The fact that you are pregnant does not mean that you will have a nightmare Christmas, as far as your diet is concerned. It is important that you know the foods that you should avoid, but there are endless foods and delicious preparations that you can enjoy on these dates. What to eat at Christmas if you are pregnant? We tell you!
Foods that you cannot eat at Christmas if you are pregnant
Many of the Christmas dishes, especially those related to appetizers, are not exactly the most recommended for pregnant women. Yes, sorry, you will have to look the other way for certain delights, but don’t worry because we will offer you some alternatives later. Safety for a pregnant woman comes first, so let’s focus on what you can’t eat:
- Raw meat and fish: The risk of contracting the Toxoplasma gondii parasite or Listeria monocytogenes bacterium from raw food is too high, so avoid undercooked or raw shellfish, as well as any type of smoked food.
- Sausages: uncooked sausages and some types of cold meats can also have bacteria, so they are not recommended during pregnancy.
- Unpasteurized dairy: make sure the origin of the cheeses, since if they are not pasteurized they could contain some bacteria, such as licteria, which are harmful to the baby. Remember that any dairy must always be made from pasteurized milk.
- Alcohol: of course, you can’t drink alcohol, this year it won’t be part of your parties.
- Be careful with the sauces: before trying a sauce, ask what it contains, because it can contain a raw egg, some unpasteurized cheese or be too hot or spicy (which can cause indigestion). You can eat sauces but always knowing their ingredients and avoid processed ones, as they contain numerous carcinogenic and harmful ingredients for the baby.
What can you eat at Christmas if you are pregnant?
Well, everything else, as long as you take care of the variety a bit and don’t eat excessively. The ‘eat for two’ thing is a myth, it’s not really necessary. It is true that at the end of the pregnancy the caloric need increases and the pregnant woman feels hungrier, therefore the ingestion of food increases. However, the ideal is that it should always be with healthy foods.
Christmas snacks for pregnant women
If you look, most of the foods that you cannot eat are used to make appetizers and entrees on Christmas dates. Therefore, you have two options, either avoid them at all costs or bring your own. We like the second option better, because the first involves too much willpower at this time, right? You would have to stay away from the table or be late so as not to see them. With the second option you will feel more comfortable because you will be able to eat at the same time as the other guests and you will feel just as included.
We suggest some delicious appetizers to eat this Christmas if you are pregnant (and if you are not, they are also an ideal option for the Christmas menu):
- Fresh Vegetable Sticks with Hummus: This is a delicious classic and it’s so easy to make. You can make the hummus yourself at home (it can be chickpea, broad bean, lentil… the legume that suits you best) or buy it ready-made (make sure it has natural ingredients and none of the ones you can’t eat). Accompany it with carrot and cucumber sticks. It is a snack that will also help you eliminate anxiety about food these days.
- Stuffed volovanes: it is a typical Christmas appetizer, but many times it is filled with foods that are not suitable for pregnant women. Therefore, if you like to cook, you can make them yourself. If you make the puff pastry, the base of the volovanes, you will control the ingredients much better and you can make it, for example, with whole wheat flour to make it a little healthier. But if you don’t like or don’t feel like cooking, you can buy ready-made puff pastry or even frozen volauvans, you just have to fill them. Any ideas for the filling?? Vegetables to taste in curry (mushrooms, onion, carrot, pepper…), cod with garlic and olives (always well cooking cod), ground meat cooked with the spices you like best… first make the filling, then Put it in the volovanes and put them in the oven until they are golden brown (you can brush the dough with beaten egg to make them shiny). It is a very delicious appetizer that you can eat perfectly at Christmas, although in moderation, since pregnant women should not abuse it.
- Stuffed Mini Mushrooms with Hollandaise Sauce – Sauté the mini mushrooms with squid, add a little white wine, cover and cook for 15 minutes. Hollandaise sauce is made with raw egg yolks, so your best option will be a vegan hollandaise sauce: take 150g of firm tofu (without water), 1/4-1/2 cup of water, 1 tablespoon of soy sauce or tamari, 1 tablespoon of Tahini or sesame paste, two tablespoons of mustard, a couple of pinches of turmeric (although this is to taste), a pinch of sea salt (be careful with the salt as soy sauce has a lot of salt, taste before pouring) and a pinch of pepper. Blend everything in the blender, adding a little water first and adding more little by little if necessary, until you get a creamy mayonnaise mole sauce. Fill the mushrooms with the sauce and grill them. They’re delicious! You can also use the sauce for other appetizers, for eggs, even for vole-au-vents.
- Stuffed tomatoes: make a brown rice stir-fry, with spices to your liking, meat or mushrooms… you can even put a little cheese that is pasteurized (it can be a strong cheese to give it an intense touch of flavor and that you don’t need to include much in the preparation). Once you have your delicious rice, fill in halved tomatoes and put it all in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. One option is to put the vegan hollandaise sauce or mayonnaise on top (that is not homemade because of the raw egg or that is vegan) and gratin them (if you put mayonnaise on it, remember to eat them in moderation).
Main Christmas meals for pregnant women
- In the main dishes for Christmas you have much more freedom: you can eat meatloaf, beef tenderloin, baked salmon, turkey… You only have to be careful with the cooking point, which will have to be high (it is not recommended to eat undercooked meat). It is also recommended that the fish have been previously frozen, at least 24 hours. But for the rest, you can eat everything.
- If you are going to a party, talk to the hosts first to ask them what they will make for the main course, since some preparations may include cheese, sausages, etc. And you know, you always have the option of preparing some dishes yourself, also bring enough food to share, that will make the guests understand your situation better. Remember that people are conquered by the stomach.
Christmas desserts for pregnant women
- We come to the most complicated part of Christmas for some pregnant women. Can you eat Christmas desserts? Yes, most are suitable for pregnant women, but you should eat them in moderation. Christmas candy binges are not allowed; as excess sugar can affect your pregnancy very negatively.
- Of course, you can try the desserts as long as your specialist doctor allows you to. So you can eat nougat, but only a small piece, you can try dessert at dinner, but only a portion. Instead of gorging yourself on sweets, choose some more Gourmet sweets this year and eat them in moderation. By the way, avoid sweets made with cheese if you don’t make your own, because they are usually made with fresh cheeses that may not be properly pasteurized.
Christmas drinks for pregnant women
- The consumption of alcohol is prohibited and canned drinks such as soft drinks are highly discouraged due to the concentration of sugars and other substances. Therefore, the ideal is that you drink water or make a natural drink to your liking. They are delicious. You can make them with mango, watermelon, lemon… Do not add a lot of extra sugar or use this way, coconut sugar or a little honey, since the glycemic index of this type of sugar is lower.
- Lastly, and now that you know what to eat at Christmas while you are pregnant, remember that food is only an accompaniment to the holidays, but that the important thing and what is really worth it is the company. Happy Holidays!