We all know potato salad is delicious. Who doesn’t like eating potato salad? It’s tasty and nutritious.
Potato salad is an American traditional favorite dish. It is a very versatile dish that can be served as a side meal or appetizer or as a complete summer meal when accompanied with other side dishes such as raw vegetables and pickles or cured meats.
But it’s important to be aware of how the ingredients you eat can affect your unborn baby’s health.
So, can pregnant women eat potato salad? While it is safe for any other person, most people might think it is not for pregnant women.
Let’s find clarity on this issue.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Potato Salad?
The answer is yes. Just make sure the potato salad is either fresh and homemade or from a reputable source such as a restaurant or deli where it’s unlikely to be contaminated with harmful bacteria.
Potato salad is a great side dish for just about any meal. It’s creamy and delicious, but it can be dangerous for pregnant women.
The best way to have it is to make sure the potato salad has been made with properly refrigerated mayonnaise.
Refrigeration is necessary because most mayonnaise recipes rely on raw eggs carrying Salmonella bacteria.
This bacteria can cause food poisoning and be dangerous to your unborn baby.
Potato salad can be safe for pregnant women if it has been properly refrigerated.
However, because it’s made with mayonnaise and other ingredients that can spoil easily, it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria such as Listeria or Salmonella if not handled properly.
To prevent food-borne illness, ensure it’s stored at the proper temperature before and after purchasing it.
Now that you know pregnant women can eat potato salad, how important they are to their bodies.
Here are a few benefits derived from potatoes:
1. Potatoes are Nutritious
Potato salads are tasty and nutritious for Pregnant Women.
Potatoes are a rich source of carbohydrates, protein, vitamin B6, magnesium, and potassium. Potatoes contain healthy carbohydrates.
Potatoes contain folate, which is good for the normal development of your baby’s brain, spinal cord, and skull.
The only problem is that most people eat them deep-fried or with a lot of butter and cream.
This kind of potato doesn’t have any nutritional value.
The best way to eat potatoes is to boil them with their skin on and eat them with a little bit of salt or pepper.
Potatoes also contain a lot of fiber. Fiber makes you feel full and satisfied; it’s good for your digestive system.
2. Potatoes Reduce Acidity
Often many mothers complain about acidity during pregnancy. In fact, during pregnancy, the level of progesterone hormone increases rapidly in the body.
This hormone relaxes the valve between the stomach and food pipe. Due to this, there is a chance of acidity in pregnant women.
Pregnant mothers can’t take antacids because they are harmful to the baby.
Pregnant women are usually advised to eat potatoes.
The reason is that potatoes are rich in alkaline substances that can reduce the body’s acidity.
Potatoes and other alkaline foods can also neutralize stomach acid, making pregnant women no longer feel nauseous and not want to vomit.
3. Potatoes are a Source of Energy
Potatoes are a great source of energy during pregnancy because they provide complex carbohydrates, which your body converts into glucose or energy.
One medium-sized potato with skin provides 110 calories, 2 grams protein, 26 grams carbohydrate, and 2 grams fiber.
Carbohydrates are your body’s primary source of fuel, so potatoes help you to maintain an adequate energy level throughout your pregnancy.
Your calorie intake increases significantly to support your baby’s growth and development when you are pregnant.
You need energy, especially in the first trimester when you are likely to feel fatigued and sleepy.
Potatoes can help keep your blood sugars stable, which will provide you with energy throughout the day.
4. Potatoes Reduce Some Health Risks
A 2016 study published in the Journal of Nutrition found that pregnant women who ate more than five servings of potatoes per week were less likely to develop the following:
- hypertension
- preeclampsia
- gestational diabetes
These findings are important as hypertension, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes can cause serious health problems during pregnancy for both mother and baby.
Potatoes may be an effective and affordable way for pregnant women to ensure they get enough potassium, a mineral essential for proper cardiovascular function.
Potassium is also important for maternal bone health, fetal development, optimizing blood glucose levels, and preventing kidney stones during pregnancy.
Read a related post: Can Pregnant Women Eat Prosciutto
Summary
Can pregnant women eat potato salad? While eating potato salad might seem harmless, it’s actually a potential source of food poisoning due to the high risk of contamination from listeria bacteria.
This can cause listeriosis, an infection that can seriously affect both mother and baby.
Potato salad is considered safe to eat during pregnancy only if the ingredients are fresh and not expired.
Suppose pregnant women want to eat potato salad.
In that case, they should make sure that any ingredients used are either cooked or pasteurized.
This is especially true for egg-based dishes, such as mayonnaise and cream sauces.
Therefore practice basic food safety guidelines while preparing the potato salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to eat potatoes in pregnancy?
Potatoes are safe to eat when you’re pregnant, as long as you cook them properly.
They are rich in fiber and vitamins, making them a good choice for pregnant women.
Potatoes are also very filling, which can help control weight gain during pregnancy.
Potatoes contain a lot of starch, which is a very important energy source for pregnant women.
Can I eat potato salad made with mayonnaise while pregnant?
Yes, you can eat potato salad made with mayonnaise while pregnant.
To be on the safe side, make sure any mayonnaise in your home is pasteurized, and avoid making homemade mayo with raw eggs when preparing potato salad at home.
Commercial egg substitutes are pasteurized as well, so they’re a safer option.
Is it safe to eat salad while pregnant?
The first thing that needs to be understood is that salad is not just a single item.
It consists of many different vegetables and fruits which are healthy during pregnancy.
However, certain vegetables that might not be best for you must be avoided during this phase.
Also, salads can have different sauces, which can also vary in their nutritional value for pregnant women.
Iesha is a loving mother of 2 beautiful children. She’s an active parent who enjoys indoor and outdoor adventures with her family. Her mission is to share practical and realistic parenting advice to help the parenting community becoming stronger.
