The most versatile food choice out there but still a question can I eat chicken salad while pregnant? There is so much that you can do with Chicken and comes in a multitude of varieties. Although not every variation of chicken is necessarily good for you to consume if you are a glowing pregnant woman. One of those variations is chicken salad. It does raise some questions at the best of times, let alone if you are pregnant and concerned about what you are putting in your body.
Pre-made meat, (which includes tuna salad, ham salad, chicken salad, etc.), has a few variables that are out of your control when you are dining out or stopping at your favorite deli. Things like where, and how was the chicken prepared? Let’s have look at a couple of different versions of chicken salad and if they are good for you while pregnant.
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Is Canned Chicken Salad Safe During Pregnancy?
Enjoying a delicious chicken sandwich is best when you get to prepare it yourself. Preparing it yourself is also the safest way to ensure that it is prepared properly. The reason is, that you can control the ingredients, the freshness, as well as the quality of the chicken salad. Making chicken salad at home, allows you to make a delicious healthy meal for yourself. However, is canned chicken safe when you are pregnant?
Canned chicken is a safe choice for you, not just when you are pregnant, but anytime. Canned chicken can, in fact, be enjoyed right out of the can as is if you were so inclined. One reason that makes canned chicken a safe choice is a sterilization that the cans would have to go through at the processing plant before the chicken is packaged. The chicken itself would go through sterilization of sorts as well.
If you are looking for what type of canned chicken would be your best option, here are some more popular brands on the market. Brands such as Hormel, Bumblebee, Kirkland, Princess, and Swanson, are all popular safe brands for you to choose from. So, as an option for your lunch, or weird craving of the day, yes you can eat chicken while you are pregnant. However, where does that leave chicken salad itself?
Is Chicken Salad a Healthy Option For Pregnant Ladies?
You are pregnant, you’re glowing, you are beautiful, even if you don’t think so right now. As an expecting mother, you are always watching the food you put into your body. You enjoy a nice salad from time to time, however, you are unsure if that delicious chicken salad that you had on your last date night at your fave restaurant is still an option. It may or may not be, the reason is going to depend on the restaurant the chicken, and how it was all prepared initially. In reality, the answer is, “it depends on a few things”.
If you are preparing your own salad with last night’s chicken, then yes. This is the best method to enjoy a nice chicken salad without all the worry. You can also control the calories better too, by selecting a more calorie-conscious option over the thick creamy dressing you might be tempted with at the restaurant. The possibilities are endless when you are creating your own version of a delicious chicken salad at home.
If you are opting for a mayo chicken salad sandwich, try and select a low-fat mayonnaise, and go easy on the mayo. Consider a yogurt-based dressing over the mayo. It will be a lighter option, and healthier too. If you are grabbing a store-bought chicken salad, consider adding in some of your own vegetables with it like, cucumbers, bell peppers, etc.
How Common Is Listeria In Pregnancy?
One reason that there is so much confusion around whether you can eat chicken salad while pregnant, comes from the fear of listeria, and how it will affect you and your baby. Chicken salad is a food that may or may not contain listeria. As a pregnant woman, you are 10 times more likely to have listeriosis compared to other adults. This is something that could be passed along to the baby without even realizing it.
Some of the common symptoms that you may experience include things like fever, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pains. The other thing of note is the fact that symptoms may take up to 30 days or more before they start presenting themselves. This means that you may not remember exactly what you ate that could have caused it.
If it spreads to your nervous system, the symptoms may include headache, stiffness in your neck, confusion or changes in alertness, loss of balance, or convulsions. Listeria can occur in most ready-to-eat meals bought at your local corner store, grocer, or gas station. Listeria can survive in all climates, like refrigeration and freezing. As a pregnant woman, you have a weakened immune system, which means that you may be susceptible to the listeria virus.
Final Thoughts...
Well, that took an unexpected turn during the creative process. However, it was important that you got all the information, as an expecting mother. Let us recap things, shall we? Can you eat chicken salad when pregnant? Yes, you most certainly can enjoy it when pregnant. There are, however, certain things that you need to be aware of when selecting your chicken salad.
Freshly made at home is always the best option. From both a healthy side of things and from a food safety side of things. Although there are safety concerns with pre-made food that is ready to eat, there is no reason why you cannot enjoy chicken salad while you are pregnant. If it is a sandwich or a plate of vegetables, with chicken mixed in.
When given a choice, pass up on the chicken salad from your local deli, or your favorite diner. Opt for a nice salad with lots of veggies, and even berries in it. It is going to be the healthier choice always.
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