Can you eat hollandaise sauce when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer: can you eat hollandaise sauce when pregnant, what is hollandaise sauce, if hollandaise sauce is pasteurized, what is the risk of eating hollandaise sauce when pregnant, and is it healthy to eat hollandaise sauce.
Can you eat hollandaise sauce when pregnant?
No, you can’t eat hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise sauce calls for unpasteurized eggs. You can only eat it if the restaurant uses pasteurized eggs. The risk of food poisoning when eating sauces made with unpasteurized eggs is too much.
If you have preeclampsia, high blood pressure, or trouble with too much weight gain during pregnancy, it is not recommended to eat Hollandaise Sauce even if it’s made with pasteurized eggs.
What is hollandaise sauce?
Hollandaise sauce is a rich and decadent egg-based sauce with a creamy, buttery flavor. It is made with butter, egg yolks, fresh lemon juice, salt, cayenne pepper, and fresh parsley. It is usually used to serve with benedict eggs.
Pregnant women need to be careful with this dish, benedict eggs, they usually serve with a poached egg. You need to check if they are pasteurized because you can’t eat partially cooked eggs when pregnant.
Is hollandaise sauce pasteurized?
Hollandaise sauce calls for unpasteurized eggs. Nowadays almost all restaurants use pasteurized eggs because of food regulations but there is still a risk. You need to ask before you eat it. If you make Hollandaise sauce at home, make sure to buy pasteurized eggs.
What is the risk of eating hollandaise sauce when pregnant?
Although nowadays it’s very difficult to catch an infection, you should avoid eating hollandaise sauce made with unpasteurized egg. The three main diseases you can contract are toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and listeriosis.
Listeria monocytogenes cause listeriosis. If you let the bacteria go too far, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and other health problems.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, approximately 2,5000 people will get infected with listeria every year. It means that it’s very rare to get infected but pregnant women are in a more delicate condition and need to be a little more careful because it could lead to fatal health conditions.
Toxoplasma Gondii is the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis. For a normal, healthy person, it usually doesn’t cause any symptoms but for pregnant women, it’s too risky, it can cause serious health problems. One important thing to add is that once you contract toxoplasmosis you can’t contract it again.
Salmonella is a bacteria that can be very dangerous in pregnant women. It also causes digestive symptoms like the other pathogens listed above. One important thing about salmonella is that it can cause bacteremia, a condition where there is bacteria in the blood and can be fatal to pregnant women.
So why are pregnant women more likely to get infected? Because their immune system is compromised and does not work as well as for a healthy person. Also, remember that while the baby is not fully developed, the baby it’s at risk too.
What sauces should you avoid when pregnant?
Sauces that need to be avoided when pregnant are those made with unpasteurized eggs or unpasteurized dairy products, such as
- Mayonnaise
- Hollandaise sauce
- Bearnaise sauce
- Aioli
- Home-made ice-cream
- Salad dressings
- Eggnog
Is hollandaise sauce healthy to eat when pregnant?
Hollandaise sauce is not healthy to eat when pregnant, if you eat it just once in a while is okay but don’t use it too much. Hollandaise sauce has too many calories in just 2 tablespoons.
2 tablespoons have:
- 165 calories
- 18 grams of total fat
- 11 grams of saturated fat
- 518 mg sodium
- 1.1 grams carbohydrates
- 0.2 grams of sugar
- 1.6 grams protein
It is considered a high fat, high calories and high sodium sauce. You should look for better options and food with fewer calories.
Because it has a lot of fat and minimum amounts of vitamins, you should use it just once in a while. The content of sodium can be dangerous for women with preeclampsia or high blood pressure. It can alter your blood pressure levels.
My recommendation is to look for other options, if you are craving Hollandaise sauce you can make your own with some swaps. Remember, when pregnant you need to follow a healthy balanced diet. Is as simple as eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
A few nutrients need special attention during pregnancy, like folic acid, calcium, vitamin D, and omega 3 fatty acids.
- Ideally, 2 servings of fruit and 5 servings of vegetables every day
- Increase your intake of whole grains and cereal foods. Choose high fiber options
- Milk, hard cheese, and yogurt are great options because they are high calcium foods.
- Choose low-fat options and good fats: fats from vegetable sources like almonds, olive oil, and avocado.
- Choose lean proteins and choose low mercury fish options.
- Drink plenty of water
- Always stay active
Do you still want to eat your Hollandaise Sauce? Follow this link for a recipe for Healthier Hollandaise Sauce.
Other FAQs about Sauces that you may be interested in.
Can you defrost applesauce in the microwave?
Can you defrost pasta sauce in the microwave?
Conclusion
This article answered Can you eat hollandaise sauce when pregnant, what is hollandaise sauce, is hollandaise sauce pasteurized, what is the risk of eating hollandaise sauce when pregnant, and is it healthy to eat hollandaise sauce.
Citation
https://www.knowyourpantry.com/sauces/can-you-have-hollandaise-sauce-when-pregnant/
https://www.netmums.com/pregnancy/can-you-eat-hollandaise-sauce-when-pregnant
