Hot Dog While Pregnant – Is It Safe To Eat?

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When a woman is pregnant, she is conscious of the baby’s health inside her belly. She wants to know what things are safe for the baby and what to avoid during pregnancy. Eating a hotdog while pregnant is not harmful. But it is always better to avoid processed food during pregnancy. While choosing the food, a woman must take care of two things:

What food is safe for the baby?
Which food contains more nutrients?

It is safe to eat a hot dog while pregnant only when cooked at over 160 degrees Fahrenheit. Any processed meat like a hot dog can be contaminated with bacteria during the packaging stage. Only one specific bacterium known as Listeria Monocytogenes can pass from mother to fetus through the placenta. And it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth.

Eating hot dogs while pregnant is safe, but if consumed daily may not be a good choice of food. One hot dog contains about 200 calories, 7 grams of proteins, 12 grams of fat, and 500mg sodium. These nutrients are not harmful to the fetus. Still, they need to be balanced by adding fruits, vegetables, and dairy products into the diet.

What is a hot dog?

A hot dog is a grilled or steamed American barbeque containing a cooked sausage between a partly sliced bun.

Ingredients

The ingredients of a hot dog are.

A hot dog bun
Processed meat can be beef, chicken, or pork
Spices including salt, pepper, and garlic
Tomato and mustard sauce
Mayonnaise
Caramelized onions
Sodium nitrates as preservatives

What are the possible harms of eating a hot dog?

Bacterial contamination

Hot dogs or any processed meat has a high risk of contamination with bacteria while the packaging stage. Bacteria Listeria Monocytogenes can cross the placenta. It causes foodborne illness and increases the risk of premature birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth. It is always necessary to cook the hot dog to kill the bacteria to avoid harm.

We also recommend avoiding other deli meats, cold cuts, soft cheeses, and pre-cut fruits. Because they can sit for a long time at the kiosk, there is a high chance of contamination with harmful bacteria.

Nitrate components

The hot dog also contains nitrates that are used to kill bacteria and add flavor and color to the hot dogs. There is no medical evidence that these nitrates are harmful to developing babies. Yet, it is better to avoid food containing artificial flavors and preservatives while pregnant.

Sensitivity to Ingredients

Some pregnant women might show sensitivity to ingredients like spices or artificial flavors in the hot dog. They can lead to allergic reactions resulting in constipation, bloating, and other gut disorders. So, it is better to avoid eating hot dogs until after delivery.

How to create a perfect hot dog?

Here are a few things to remember while making a hot dog:

Proper cooking

It is essential to eat healthy during pregnancy. Processed meat holds a high chance of contamination with bacteria. Raw or poorly cooked hot dogs can cause severe foodborne illness, leading to the premature birth of a baby, miscarriage, and stillbirth. To avoid any severe complications, cook hot dogs at 160 degrees Fahrenheit least.

Reliable brand

If you buy a hot dog from the store, always choose a reliable brand. The one containing fewer preservatives and artificial flavors keeps the mother and the baby on the safe side.

Homemade patties

Avoid eating hot dogs while pregnant from the streets. They are unhygienic. Instead of buying it from the store, use homemade patties. They are clean, hygienic, and have the least chance of contamination with bacteria.

Healthy alternatives

To avoid the risks of eating hot dogs when pregnant, consider switching to other healthy alternatives. Meat-free hot dogs made up of vegetables and soy is the best alternative. They are vegetarian-friendly, low in fat, and have a smaller chance of bacterial contamination.

Useful tips for eating a hotdog while pregnant

When eating hotdog while pregnant, consider the following.

A regular hot dog bun contains almost 140 calories, 2 grams of fat, 28-gram carbohydrates, 3-4 grams of proteins, and 250mg of nitrates. Hence containing fewer nutrients and more calories, resulting in unhealthy weight gain
A hot dog bun contains more carbohydrates, increasing the risk of gestational diabetes
Do not eat raw or poorly cooked hot dog
Avoid eating hot dogs from the street and delis
Wash your hands before preparing and eating a hot dog
Clean the surface with warm water before preparing a hot dog
Freeze the food to prevent food contamination

Some other items to snack on except for hot dogs

Smoothies

Add fruits and milk into the yogurt to make a smoothie. It will add extra vitamins and fiber, making it a healthy diet for both the mother and the baby.

Flavored yogurt

Consider eating low-fat dairy products every day. That way your baby gets enough calcium for the proper development of bones. Flavored yogurt contains protein and sugar and is a healthy diet for both mothers and babies.

Tortilla

To please your crunch cravings, choose a whole-grain tortilla high in fiber. Dip it in guacamole, which is high in folate and helps prevent baby birth defects.

Hummus

Hummus is a protein-rich diet. Adding it to your regular diet fulfills the protein need of the body. Add carrots and pepper for extra fiber and vitamins.

Popcorns

Popcorns are a high fiber diet that can help to relieve constipation some pregnant women get from prenatal vitamins.

Baked items

Taking proteins, fiber, and healthy fat will keep a woman full between meals. It will also fulfill your pregnancy cravings providing essential nutrients to the baby and keeping it healthy.

Here are the tips to please all your food cravings and not gain weight

It can be very challenging for a pregnant woman to follow the guidelines for pregnancy weight gain. Sticking to the recommended weight gain during pregnancy can reduce the risk of complications like preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Yet, excessive weight gain during pregnancy can increase the risk of complications like c-section delivery and premature birth of the baby.

Here are a few tips for healthy pregnancy weight gain.

Walk

Walk for at least 30 minutes daily. You will have fewer pains and aches as you get to the end of pregnancy if you stay active.

Light exercise

Do light exercise daily to maintain your healthy weight gain and keep you active.

Eat-in portions

Instead of eating food with high fat and sugar content, focus on small frequent meals, including fruits and vegetables.

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