what is there left to eat???

[first_timer]

Is anyone else experiencing difficulties finding something to eat for lunch and/or dinner??

I was craving a toasted focacia, so ordered one minus the salami...however the guy behind the counter simply took out the salami and toasted the sandwich...at which stage i began to get really paranoid about how long it had been there and possible contamination...in the bin it went....so I proceeded to sit down at a nearby cafe and ordered a pork and veal burger "meat very well cooked please"...but of course it didnt happen...it was pinkish in the middle...so I now have a hot lasagne in front of me with some chips from the trusty take away shop...

Sorry for the longwinded email but I am tired of salad sandwiches...and would like to know if anyone else has had similar experience and/or any health alternative lunch ideas...and are we being too cautious or too paranoid with food??....I am really struggling.....

Thanks in advance to whoever replies!

[Indadhanu]

Well, I was told by my doctor that as long as deli meat is heated up (like in a toasted sandwich/foccacia etc) then its ok to eat. I've been eating toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and I and bub are quite fine

With the meat I was also told as long as it is mostly cooked (like a tiny bit pink is ok, but not bloody) and is cooked very hot then it is fine also.

I haven't really had to give up much food, except subway and pre-made salad sandwiches BOO!!!! I think we do tend to worry too much about some foods... of course I won't eat cold deli meat or raw eggs or any of those things because the threat is high, but I still eat a burger from Hungry Jacks and I have eaten at Sizzler if the food at the salad bar is hot (not the cold stuff though!).

I was craving a toasted focacia, so ordered one minus the salami...however the guy behind the counter simply took out the salami and toasted the sandwich...

Though if you see someone do this again, tell them NO, I'm allergic to (whatever you don't want) please make another one. I get this all the time when I ask for tomoato off burgers at fast food outlets (I'm allergic, though not majorly, just makes me get headaches and grumpy), and if I see one tiny bit of tomato seed on there I take it back and make them make it fresh. If they don't they're not worth your custom!

[first_timer]

Well, I was told by my doctor that as long as deli meat is heated up (like in a toasted sandwich/foccacia etc) then its ok to eat. I've been eating toasted ham and cheese sandwiches and I and bub are quite fine

With the meat I was also told as long as it is mostly cooked (like a tiny bit pink is ok, but not bloody) and is cooked very hot then it is fine also.

I haven't really had to give up much food, except subway and pre-made salad sandwiches BOO!!!! I think we do tend to worry too much about some foods... of course I won't eat cold deli meat or raw eggs or any of those things because the threat is high, but I still eat a burger from Hungry Jacks and I have eaten at Sizzler if the food at the salad bar is hot (not the cold stuff though!).


Though if you see someone do this again, tell them NO, I'm allergic to (whatever you don't want) please make another one. I get this all the time when I ask for tomoato off burgers at fast food outlets (I'm allergic, though not majorly, just makes me get headaches and grumpy), and if I see one tiny bit of tomato seed on there I take it back and make them make it fresh. If they don't they're not worth your custom!

Oh well that makes me feel much better!! My GP told me to "eat whatever i want" but of course i havent taken his advice...and I havent spoken to a midwife yet, so am relying very much on online advice and books!!

[Indadhanu]

I've found so much conflicting data online, I've just decided to use my head and ignore all this 'data'.

It's a bit like with eggs...... they're a great source of protein, but high in cholesterol... so do you wat them or not? Depends on which article you read as to which piece of information you receive.

I think its just more sensible to weigh up the possible bacteria content, remember that if its hot its generally ok (soft cheeses are ok if they are cooked) as the bacteria dies.

If we followed all these food 'rules' people give us, we'd never eat anything but dry crackers!!!!!!

[Karina]

I didnt give up any particular types of foods, but I just used my common sense. If it looked dodgy, then I wouldnt eat it. If the food prep area looked dirty, then I wouldnt eat it...

If you are worried about ham and stuff, just put it in the microwave and make it hot. I used to buy bread rolls, cheese and ham from the supermarket and make sandwiches at work.

I ate heaps of subway. They make it up fresh and if you go when they are busy then the turnover of the ingredients is high so youre probably not getting something thats been sitting there all day.

[first_timer]

I've found so much conflicting data online, I've just decided to use my head and ignore all this 'data'.

It's a bit like with eggs...... they're a great source of protein, but high in cholesterol... so do you wat them or not? Depends on which article you read as to which piece of information you receive.

I think its just more sensible to weigh up the possible bacteria content, remember that if its hot its generally ok (soft cheeses are ok if they are cooked) as the bacteria dies.

If we followed all these food 'rules' people give us, we'd never eat anything but dry crackers!!!!!!

i thought the same about eggs!!! yeah i have been pretty bad lately with food a bit too cautious and as a result not eating the healthiest...well this week i havent been able to stomach much with food..i can stomach fatty foods which is odd..but not much is tasting the same lately

[Astrid]

I have found with eating to just follow my gut, it has served me well so far. Had one time when I just looked at most of the food and went "I can't eat that". I was right, almost everyone else got food poisoning.

Yes there is a risk of listeria, it is up to each of us to decide what our riskiness is when eating. I find being able to eat a range of foods and not stressing to be very important, so tend to be a bit relaxed about the guidelines. I do admit though for using the pregnancy excuse to avoid foods I don't like without insulting the person offering the dish. Easier to say I'm pregnant than explain I don't like smoked salmon or brie.

[feeb]

Listeria is always as risk but u cant live your life stressing.
If a place looks like they dont sell much each day dont buy there.

I started my preg still eating ham etc but at about 14 weeks the thought of it made me feel ill, i will crave it then take 1 bite and think yuck (i do this with lots of things) i will often be out at a food court and buy a few diff lunches as when i start one i change mind!!

i have eaten maccas during preg its one thing i crave bad i know.

15 years ago and more no one knew any of this and all had healthy pregs.

[Mez80]

Oh hang in there...for me this was one of the worst things about being pregnant. I lived on cheese and tomato sandwiches and napolitana based pastas (when out and about) when i was pregnant and i was very weary of my grandmas cooking (she leaves meat and chicken out for ages before preparing it) so every time i went there it was a suprise visit.
Goodluck with the rest of ur pregnancy.

[Tish]

of course I won't eat cold deli meat or raw eggs or any of those things because the threat is high

Just a question, but I thought the reason that raw egg and deli meat was off the table was due to salmonella (food poisoning) threat? I have been avoiding these foods because I've read I need to, but I did forget and have runny poached eggs the other day and felt quite guilty.

Got me to thinking though... I've been eating runny eggs, had slices and things made from raw egg and even put raw egg in smoothies sometimes to boost protein, very regularly since I was a child. I can't think of any time that I've been sick from eating these foods. I know that my immune system is somewhat compromised now, but I've always been very sensitive to food poisoning but never been sick from cold meat or raw egg.

BBQ chicken from the supermarket is another matter however...

Not about to take up runny eggs every day for breakfast, but just my thoughts

Tish
x

[bubNo.2]

HI there:

I was just reading this thread and i had to tell you something:

Im 23 weeks pregnant and i have eaten cold and hot ham and i have been fine! Mind you i would eat it if it has been in the fridge for ages or been siting out for ages. The soft cheeses arghhh i had a big argument with my sister (whos preg as well) re the comsumption of soft cheeses. I had some over xmas and she nearly had a coronary! Plus i had a prawn freshly cooked .... i was fine baby was fine.
Then i found on a on line australian site got to do with foods with pregnancy.....gues what Prawns are great (have to cooked well derr...) and soft cheese blue vein and camembeir ect can be eaten if they were made from Pasturaised milk.... as the listeria bacteria is found in UNPASTERISED milk!!!!

Again however it is like any food ... if left out of fridge for ever and a day and then you have some ... well you will no doubt get sick as listeria is found in ALL FOODS if not properly prepared!

What im saying ladies: still enjoy you food and dont get tooo cautious as salads only do get BORING!

Cheers Ainsley

[Helly]

Actually yeah, that was something I was wondering about - I haven't been eating any camembert (sob, sob) cos of all this - but I KNOW that by law, every dairy product sold in Australia at least FOR CONSUMPTION, has to be pasteurised! If you buy unpasteurised milk, they have to tell you it's for "external" use only - so doesn't that mean that in Australia, we would be fine?

Does this mean I've had no camembert for 12 weeks for no reason???

[Indadhanu]

Do you think it makes a big difference if you eat those things usually before being pregnant? Because I only ate ham occassionally, only had a googy egg once in a while, never ate soft cheese (not a huge fan), and only had salad sometimes (prefer steamed vege). I steer away from it just because I never really ate them before, though I do wonder if it makes a difference.

Have been craving a ham and cheese sandwich though. OOOHHHH MAN would I go and buy some ham if I thought it was ok!

[feeb]

I eat poached eggs and love them!!! have not stopped having them while preg, i dont eat them to often maybe every few weeks we may go out for breaky on a weekend.

Salad I dont like so that has not been and something i have eaten, and in fact lettuce is another listeria risk that is not well publisised!

Eat what you want to eat but only from reputable places that you know are good or places that are busy!!! Busy eqautes to high turnover!!

[Tish]

I know! All this talk of contraband food has me hungry!! LOL

TBH I don't know. Maybe eating so much raw or runny egg my whole life has helped me to build up some kind of resistance to those particular bacteria.

The main thing that got me started was when a friend compared eating runny yolk to having a drink of alcohol, that is both risks/risky. To my mind wine definitely has alcohol in it. Not all eggs are infected with salmonella. Only bad ones.

Re the cheeses, I thought it was the mold on the outside that was the issue? All this really does my head in sometimes.

I pigged out on wine, soft cheese and my nannas chocky slice (with raw egg) before the egg transfer (OMG a benefit of IVF LOL), but boy do I miss those foods now LOL.

PS, have you guys seen this email going around? This is the first part, made me chuckle at my food predicament hehe...

Subject: Lucky to be here
CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE KIDS WHO WERE BORN IN THE 1920's, 30's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!

First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us and lived in houses made of asbestos.

They took aspirin, ate blue cheese, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes or cervical cancer.

Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints.

....

And it goes on

[Indadhanu]

Tish you should post that in the "just kidding" section, it sounds funny!!!!

[Bathsheba]

Don't follow my advice but when i was pregnant (3 times) I didn't change my diet at all. However I don't eat red meat so that helped I guess (sticking to the guidelines). I ate sushi, Camembert, Smoked salmon, runny eggs, the works. But I cut down on what I would eat outside the home. Instead if I wanted a New York Bagel (smoked salmon, cream cheese etc I would buy all the ingredients fresh from the supermarket... cream cheese fresh from the packet etc. Checking the used by dates, always reaching to the back of the refrigerated cabinet etc. Having worked in the food industry i know what to look out for. I also wouldn't eat from a self serve bain marie that the general public had access to. The guidelines don't say much about that do they? Does it say to avoid a dessert that everyone has been picking through? With the sushi hand rolls that i ate i would ONLY eat them from a particular place that has very high hygiene standards and a high turn over. I don't eat red meat and I needed this as a protein option. I can't see the millions of pregnant Japanese women avoiding sushi. Excuse the pun but bite me! The only time I have had food poisoning was from a loaf of bread.... who would have thought THAT would be a risk, thankfully i wasn't pregnant. I think that that choosing a food outlet with high turnover/cleanliness standards needs to be right up there with the recommendations. Use common sense... take the recommendations literally and you can still get into trouble. I think you need to see the big picture, not just rely on a guideline. Think about the history of the food that you are about to eat... I recommend the shortest distance from factory to your mouth... less middle men. Also consider the overall cleanliness of the environment you are eating in... have you washed your hands? Hand contamination is a huge contributor to infection and food. At the end of the day, don't be paranoid, know that millions of women have eaten everything on the "banned" list and carried healthy babies... don't live in fear, just be careful and clean.

[~Belinda~]

My god, I know how you feel. I couldn't bear the look of lettuce or sandwiches in my first trimester. Do you know what I ate for lunch at work? LEAN CUISINES! Yes that's right....then after 12 weeks, I got so sick of them and went back on to salad. Your first trimester is so weird...all those cravings!!

BTW, I think there is way too much emphasis on what to eat/what not to eat when pregnant, I was careful but wasn't fully strict. I ate ham and I was fine!

I stayed away from BBQ Chicken from Woolies, Mrs Crockets Pre-Made Salads, Sushi and Soft Serve Ice Cream. MAN...but did I buy soft serve only a few weeks ago...I ate it sooooooooooooooo darn fast that I got the biggest ice cream headache in history! It tasted unreal!!!