Safe foods at the food court

[lozzy_mac]

So with Christmas shopping surely we've all found ourselves needing to buy lunch at the mall food court. What are people's pregnancy-safe recommendations?
I struggle- the 'bay marie' style stuff freaks me out, the salads could be growing listeria, etc
Usually sushi is my healthy option but that's out too!
Yesterday I ended up with a Turkish gozleme cos I knew they'd reheat it, but it still wasn't very hot it was also pretty stale, so disappointing!

Has anyone had any success they could share?

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[PumpkinZulu]

Ick not really Umm, maybe a pizza slice? Microwaves VERY hot? Is there a place that makes fresh sandwiches? I try to avoid food courts, but when I do go, I go to the busiest place there, so I know the turnover will be high. Getting something like a miso and noodle soup at an Asian place, that they have to actually go out the back to make would be a good option. It's hard to find the right balance, huh

[emc2]

There's not a lot, when I booked into the hospital there's a food court, there, and there wasn't much there either. It's all stodgy food..

Hot roast sandwich - beef or pork
Hot quarter BBQ chicken - take the skin off for less fat and the other stuff
Steamed rice
Baked potato

Drinks (not so much to do with listeria but healthy ones)
Plain milk
Water

That's all I can think of. The problem is although listeria is rare, it does happen and it's not killed by refrigeration. I have been warned off Subway and sandwich places.

[MummaSue]

Subway is ok as long as you don't get the salad. So for example you could have the meatball sub - but just ask them to make the meatballs extra hot.

I avoided food courts when I was pregnant for those reasons..... the food has usually been sitting out too long for my liking!

[PumpkinZulu]

Subway is alright, I used to work there. Do NOT get the lettuce, it comes in bags and isn't fresh. The tomato and onion is sliced up daily. Get any meat, just make sure it's microwaved hot or toasted

[sasha]

I usually get some kind of Asian food that requires them to actually cook it (the stuff they have on the board at the back, you know?), rather than the food in the bain marie Last time was a few months back and I got some tempura chicken and asked the guy if the chicken was cooked from raw or just reheated and he assured me it was cooked fresh on order ... and then he said, "You must be pregnant!" So it's good to know that some of them are also really aware of the listeria risks as well.

It's a bit of a bummer if you want anything cold, though.

[CrazyLady]

Subway is alright, I used to work there. Do NOT get the lettuce, it comes in bags and isn't fresh. The tomato and onion is sliced up daily. Get any meat, just make sure it's microwaved hot or toasted

Depends on who owns it. The one near my parents changed hands and the ingredients looked brown and wilted. We saw the manager pick his nose too. Needless to say one of my friends got really bad food poisoning after eating there. She required a drip to rehydrate

[PumpkinZulu]

That's disgusting. Hopefully if utd you just wouldn't eat there, I'd rather skip a meal or eat late than eat food like that

[lozzy_mac]

glad I'm not the only one finding it hard!
Thanks for the tip on subway lettuce, hadn't realised that.
Soup is a good idea- boiling water is a win
I'll have to hunt out the places that make stuff fresh, Sasha thats so funny that they figured out why you were asking!
The few waitresses I've had to ask about creamy dressings have given me the strangest looks when I ask if its made from raw egg!

[CrazyLady]

It's a bit of a bummer if you want anything cold, though.

My friend would crave frozen yoghurt so would keep plastic spoons in her handbag and go grab one from coles or woolies. When I was pregnant I'd grab a teaspoon from home, put it in a ziplock bag and go into a supermarket to buy a tub of yoghurt as a mid shopping feed. It stopped the lightheadedness

[CinderToriella]

Maybe you could take a pre packed lunch? Saves money and you know what your eating..I'm all for a pre packed picnic

And you can eat sushi, you just need to know its fresh, ask them questions about when they have made it etc, google it you will find some information on it..
In the end its up to you what you eat from anywhere, I would often have asian food from food courts, not for any reason but coz i liked it ..And i was very careful of what i consumed ..

[MrsBexie]

I've been eating subway heaps this pg!! Lettuce and all!
Obviously if it looks gross I won't, but I haven't had any probs with it,

Id stick to stuff they have to heat (and ask for it extra hot) or fresh made things...

[emc2]

A friend who works as a nurse warned me about subway...the thing is with listeria it can show no symptoms or symptoms 3 weeks or so after.

There's a lot of food at the supermarket, that comes in packets like cheese and crackers, yoghurt, you could get to get you through until you get home.

[PumpkinZulu]

I think the main thing is simply commonsense. If it's a place you go to regularly, that is clean and does a high turnover, you will be fine. Listeria is very rare. Stay away from lettuce when out if possible, but if you can't, you'll be okay. Don't eat at places that look filthy, or out of bay maries. Heat food well. But most importantly, weigh up your own choices and make decisions on a case to case basis. Making wise food choices isn't just for us preggy ladies

[emc2]

Listeria scare sparks chicken products' recall
Listeria scare sparks chicken products' recall

Listeria and Food: Commonly asked questions
http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/scie...lyaske3115.cfm

[luna moth]

Most shopping centres have a supermarket - I would just go down there, get a pack of rice crackers and a tub of hommus, and because I'm a freak, I keep a plastic knife in my handbag, and there's lunch. There is absolutely nothing in a food court that I trust.

[LionsandBears]

I never ate at food courts unless I knew they were cooking right there and then - like some of the asian places. Or McDonalds, sadly. Actually, I don't think I ate at a food court the whole time.

I avoided all sandwich bars, salad bars, sushi, bain marie food etc. Often the food in the bain marie is cooked and left from 10:30am and when you're having lunch at 1pm, it's been sitting slowly stewing bacteria for a couple of hours. Yuk.

Carry a small container of nuts with you. It's good to keep up the protein intake as well as taking care of the hunger.

[ShootingStar]

Alot of the time when i go out i take my lunch with me. Usually a sandwich with lettuce and cheese, then take along a small tin of tuna and put it on when i get there. Otherwise.. not the most healthiest option but hot chips with vinegar always go down nicely