You’re asked to sacrifice a lot when you get pregnant. First your body, then your food and drink options. While it’s common knowledge that pregnant women should avoid foods like soft cheeses, certain seafood, and unpasteurized milk, if you suddenly get the urge for a nice, meaty roast beef sandwich, you might want to head to your neighborhood deli or Arby’s for a quick meal. However, you might find yourself first wondering, “Can I eat roast beef while pregnant?”
When you’re pregnant, you may experience intensely particular cravings, but you also understand that there are many dietary and nutritional restrictions. As it turns out, there are some Arbys menu items that a pregnant person can safely eat, but there are also menu items that might be off-limits (including Arby’s roast beef), so what are you supposed to do if your baby-to-be is making you crave a classic Arbys meal with plenty of Arbys sauce?
You’ll have to set some of your desires aside despite cravings in order to keep both you and your unborn child safe while you are pregnant. Read on to learn why roast beef and other similar menu items at Arby’s aren’t particularly safe for pregnant women to eat.
Roast Beef Deli Meat
Throughout your pregnancy, you need iron and protein, both of which are found in roast beef deli meat. Iron helps produce healthy red blood cells and may also lower your risk of an early delivery, while protein helps create amino acids. Roast beef deli meat has several nutritional drawbacks. It contains a lot of saturated fat and sodium, which you should limit during pregnancy to avoid unhealthful weight gain and fluid retention. Additionally, the deli meat may contain harmful bacteria that could complicate your pregnancy and result in critical health issues.
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Any type of deli meat may contain Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium that can cause the potentially fatal infection listeriosis. Pregnant women have a higher risk of contracting listeriosis, so they must take special precautions to avoid exposure. The infection gives pregnant women flu-like symptoms, but it can also result in miscarriage, stillbirth, or premature labor. Additionally, the bacteria have the ability to transmit potentially fatal infections like bacteremia or meningitis to an unborn child.
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Keeping your roast beef deli meat at the proper temperature won’t stop bacteria from growing because the bacteria that causes listeriosis thrives in the frigid temperatures of your refrigerator. The bacteria is destroyed with heat. To destroy the bacteria, steam the deli meat from roast beef until it is piping hot. Avoid letting the juices from the roast beef deli meat contact any other foods you eat. The juices may also contain harmful bacteria, which could cause an infection. To prevent cross contamination, thoroughly wash your hands after handling roast beef deli meat. Avoid other deli meats, unpasteurized milk, and soft cheeses as well, as they are all potential sources of listeriosis.
There are many alternatives that will provide plenty of protein and iron without the risk of harmful bacteria if you want to err on the side of caution and just stay away from roast beef deli meat and other deli meats. In a sandwich, cooked and shredded chicken or turkey can take the place of deli meat. If you’re craving the flavor of beef, shred a cooked pot roast. Another alternative that offers a good amount of calcium and a healthy serving of protein is a grilled cheese sandwich.
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Sara Ipatenco has taught writing, health and nutrition. Writing since 2007, she has been featured in the Teaching Tolerance magazine. Ipatenco graduated from the University of Denver with a bachelor’s and a master’s in education.
Are deli meats safe during pregnancy? Dietitian explains
FAQ
Is it safe to eat roast beef while pregnant?
These meats may contain bacteria, which may thrive despite refrigeration. Deli meats (such as turkey, chicken, roast beef, ham, prosciutto, and bologna) and dry sausages (such as salami and pepperoni) are among the meats to stay away from.
Is roast beef considered deli meat?
Some of the most popular cold cuts consumed in the U.S. are deli turkey, ham, and roast beef. S. These sliced deli meats can make for a delicious lunch, and they’re also practical.
Can I eat roast beef from Subway while pregnant?
It appears that you’ll need to temporarily eliminate cold cuts from your diet as cold cuts, such as turkey, ham, and roast beef, are advised against during pregnancy.
Can you eat medium cooked beef while pregnant?
No. Pregnant women should avoid eating raw or undercooked meat because it could make them sick and possibly harm their unborn children. If you consume raw or meat that is pink and bloody in the middle, you could contract the parasite toxoplasma.