Great news! It's generally safe to eat Chinese food while you're pregnant. However there are some things you should be cautious about. Whether you're making Chinese food at home or having a takeaway, it's important to only eat meat, fish and shellfish that has been properly cooked.
Healthy Chinese food for pregnant woman include: steamed or boiled fish, shrimp, crabs, and lobster (not fried) vegetables such as broccoli, peppers, bok choy, and green beans. cabbage soup with seafood added in the last few minutes of cooking time.
Avoid eggplant, pears, radishes, spicy foods, and sage – in Chinese medicine these ingredients in food can cause excessive movement and miscarriage. Do your best to avoid eating processed sugars such as: cakes, cookies, chocolate, ice cream, snacks, and pastries.
Is MSG safe during pregnancy? Yes, it's safe to eat foods with MSG during pregnancy. Your body digests MSG the same way it digests glutamate found naturally in foods like tomatoes and cheese.
The addition of MSG in foods is “generally recognized as safe,” says the FDA site. MSG is found in Chinese cuisine -- but also in tomatoes, cheese, canned soup, and a range of foods.
In Australia and New Zealand, no food additive — including MSG — is approved for use in food until its safety has been established by FSANZ. MSG and other glutamates are among a group of food additives that are generally permitted in foods, due to their safety.
ALL CHICKEN PRODUCTS CONTAIN MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE. NOT RECOMMENDED FOR INFANTS BELOW 12 MONTHS AND PREGNANT WOMEN.
According to Chinese medicine, confinement foods primarily serve to nourish and replenish the blood and give the body more yang, or warmth, through “warm” foods. Ginger, Chinese angelica root (dang gui), red beans (adzuki), and sesame oil provide warmth. Pigs feet, peanuts, and papaya boost breast milk.
Consequently, the Chinese postpartum diet consists of mainly 'hot' foods with the addition of meat- chicken mainly but pork ,beef and eggs are also eaten. Seafood is not eaten as it's thought to be s cold food as it comes from the sea which is cold, and also toxic for the recovering postpartum parent.
Soy sauce is safe during pregnancy as long as it's consumed in moderation. Too much soy sauce can be high in sodium. Soy sauce contains alcohol, isoflavones, and heavy metals, which can be harmful to the developing fetus in excessive amounts. You can enjoy foods that contain soy, at least in moderation.
MSG, or monosodium glutamate, is a flavor-enhancing food additive used in Asian cooking, fast foods, and commercially packaged food products. It is a white powder derived from a natural glutamic acid found in seaweed, sugar beets, and certain vegetables.
Although rice can help you and your baby stay healthy, it must be had in moderation. Rice is a staple food in many cultures. However, many expectant mothers might frequently ask themselves if it is safe to have rice during pregnancy. The good news is that you can have either brown rice or white rice and not be worried.
Is it Safe to Eat Fried Rice During Pregnancy? If consuming fried rice with ingredients such as eggs, ensure it is fully cooked. If you are dining out, ask if the eggs used are pasteurized (source: FDA). Fried rice with cold cuts or deli meats should be heated until steaming.
Pregnant women who consume a lot of salt endanger the health of their unborn children. High-salt diets may result in cardiovascular diseases and are a leading cause of mortality globally.
A balanced diet during pregnancy will include an increase in some vitamins, nutrients and minerals. As a guide, try for the following each day: 4 to 6 serves of breads/cereals, rice, noodles, pasta (one serve equals two slices of bread, one cup of cooked rice/pasta/noodles, half a cup of muesli)
Consumption of Chinese food during pregnancy is not highly recommended due to high sodium levels. High sodium levels in Chinese food might lead to complications for the mother and the baby.
Safe foods
seafood/shellfish as long as it has been cooked, for example mussels, lobster, crab, oysters, scallops, clams and cold, pre-cooked prawns. Peanuts and other nuts (unless you're allergic) - eating nuts when pregnant will not affect whether or not your baby has a peanut allergy.
Chinese Food Restaurants
Chinese pancakes and steamed wonton noodles must be included in your starch allowance. Fried rice, fried noodles and deep-fried batter coated foods are the starches to avoid. Brown rice should be substituted for white sticky rice. Pork buns and barbecued pork ribs should also be avoided.
It also has an equally familiar-sounding ingredient: monosodium glutamate, or MSG. McDonald's doesn't currently use MSG in the other items that compose its regular, nationally available menu—but both Chick-fil-A and Popeyes list it as an ingredient in their own chicken sandwiches and chicken filets.
McDonald's doesn't use MSG in its food that is on the national menu, and there are no updates from the company yet on whether the Crispy Chicken Sandwiches will be added to the menu permanently. McDonald's has been making strides to use purer ingredients in its food.
Some of our food does contain MSG but rest assured, it's only present at levels that are safe for the general population as deemed by New Zealand Food Standards. It's a recognised flavour enhancer that also occurs naturally in foods such as meat, fish, milk, vegetables, fruits and cheese.