If you’ve ever asked that question before, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns when it comes to eating a typical pregnant woman’s diet. So, can you eat hot dogs while pregnant? And as with so many other things about pregnancy, the answer isn’t quite as simple as yes or no. Sure, there are some restrictions on what you need to steer clear from during your preggo days, but there are also plenty of ways to make them safe to eat through your third trimester. If you want the short answer about whether or not hot dogs are safe for pregnant women to eat and how much is too much, keep reading for all the details.
Why Are There Restrictions On Hot Dogs While Pregnant?
In this case, it’s not so much that there is any specific ingredient that poses a health risk to your growing baby. Rather, it’s the fact that eating hot dogs is just generally risky from the get-go. First, the risk of contracting food poisoning from eating tainted hot dogs is pretty high. Furthermore, since there are no accurate estimates of how many people get sick from food poisoning each year, it’s difficult to say how severe the health dangers are. The risks of eating hot dogs also have to do with the fact that they’re high in saturated fat. This is the “bad” form of fat that can negatively impact your health. Eating too much of it while pregnant can lead to a variety of health issues, including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
Is It Safe To Eat Hot Dogs While Pregnant?
There are a few ways to make hot dogs safer to eat while you’re expecting. First and foremost, you can choose the right kind of hot dogs to eat. Specifically, you’ll want to choose nitrite-free hot dogs. These are lower in saturated fat and much lower in sodium. What you put on your hot dogs also matters. If you’re going to eat a plain dog, you’re probably going to be fine. If you want to add toppings, though, there are a few options that are safe for pregnant women. Just steer clear from the ones with high amounts of sodium and fat.
How Many Hot Dogs Is Too Many?
It’s safe to say that you’re probably better off not eating hot dogs than eating a ton of them. That said, there is no magic number of how many hot dogs are too many while pregnant. These things are all relative, after all. If you’re pregnant and eating a cup of beans every day, you’re going to have way more issues than if you’re eating a few hot dogs. The only way to know for sure if you’re eating too many hot dogs is to speak to your doctor.
What Else Should I Know About Hot Dogs While Pregnant?
As with just about everything else you eat while pregnant, it’s important to go for the best quality food you can. When it comes to hot dogs, that means choosing organic, non-GMO, nitrite-free options whenever possible. Once you’ve chosen your hot dogs, you can do a variety of things to make them safer to eat. After all, the only way to know for sure if a food is safe to eat while pregnant is to talk it over with your doctor. That’s true even if you’ve been eating a certain food during your entire pregnancy without any issues. There’s no way to say for sure if a food will be safe during your entire pregnancy, so you need to play it safe.
Can I Have Chicken Nuggets While Pregnant?
Chicken nuggets are another hot-button issue when it comes to eating while pregnant. This one is a little trickier to navigate, though, mostly because there isn’t one single issue that makes them unsafe to eat. Rather, there are a variety of ways in which they can be problematic. First and foremost, you should try to go for organic nuggets, especially if you can afford them. Second, you’ll want to make sure that the nuggets don’t have added ingredients like sodium, preservatives, or high fructose corn syrup. If they do, it’s best to steer clear. Also, make sure you’re not eating too many nuggets. Although you should limit your intake of high-fat foods while pregnant, too many nuggets are definitely a bad thing.
Can I Have Taco Shells During Pregnancy?
Taco shells are another one that you’ll want to talk over with your doctor before eating. While there aren’t any specific ingredients in taco shells that are unsafe, there are plenty of ways you can make them a bad choice for pregnant women. This includes eating too many high-fat foods, eating too many additives, and eating too few fruits and veggies. If you can make tacos safe to eat while pregnant, they’ll make a great snack or small meal. Just make sure you’re using a low-fat cheese, low-fat taco meat (or beans), and low-fat sour cream.
Can I Have Shake N’ Bake During Pregnancy?
Shake ‘N Bake is a classic southern dish that is typically made with corn flakes, bread crumbs, and a ton of other not-so-healthy ingredients. That’s the main issue with Shake ‘N Bake—it’s not the best choice of food while pregnant. Shake ‘N Bake is mostly made up of cornflakes, bread crumbs, and butter. Corn flakes and bread crumbs are high in saturated fat, while butter is loaded with saturated fat and sodium. All of these things are bad for pregnant women. If you eat too much of them, you can run into issues like heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. That said, there are a few ways to make Shake ‘N Bake a safe choice for pregnant women. First, you could choose the corn-free version of the product. Second, you could make your own version of the recipe, swapping out the ingredients for ones that are lower in saturated fat.
Can I Have Salmon While Pregnant?
If you’re a big salmon-eater, you’re in luck. This is one of the few fish you can eat while pregnant without worrying about mercury contamination. Aside from that, it’s also incredibly healthy, rich in nutrients, and a great source of protein. As with everything else you eat while pregnant, though, it’s important to eat salmon in moderation. You can even enjoy salmon while pregnant during all stages of the pregnancy. What can you do to make salmon safe to eat while pregnant? Well, you’ll first want to make sure that you’re eating wild salmon, not farmed salmon. Then, you’ll want to make sure you’re not eating too much of it. You don’t want to go overboard on fatty fish, especially while pregnant.
Bottom Line
All in all, Hot dogs are one of the most polarizing foods out there. Some people love ’em and some people hate ’em. The good news is that eating hot dogs when you’re pregnant is actually pretty straightforward. As long as you make sure to go for the low-fat, nitrite-free version of hot dogs, and you eat them in moderation, there’s really not much to worry about. If you can, though, it might be best to avoid them during your pregnancy. After all, it’s always best to go for the more nutritious, low-fat options whenever possible.