Can You Eat Potato Salad While Pregnant?

There is a saying that goes like, you are what you eat! When you are pregnant, your eating habits affect you and your unborn child. So, what you choose to eat is vital.

Can you eat potato salad while pregnant? It depends. If you are getting the store-bought potato salad, it could contain listeria and, thus, won’t be suitable. However, if you prepare the potato salad at home using pregnancy-safe ingredients and potatoes, then yes, you can consume it.

So, the preparation method and what goes in the potato salad determines whether or not it’s safe for pregnant women. Read on for more information.

Can You Eat Potato Salad During Pregnancy?

Let’s say you are hungry and craving a potato salad; if so, you need to keep the following points in mind:

There could be eggs in the salad.
There could be other vegetables!
The mayonnaise could be homemade or store-bought.
The salad could be sitting for too long outside the refrigerator.

A potato salad contains other ingredients, too, and there could be raw eggs! There are chances of listeria and risk of salmonella. So, avoid potato salad that doesn’t make you 100% confident to consume it.

On the other hand, if you or your family member do the grocery shopping and buy safe items for a pregnant woman, then there is no need to worry.

Listeria is a disease-causing harmful bacteria that could be dangerous for pregnant women. It’s rare but possible.

Simply put, it depends on the preparation method, where you get the potato salad, and whether it’s safe!

How to Know If Potato Salad Is Safe for You?

When preparing the potato salad yourself, you will know that it’s perfect for you and others.

On the other hand, you can look for the following signs:

See if the salad is sitting outside the refrigerator for too long.
The salad may taste weird.
The salad can smell bad, and thus, you would know it’s best to avoid it.
The potato salad would appear dull! The vegetables won’t be fresh, and you would not want to eat the salad.

When you look at an item, for example, classic potato salad, it’s easy to tell whether it’s okay to eat it! But, if you find yourself in a scenario where it’s hard to tell, then it’s best to avoid the potato salad.

It’s vital to ensure that the potato salad a pregnant woman consumes is free from the effects of listeria infection, salmonella bacteria, or other germs or bacteria that can affect health.

Bonus Tip:

As an expecting mom, it’s okay to feel overwhelmed about baby products, breastfeeding, milk supply, food to eat, food to avoid, and more! It’s a normal feeling, and you’re not alone. If you feel anxious or stressed, talk to your doctor. Let your family be there for you in this time of need and joy. Prepare yourself before the baby arrives and change your life for the better. It’s okay to avoid a salad or any other food item that poses a risk of any kind. Instead, you can focus on a highly nutritious and well-balanced diet full of vitamins, minerals, proteins, and more.

FAQs

Can you eat potato salad from the restaurant?

It’s best to avoid the potato salad from the restaurant as you need to know what goes inside it. Also, there could be a risk of listeria, and thus, you don’t want the trouble. For example, the mayonnaise in the salad may contain eggs that are not pasteurized.

Why avoid the potato salad that’s sitting outside the refrigerator?

If the potato salad is outside the fridge for too long, it can be an open invitation to listeria. There are also other vegetables in the salad. Listeria can be dangerous for pregnant women, so it’s better not to take any chances.

What to do if you want to eat potato salad during pregnancy?

If you crave potato salad during pregnancy, you can prepare it using pregnancy-safe ingredients. You can search for potato salad recipes on YouTube and even Pinterest. You can also ask your mom, spouse, friend, or relative to prepare it for you using safe ingredients.

Can I eat any salad during pregnancy?

It’s best to eat fresh salad that’s safe for your health. You can talk to your healthcare provider to guide you about your diet. Despite online information and data, your doctor knows what’s best for your health during pregnancy. If you have gestational diabetes, it’s best to talk to the doctor and decide what salads to consider.

Is it okay to eat potatoes during pregnancy?

You can eat the potatoes as long as you are properly cooking them. However, consider it in moderation and avoid fried potatoes or sweet potato chips. You also need to maintain a healthy weight gain during your pregnancy. But, again, a health professional can suggest the best.

Can you eat potato salad from salad bars during pregnancy?

It’s better to avoid potato salad from the salad bars as there is a risk of listeria. But, on the other hand, if you can prepare the potato salad at home using pregnancy-safe vegetables and homemade mayonnaise, you would be good! Mayonnaise in the stores is usually safe as it has pasteurized eggs.

Can I continue eating potato salad during pregnancy?

If you have been eating potato salad so far, you may want to continue eating it. However, now that you know there is a risk of listeria, it’s better not to take any chances unless you are sure that the potato salad you eat is safe for you and the unborn child.

Wrapping It Up

Whether or not you can eat the potato salad depends on how you prepare it! If it’s from the store or salad bar, avoid it. But, if you are preparing the potato salad in your home using ingredients suitable for an expecting mom, then yes, it would be fine.

The purpose of exploring details on a food item for a pregnant woman is to ensure safety! After all, you and your precious one matter the most.

References:

https://www.fda.gov/food/foodborne-pathogens/listeria-listeriosis