Can you eat everything bagels while pregnant?
In this brief guide, we will answer the query, “can you eat everything bagels while pregnant?”. We will also talk about the things to avoid eating when pregnant and ways of storing bagels.
Can you eat everything bagels while pregnant?
Yes, it is completely safe to eat everything bagels when pregnant. Who does not love a warm, fluffy bagel in the mornings, being pregnant will not take away that luxury from you. It is said that bagels can help you with morning sickness too.
Eating carbs leads to a healthy pregnancy and bagels are full of them. Bagels with cream cheese should be eaten with care since the cheese should be not pasteurised and unpasteurized cheese or daily products is a big no-no for pregnancy.
Where’s the best place to store bagels?
No doubt the best place to store bagels whether they are store bought or home-baked is at room temperature on the kitchen counter.
If you are planning to finish them in a couple of days, then it’s the best thing to do. Be mindful to store them in the paper bag to avoid any moisture play which will make the bagels form moulds.
How to revive stale bagels?
As much as one tries to keep the bagels fresh in their prime state, they tend to stale in a few days. As long as the bagels have not developed any moulds and smell fine, the stale bagels can be revived to their original state.
Toasting
Toasting the bagels in a preheated oven at 375 F for 4-5 minutes will bring back the bagels as they were first baked.
As the bagels have less hydration since they are made from drier, less water content dough, they tend to be dry when stale.
So spraying with warm water or even dunking them in warm water and placing them in the toaster oven will do wonders.
Microwaving
Heating the bagels that have gone stale can be revived by heating them in the microwave. One should cover the bagels with a damp towel while microwaving which helps the bagels to warm up with a moist inside.
20 seconds repetitions will get you more control of the heating process as overheated bagels will be hard and chewy.
What foods should you avoid eating when pregnant?
There are few food items that one should avoid eating when pregnant since they do not do any good for the health of the mother or the unborn baby. Here is the list of food items to avoid eating during pregnancy.
Seafood with high mercury content
Seafood that has a high mercury content should be avoided to eat because mercury is a highly toxic element and causes serious developmental problems in children. It can also affect the nervous system, immune system, and kidneys.
Sharks, swordfish, tuna, and king mackerel are a few fish to avoid since they are high in mercury. Fish like salmon and anchovies are fine to consume because they are low in mercury.
Raw or undercooked or smoked seafood
Consuming raw or undercooked or smoked seafood is more susceptible to viral, bacterial, or parasitic infection.
The raw seafood can have salmonella and listeria in them. Pregnant women are more susceptible to listeria infections.
Undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs
Raw and undercooked meat, poultry, and eggs can be home to many bacterias, viruses and parasites like salmonella, listeria, and E.coli which are infectious in nature and can harm the little one.
Unpasteurized foods including milk, cheese, and juices
Consuming unpasteurized milk, juice, and cheese made from unpasteurized milk should be avoided at all times when pregnant to avoid infection due to salmonella, listeria, E.coli, and campylobacter.
Pasteurisation is the most effective method of getting rid of harmful pathogens.
Alcohol of any kind
Alcohol of any kind should be completely avoided by a pregnant woman since it increases the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
Not even a small amount of alcohol should be consumed since it can cause foetal alcohol syndrome, which can cause facial deformities, heart issues, and decreased brain development
Sprouts
Sprouts should be completely washed and consumed by cooking them because the raw sprouts are contaminated with salmonella.
The sprouts need a humid setting for the seeds to start sprouting which is also an ideal environment for the growth of pathogens including salmonella.
Unwashed vegetables and fruits
Unwashed fruits and vegetables are contaminated with different pathogens and parasites like salmonella, listeria, and E.coli which come from the soil during harvesting.
The most dangerous of the pathogens lingering in unwashed produce is Toxoplasma which can cause blindness and reduced brain activity after the birth of the child though it does not show any symptoms.
Most infants can get infected by Toxoplasma while still in their mother’s womb. So it is best to always eat washed produce or if possible avoid eating them raw. Cooking can destroy any pathogens and can be safe to consume.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we answered the query, “can you eat everything bagels while pregnant?”. We also talked about the things to avoid eating when pregnant and ways of storing bagels.
I hope you find this blog useful. If you have any questions, please let us know.
