Take Away Food

[ktdancer]

Good afternoon all.
So it's our 2nd wedding aniversary next week and I told hubby ages ago that all I wanted was to grab some take away chinese and chill out at home. So is takeaway chinese okay to eat, or should I stear clear. I'm so confused about the different things I can and can't be eating.
Thanks

[tellytubby]

As far as i know its perfectly fine!
Ive had takeaway chinese twice now! LOL
Enjoy your night!

[ktdancer]

yummmmmyyyyyy, yay.

[angelaartsstudent]

Take away (the "bad" kind LOL) was basically all I could stomach in the 1st trimester becuase of it's total lack of taste or texture :-)

Go for it...enjoy it.

[Life is Good]

Big congrats on your second anniversary, ktdancer

I am from the "neurotic-about-foods-in-pregnancy" school, so please use this advice or don't:

I would check the turnover of the place. Is it really busy? I would stay away from anywhere that has slow turnover. If turnover is slow and you just NEED the food from there I would ask them if it is made up fresh and explain you are pregnant etc.

I would be careful about the bean sprouts that are included in many Asian dishes. We shouldn't eat these whether they are raw or cooked (though I know many people who say cooked it fine).

A trick I use to try and make sure that my food is prepared freshly and not just heated up from the main pot is to drop or swap one of the ingredients with another. This way they need to make it up for you.

HTH and have a wonderful evening x

[Ellee05]

I have only had it twice but from the little local place that is freshly cooked and I just asked for MSG free. They were more than happy to do this. I've been told there is another enhancer that is used but not sure of the name so you could just aske them if you're concerned.

Happy eating!

[satya]

Chinese is fine... just don't reheat it.

[tattoo_mama]

the way i always judge how good a chinese takeaway place is is if theres any chinese people eating there!!! and often the cooks and thier family will sit down and have a meal at one of the tables on thier break...if theyre eating it then its good!!

[first_time_mummy]

well, i have definately eaten it.
Im only 13 weeks nearly and have had pretty much every take away there is. (which isnt doing my weight too good)

I have had kfc, maccas, chinese, fish and chips, subway, pizza.
I practically live off junk food which is bad, however, I have always eaten it and my doc reccommended that i might want to 'slow down' on the take away, but not cut it completely out of my diet, as the shock of going to healthy food, would do more harm than good, as my body is so used to the takeaway.

I should start thinking about going for a walk, or doing some yoga classes, as i dont work, and seem to just sit around home all day.
I have already put on 4 kilos and im only nearly 13 weeks.

Anyone have some good 'light' exercise routines, i might be able to start?

[ubba82]

I would be careful about the bean sprouts that are included in many Asian dishes. We shouldn't eat these whether they are raw or cooked (though I know many people who say cooked it fine).

This is the second time I have heard this, Why cant we eat bean sprouts?

[Life is Good]

Hi Ubba82

I got the information not to eat bean/alfalfa sprouts from an Australian resource that states what is not recommended in pregnancy. They say specifically that you should not eat them raw or cooked. I haven't touched them as a result, but have not done much research into why exactly we can't have them especially if they are well-cooked.

So I scoured the web this morning and have found the following info on those delicious little things that I love:

According to Expectant Mothers Guide:

Bacteria can get into sprout seeds through cracks in the shell before the sprouts are grown. Once this occurs, these bacteria are nearly impossible to wash out. Sprouts grown in the home are also risky if eaten raw. Many outbreaks have been linked to contaminated seed. If pathogenic bacteria are present in or on the seed, they can grow to high levels during sprouting - even under clean conditions. To be safe:
-Avoid eating raw sprouts of any kind (including alfalfa, clover, radish, and mung bean).
-Cook sprouts thoroughly. This significantly reduces the risk of illness.
-Check sandwiches and salads purchased at restaurants and delicatessens. They may often contain raw sprouts.
-Request that raw sprouts not be added to your food.

According to the Minti website:

Alfalfa Sprouts are dangerous because they can carry e-coli bacteria and listeria. Alfalfa sprouts also contain the amino acid canavanine which is an anti-nutrient that can inhibit the natural immune system so they are best avoided anyway.

So the first resource says cooking is fine and the other says to avoid them all together. I personally wouldn't eat them, but I know stacks of people that do - both raw and cooked and they have not had any issues.

As usual, this sort of thing could be classified as "Listeria Hysteria", but I just thought I would find out exactly what they have to say about it online.

I hope this helps x

P.S. ktdancer - sorry for the deviation in topic.

[Inertia]

I have been soooooo hungry for some stir fry and noodles. This just didn't help that! LOL.

I went through so many pregnancies not realising how much food is on the "no no list".. I didn't even realise there WAS a no-no list other than alcohol! I guess I should read it one day - but at least this food isnt really on it. Gonna go wake up my poor unwell DH and demand sweet and sour pork!