During pregnancy, it’s important to get the nutrients your body needs, but it’s also important to know what foods to stay away from. You may have questions about whatâs safe and whatâs not for the health of you and your baby. In this guide to foods and drinks you should never eat while pregnant, we answer questions like, “Can you eat seafood when you’re pregnant?” and “Can you eat deli meat when you’re pregnant?” We also explain which foods can be safely consumed in moderation during pregnancy.
Get our Nutrition During Pregnancy Guide if you want to learn more about what to eat during pregnancy. You may also be wondering how much weight you can gain while you’re pregnant and still be healthy. Based on your body mass index (BMI) before you got pregnant, our Weight Gain Calculator can give you some accepted weight gain ranges. However, your healthcare provider is the best person to talk to about weight gain and the best pregnancy diet for you.
Pregnancy comes with a whole new set of dos and don’ts when it comes to food While some of your old favorites like sushi are off the table, the good news is that shrimp tempura is A-OK for pregnant women!
Shrimp tempura is a tasty appetizer made from shrimp dipped in a light tempura batter and fried to golden crispy perfection. But is this Japanese delicacy safe to eat during pregnancy? Or should you stick to California rolls when sushi cravings strike?
In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at shrimp tempura and pregnancy – from ingredients and nutrition facts to food safety. Read on to get the full scoop on whether this popular appetizer should stay on the menu while you’re expecting.
What is Shrimp Tempura?
Shrimp tempura consists of shrimp coated in a thin, light batter made from ingredients like flour, eggs, baking powder, and cold water or club soda. The battered shrimp pieces are then fried in hot oil until golden and crunchy on the outside while remaining moist and juicy inside.
Traditional Japanese tempura batter is made with just a few simple ingredients:
- All-purpose flour
- Cold water or carbonated water
- Eggs
- Baking powder
The shrimp are often marinated ahead of time in a blend of sake, salt, and ginger. This helps add extra flavor and allows the tempura batter to adhere nicely to the shrimp.
Frying tempura requires oil heated to around 350-375°F so that the batter fries up light and crispy without absorbing too much oil. Canola, vegetable, peanut, or soybean oil work well for frying up the iconic golden tempura crust.
Is Shrimp Tempura Safe During Pregnancy?
The good news is that yes, shrimp tempura is perfectly safe for pregnant women when prepared properly! Here’s why this classic appetizer gets the green light during pregnancy:
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Thoroughly cooked shrimp: The high frying heat kills any harmful bacteria in the shrimp, making it safe to eat.
-
Fully cooked egg batter: The raw egg in the batter is cooked through, eliminating risks from raw eggs.
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No risky ingredients: Traditional tempura batter doesn’t contain anything potentially harmful.
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Provides key nutrients: Shrimp is packed with protein, iron, omega-3s and more that are beneficial during pregnancy.
As long as you steer clear of any raw or undercooked shrimp or eggs, shrimp tempura is a nutritious way to satisfy cravings for Japanese cuisine when pregnancy precautions eliminate sushi and sashimi from your diet.
Is There Anything to Watch Out For?
To enjoy shrimp tempura safely during pregnancy, there are a few precautions and tips to keep in mind:
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Avoid raw batter: Only eat thoroughly cooked tempura with no signs of raw batter or undercooked shrimp.
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Prepare properly: Shrimp should reach an internal temperature of 145°F. Discard leftover oil between batches.
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Use pasteurized eggs: Raw eggs may contain salmonella. Use pasteurized shell eggs or egg substitutes to be extra safe.
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Limit fried foods: While tempura is lighter than heavily breaded fried shrimp, excessive fried foods aren’t recommended.
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Watch for foodborne illness signs: Discontinue eating if you notice any signs of illness.
As long as you take care to properly prepare and handle the ingredients, shrimp tempura is a pregnancy-safe way to indulge in classic Japanese flavors and textures.
Nutrition Profile of Shrimp Tempura
One of the biggest perks of shrimp tempura is that it packs a hefty nutritional punch. Here’s a look at some of the key vitamins, minerals and nutrients found in shrimp tempura:
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Protein: Shrimp is loaded with protein needed for your baby’s growth and development. A 3 oz serving contains about 21 grams of protein.
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Iron: Shrimp provides heme iron that is more easily absorbed than non-heme iron from plants. Iron prevents pregnancy anemia.
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Omega-3 fatty acids: Shrimp contain anti-inflammatory omega-3s that are vital for your baby’s brain and eye development.
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B vitamins: Shrimp supply B12 and choline to support your energy levels and mood while expecting.
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Zinc and copper: These minerals in shrimp benefit cell growth and immune health for you and baby.
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Selenium: Shrimp is high in antioxidant selenium, which may help prevent pregnancy complications like preeclampsia.
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Calcium: The tempura batter adds a bit of extra calcium to support your bones and baby’s bone development.
Eating a serving of shrimp tempura helps you meet the increased need for key nutrients during pregnancy. It provides a tasty way to nourish you and your growing baby!
Benefits of Eating Shrimp Tempura While Pregnant
Beyond simply being safe and nutritious, here are some of the top benefits you and your baby can gain from eating shrimp tempura in moderation during pregnancy:
- Helps meet higher protein needs
- Provides iron to prevent anemia
- Boosts omega-3 intake for fetal brain growth
- Increases B vitamins for energy and mood
- Supplies zinc for immune support
- Contains antioxidants like selenium
- Adds calcium for maternal and fetal bone health
- Satisfies cravings for Japanese cuisine
- Offers crunch and flavor from light tempura batter
The bottom line? Shrimp tempura can be a smart addition to your pregnancy diet. It gives you an opportunity to enjoy something deliciously crunchy and fried, while still providing substantial nutritional value for you and your developing baby.
How Much Shrimp Tempura is Safe During Pregnancy?
When eaten in normal food amounts, shrimp tempura is perfectly fine for expecting mothers. The FDA recommends eating 8-12 ounces of low mercury seafood like shrimp per week while pregnant or breastfeeding.
A typical shrimp tempura appetizer portion contains around 4-8 ounces of shrimp. So enjoying a single shrimp tempura appetizer 1-2 times per week is well within the recommended guidelines for seafood consumption during pregnancy.
Of course, the amount that’s right for you can vary based on your own nutrition needs and diet. Check with your doctor about what shrimp intake is appropriate for your individual pregnancy. Some tips:
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Choose an appetizer size tempura portion rather than a huge fried shrimp platter.
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Balance with vegetables, rice, salad and miso soup for a well-rounded meal.
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Avoid eating fried shrimp or tempura every day.
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Listen to your body. Reduce portions if you experience stomach upset.
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Stay hydrated and active to help your body process fried foods comfortably.
With a little moderation and care, you can keep shrimp tempura as an occasional treat on your pregnancy dining menu!
Ideal Cooking Methods for Pregnant Women
Frying shrimp tempura is safe during pregnancy as long as some basic food safety precautions are followed. Here are some best practices for cooking shrimp tempura when you’re expecting:
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Make sure shrimp are thoroughly cooked through. They should reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
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Use freshly made tempura batter and discard any leftover batter between batches to avoid bacterial growth.
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Ensure oil is hot enough (350-375°F) before frying to thoroughly cook the batter.
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Cook in small batches to maintain oil temperature and prevent overcrowding.
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Allow oil to fully return to temperature between batches.
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Use a thermometer to monitor oil temperature. Overheated oil can burn and produce harmful compounds.
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Choose a healthy frying oil like canola or peanut oil instead of lard or shortening.
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Use caution handling hot oil to avoid burns or falls.
Following basic food safety rules helps minimize risks when enjoying fried shrimp tempura during your pregnancy.
Healthy Ways to Eat Shrimp Tempura While Pregnant
Fried shrimp doesn’t have to derail your healthy pregnancy diet when eaten in moderation. Here are some tips for keeping tempura nutritious:
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Choose lean protein: Go for shrimp over fattier fried options like chicken katsu.
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Load up on veggies: Balance out the fried shrimp with low calorie vegetables like edamame, seaweed salad and veggie sushi rolls.
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Watch the dipping sauce: Skip spicy mayo and enjoy tempura shrimp with lower calorie options like:
- Ginger dressing
- Ponzu sauce
- Mustard
- Sesame dressing
- Teriyaki sauce
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Portion control: Stick to 2-3 pieces of tempura as an appetizer rather than a whole fried shrimp platter.
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Eat slowly: Don’t overload on calories by eating too fast. Savor each crunchy, warm piece.
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Stay active: Exercise helps balance out indulgent foods and keeps pregnancy weight gain on track.
With smart choices, you can incorporate this crave-worthy appetizer as part
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During pregnancy, it’s important to get the nutrients your body needs, but it’s also important to know what foods to stay away from. You may have questions about whatâs safe and whatâs not for the health of you and your baby. In this guide to foods and drinks you should never eat while pregnant, we answer questions like, “Can you eat seafood when you’re pregnant?” and “Can you eat deli meat when you’re pregnant?” We also explain which foods can be safely consumed in moderation during pregnancy.
Get our Nutrition During Pregnancy Guide if you want to learn more about what to eat during pregnancy. You may also be wondering how much weight you can gain while you’re pregnant and still be healthy. Based on your body mass index (BMI) before you got pregnant, our Weight Gain Calculator can give you some accepted weight gain ranges. However, your healthcare provider is the best person to talk to about weight gain and the best pregnancy diet for you.
Is It Safe to Drink Alcohol and Caffeinated Beverages While Pregnant?
Besides wondering what you shouldn’t eat while pregnant, you may also be wondering if you should turn down that coffee or glass of wine.
Drinking alcohol while pregnant is best avoided entirely. A higher risk of miscarriage and stillbirth is linked to drinking alcohol during pregnancy. Drinking too much alcohol can even cause fetal alcohol syndrome. Your safest bet is to turn down that glass of wine once you know youâre pregnant.
If you had a few drinks of beer or wine before you found out you were pregnant, it probably won’t hurt you or your baby too badly. Experts say that no amount of alcohol is safe during pregnancy, so it’s important that you don’t drink any for the rest of your pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you are worried about the effects of any drinks you had before you found out you were pregnant.
Most experts agree that it’s safe to drink less than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day of coffee or other caffeinated drinks. Thatâs one 12-ounce cup of coffee a day. For an idea of what 200 milligrams of caffeine looks like in other drinks, that amount could be 4 cups (8 ounces each) of brewed black tea, 6 cups of brewed green tea, or 4 cups of CO2. Related pregnancy tool.
Can I eat shrimp sushi while pregnant?
Can I eat shrimp tempura If I’m Pregnant?
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), your weekly fish and shellfish intake should hover around 8 to 12 ounces when you’re pregnant, and a morsel of shrimp tempura can help you on your way to meeting that goal. Watch out for fish with a higher mercury content.
Is shrimp healthy to eat?
Shrimp is very healthy to eat, unless you have an allergy to shellfish. Shrimp is great because it is a low calorie, high protein food that is relatively inexpensive. Shrimp is also very versatile, so there are many recipes out there, meaning that you can eat shrimp multiple times a week each time in a different way. Don’t make shrimp your only protein source, because a healthy diet is also a varied diet.
Can pregnant women eat shrimp?
Yes, pregnant women can, in fact, eat shrimp. That doesn’t mean it should become your go-to daily meal, but it does mean you and baby can benefit from some of the great nutrients in shrimp. Let’s look a little more closely at some of the recommendations for eating shrimp and other seafood during pregnancy, as well as a few safety precautions.
How to eat fried shrimp tempura?
You can prepare crispy-fried shrimp tempura first, and cut them into half-an-inch slices. Remember to not over-fry it to avoid a rubbery texture. Then, pair it with some pickled ginger, lettuce, cucumber, and avocados. Roll it. The result? A fantastic rice roll with a rich umami flavor! RELATED: 10 Tastiest Vegetarian Recipes For Kids