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!!!!!!

[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.

[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!

[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.