Can Pregnant Women Eat Tartar Sauce? Complete Guide
Imagine sitting peacefully in front of the television and seeing an ad! The tartar sauce in the ad was appealing, and now you are craving it.
While you know what types of seafood and other food items are safe during pregnancy, you may wonder if you can eat tartar sauce while pregnant.
Well, the good news is that you can opt for the store-bought tartar sauce as it consists of mayonnaise safe for pregnant women (made with pasteurized eggs). But, the homemade tartar sauce may not be ideal as the mayonnaise may contain raw eggs. During pregnancy, your cravings could be strong! Read on for more information.
What Is Tartar Sauce?
Tartar sauce is a condiment you typically use with seafood, especially fish. It’s prepared using mayonnaise, pickles, onion, herbs, fresh lemon juice, and other ingredients. It has a tangy flavor and creamy texture.
You may enjoy tartar sauce with hot dogs, too, or other food items. It all comes down to your choice!
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a 100 grams portion of ready-to-serve tartar sauce contains the following:
- Protein 1 g
- Calcium 26 mg
- Iron 0.25 mg
- Magnesium 6 mg
- Phosphorus 17 mg
- Sodium 667 mg
- Potassium 68 mg
- Vitamin C 2.3 mg
- Niacin 0.093 mg
- Vitamin B-6 0.044 mg
- Vitamin E 1.68 mg
- And more!
It appears that tartar sauce is high in nutrients. Thus, you may want to consume it, especially when enjoying seafood.
The main ingredient of the tartar sauce is mayonnaise, and it’s essential to ensure that it’s safe for pregnant women. When you have any concerns about a food item, it’s best to ask your doctor about it.
Can Pregnant Women Eat Tartar Sauce?
The store-bought tartar sauce contains mayonnaise made with pasteurized eggs, and it would be safe for pregnant women. They can eat it!
On the other hand, it’s best to avoid the homemade tartar sauce as the mayonnaise at home or the eggs may not be pasteurized.
If you are expecting a baby, you may have seafood cravings. However, while seafood can be a great source of protein, you must also know what type of seafood would be safe during this time. For example, you must avoid seafood high in mercury as it won’t be safe for the baby’s nervous system development.
When you are sure about the safe seafood, it would be okay to enjoy the store-bought tartar sauce with it. However, it’s best to avoid the tartar sauce prepared at home or your friends’ or relatives’ homes.
Is Tartar Sauce Safe for Pregnant Women?
Tartar sauce is safe if you buy it from the store, and the mayonnaise is made of pasteurized eggs. However, check the bottle thoroughly to ensure you purchase the right product for your cravings.
When you prepare the tartar sauce at home, the main ingredient is mayonnaise, and if you prepare it with raw eggs, it may not be safe for the expecting mother.
There is a risk of salmonella. If pregnant women get food poisoning, it would be challenging during this time. However, if you have tartar sauce and are not feeling well, it’s best to talk to your doctor about your health.
If you are pregnant, you must maintain a balanced diet and eat fruits, vegetables, minerals, and everything that helps your child’s growth and development. You also need to see what type of food items would be unsafe at this time.
You must also check the expiration date of the store-bought tartar sauce. If it’s expired, it’s best to avoid it.
It’s a matter of 40 weeks! If you can take great care of yourself during this time, it would be excellent for your well-being and your baby.
Consult Your Doctor:
The information here is for your knowledge; it’s not medical advice. You must talk to your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns about eating tartar sauce during pregnancy.
How to Make Your Own Tartar Sauce At Home?
You can make tartar sauce at home with the fresh ingredients you like best. Just mix together a cup of mayonnaise and about a half cup of chopped pickles or pickle relish. If you want a sweeter tartar sauce, use sweet pickles like bread and butter pickles.
Choose dill pickles if you want a sauce with more flavor. You can also choose low-fat mayo if you want to cut down on fat or calories. Plain Greek yogurt can also be used.
Then try different combinations of your favorite spices. For instance, you could add fresh or dried dill, yellow or Dijon mustard, capers, lemon juice, or vinegar. Some people even put in horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, or cayenne pepper.
Once the ingredients are all mixed together, put them in the fridge for about an hour to let the flavors mix. Tartar sauce can be used to dip fish sticks or fish and chips, but it can also be used as a salad dressing.
Pour it over a bed of greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and other fresh vegetables. Or use it as a dipping sauce for crunchy vegetables like carrots, peppers, or celery.
You can put tartar sauce on a baked potato or use it to dip Buffalo wings in. Many people like tartar sauce on a fish sandwich or with fish tacos, but you can also put it on any sandwich with cold cuts, chicken, or roasted vegetables. You can also add tartar sauce to beef tartare and eat it the way it was meant to be eaten.
FAQs
Who can tell me what’s safe to eat during pregnancy?
When you visit the doctor for the next appointment, ask for the food items that are safe for you. If you are a first-time mom, many questions could be on your mind. While the world is full of information, thanks to the internet, it may not sometimes be the correct information. On the other hand, a healthcare provider is your best source of information. So, always follow the recommendations of your doctor.
Is it okay to eat the homemade tartar sauce my friend got for me?
It’s best to avoid the homemade tartar sauce as you are unsure what type of mayonnaise is used. You may also be uncertain about the cleaning environment. The goal here is to avoid the risk of any harmful bacteria or dangerous bacteria entering your system during this time. So, excuse yourself or politely ask about using raw eggs in mayonnaise.
Is it okay to eat tartar sauce at the restaurant?
If the restaurant ensures that the tartar sauce is safe for pregnant women, you can consume it if you feel fine! However, you can also ask to be on the safe side. For example, if you are at McDonald’s, you can check the menu on the website for pregnant women or ask someone to guide you. In any case, it’s best to be on the safe side.
Wrapping It Up
Pregnant women can eat the store-bought tartar sauce that contains mayonnaise prepared with pasteurized eggs. On the other hand, if the tartar sauce consists of mayonnaise prepared with raw eggs, there is a risk of salmonella.
During pregnancy, you want to keep your health in check, and the risk of food poisoning at this time won’t be ideal. When unsure, it would be best to avoid the tartar sauce. Also, always ask your doctor about the dos and don’ts of pregnancy!