No more (sometimes less)

Tbh I haven't changed my diet much at all. I had a test for toxoplasmosis and am already immune which has reassured me about eating pink meat. The only things I've absolutely avoided eating are sushi, alcohol and things with high levels of vitamin A. Everything else I think the risk is so tiny it's not worth worrying about.

Haha I have to say my partner was looking at me like I was nuts - he was like I thought salad was good for you. I do think the paranoia is a bit hysterical but once you've read something online incredibly difficult to shake it off! must drive doctors crazy when people ring up about stuff they've seen on 'dr Google'

Yeah it's hard to keep perspective. You could have a look at the books "expecting better" by Emily Oster (I think that's the title). She goes through loads of the myths about what is and isn't safe during pregnancy. A lot of the guidelines are not really backed up by proper scientific data.

I’ve used common sense, eg eaten only at places with good hygiene ratings.
I’ve not bothered washing salad at home every time either and have had some pink steak (although not rare as I’d normally have it). I’ve pretty much carried on as before but have not had alcohol, pate or any mould ripened cheese/unpasteurised products and paid attention to the guidance on fish.
Picking salad out of a sandwich is batshit!

yeah I did check the hygeine rating first but one of them things I've found hard to get out my head! generally I haven't been too too bad but I do seem to have certain quirks! even with soft cheese that I know is okay to eat when hot i just wont as it's one of the things in my head! ah well I haven't got that long left now, hopefully a bit of sanity will return then

If you’re in the UK then stick to the NHS guidelines and try to relax a bit!

Stay off random websites as lot of stuff out there is American and the advice is different e.g. sushi isn’t safe as it’s not always frozen before preparation, eggs need to be cooked through because chickens aren’t routinely vaccinated against salmonella, there have been a few romaine lettuce food poisoning outbreaks recently etc.

When I'm eating out somewhere I've chosen and trust I just stick to the basic NHS no rare meat and only pasteurised fair.

But if I'm forced to eat in a slightly questionable place I go for 'if it's cooked is fine' and go for cooked veg over salad and hot deserts over things like cheesecakes.

I ate everything bar a handful of things on the nhs list. Hygiene in restaurants is likely to be higher than at home!

I didn't chnahe my diet at all.

Cooked all seafood myself so I knew it was cooked well.

You just drive yourself insane being picky over it all

I'm eat everything!

I didn't take that many precautions except the ones NHS/midwives told me about 😳

I didn't change a single thing. Read "Expecting Better" as recommended upthread

I think I'll have a look at that book thanks - its not the first time I've had a bit of paranoia over food. and yeah the American sites definitley dont help, the hysteria over there seems over the top even by my level of anxiety

I just ate whatever I fancied at the time. I knew it wouldn’t stay down more than a few minutes so it didn’t really matter. Pregnancy was the best diet ever.

The only thing I've checked lately, because we eat in a lot of "independent" places, is their eggs. Many many are direct from farm so not kite marked.

I miss eggs 😂

I have my own hens and am eating their eggs @beccarocksbaby but I have been mainly having scrambled, nothing runny.

I love my dippy eggs @Megan2018 it's making me weep!

Hi all,

I mostly follow the NHS guidelines too - though loosely. Regarding the dippy eggs issue... I asked a chef in a local cafe if he could confirm that the eggs were Lion stamped before I ordered (back in the first trimester) He advised that by law (Food Standards Authority - FSA), people serving food have to use lion stamped eggs. I relaxed after that and don't even ask anymore. I'd maybe change my mind if I was eating somewhere questionable but for the most part, I've just enjoyed my eggs!

Hope this helps on the egg front!

I think (but am not certain) that farms are held to the same standards if they supply supermarkets / cafes etc.
Don't take me at my word for it, but they should be safe.

As some PP's above I haven't really changed my diet. Except Brie, I miss brie.

America has much higher levels of food poisoning than us - different regulations plus it's a big country so food travels further etc. Risk is lower here.

@VapeVamp12 oh my I miss that kind of cheese as well so much...I have the added fun of my lactose intolerance being far worse so normal cheese is no good either.

@KJ1988 that's good to know I'll check next time we go in. We are terrible hipsters 😂 and seek out local independent farmers market type places as they always have veggie options for the husband but right now I'd murder him for egg on avocado toast

must drive doctors crazy when people ring up about stuff they've seen on 'dr Google'

No, because the vast, vast majority of people wouldn’t do that about food restrictions in pregnancy.

If the level of your anxiety is there then you need to see a dr about that rather than anything else.