Can you eat jelly beans when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer can you eat jelly beans when pregnant, what are jelly beans, what are the ingredients of jelly beans, are jelly beans healthy to eat when pregnant, and what is the risk of eating too many jelly beans when pregnant, and is there a better option for jelly beans when pregnant. 

Can you eat jelly beans when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat jelly beans when pregnant but as with all candies, they need to be eaten in moderation. Jelly beans contain too much sugar and it can do you harm. 

If you are craving just some jelly beans it is okay, but do not eat too much. If you have problems with rapid weight gain, gestational diabetes, or insulin resistance you should not eat jelly beans at all. 

What are jelly beans?

Jelly beans are a unique candy that has been around since 1860. They are small bean-shaped sugar candies with soft candy shells and thick gel interiors. They became really popular in 1960 when Jelly Belly became a registered mark with jelly beans under their pockets. 

What are the ingredients of jelly beans?

Jelly beans are primarily made of sugar and corn syrup thickened with cornstarch. With this simple base, they just add flavor and color to make a varied palette of jelly beans. Nowadays the recipe has changed a little with ingredients to make the texture and flavor better. Sugar is still the main ingredient. 

  • Sugar
  • Tapioca 
  • Corn Syrup
  • Pectin or starch
  • Lecithin
  • Anti-foaming agents
  • Edible wax such as carnauba wax or beeswax
  • Salt
  • Confectioners glaze
  • Artificial Flavor
  • Food Coloring

Are jelly beans healthy to eat when pregnant?

Jelly beans are not healthy to eat when pregnant. One portion of jelly beans, about 10 small pieces, contains 10 grams of carbohydrates and no dietary fiber. Jelly beans have nothing but sugar in them.

You really need to avoid them as much as you can because as seen on the nutrition label, they do not have vitamins or minerals to give some health benefits. 

10 small Jelly Beans
Calories41 calories
Total Fat0 grams
Cholesterol0 grams
Sodium5.5 grams
Potassium4.1 grams
Total Carbohydrates10 grams
Dietary Fiber0 grams
Sugars7.7 grams
Protein 0 grams
Iron 0.1% RDI base in a 2000 calories diet

If you are really craving jelly beans, you can eat one portion of about 10 jelly beans or maximum of 20 jelly beans but paired them with some protein and fat. Jelly beans can be paired with cheese, turkey breast, greek yogurt, or nuts. 

What is the risk of eating too many jelly beans?

Jelly beans contain excessive amounts of sugar. It can lead to rapid weight gain and more health complications. Some complications of rapid weight gain can be fatal for the baby and mom.

  • Gestational Diabetes
  • High blood pressure
  • Complications during birth
  • Baby health 

Gestational Diabetes

You can develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a state where blood sugar is high and can’t be regulated by insulin. You may need to take medication and the mother can develop diabetes even after the baby is born. 

High Blood pressure

You can develop eclampsia and preeclampsia. Both can lead to mother and baby complications and even death. 

Complications during birth 

If you gain too much weight it’s more likely that you end up in cesarean because vaginal birth tends to be more difficult with excess weight. Also, babies of mothers who gain too much weight are usually bigger. 

Baby health 

Moms that gain too much weight tend to have babies with high birth weight and these babies have more risk of being obese and developing diabetes when older. 

This is a table that can guide you on how much weight you should gain. Remember, that dieting while pregnant is very dangerous. It is very important to always include all food groups. Just limit your intake of sugar and junk food. 

BMI at beginning of pregnancy (kg/m2)Recommended weight gain during pregnancy (kg)
18.5 underweight12.5 -18.0 kg
18.5 – 24.9 healthy11.15 – 16 kg
25.0 -29.9 overweight7.0 – 11.5 kg
more than 30 overweight5.0 – 9.0 kg

Is there a better option for jelly beans when pregnant?

Jelly beans are a delicious sweet treat. You don’t need to stay away from them your whole pregnancy, there are some better options for you to enjoy. 

Conclusion

This article answered whether you can eat jelly beans when pregnant, what jelly beans are, what are the ingredients of jelly beans, are jelly beans healthy to eat when pregnant, and what is the risk of eating too many jelly beans when pregnant, and is there a better option for jelly beans when pregnant. 

Citation

​​https://www.swisscolony.com/blog/sweets/jelly-beans-history-tradition

https://www.netmums.com/pregnancy/can-you-eat-jelly-when-pregnant#:~:text=Great%20news!,one%20with%20no%20added%20sugar.

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