Can you eat key lime pie when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer: can you eat key lime pie when pregnant, what key lime pie is, is it healthy to eat key lime pie, what happens if you eat too much key lime pie when pregnant, and what can you eat when pregnant. 

Can you eat key lime pie when pregnant?

No, you can’t eat key lime pie when pregnant unless the meringue is fully cooked. Key lime pie usually is topped with meringue that is made with egg yolks. If it is baked with the meringue topping, you can safely eat it. 

According to the USDA, pregnant women should not eat any raw eggs or food containing raw eggs because there is a high risk of salmonella food poisoning. 

Also, if you have gestational diabetes, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, preeclampsia, or problems with rapid weight gain, you should not eat key lime pie because it has a high content of sugar and fat. 

What is key lime pie?

Key lime pie is a dessert that is made of lime, and egg yolks, and sweetened with condensed milk. It is usually topped with meringue that is made with egg whites. It can also be topped with whipped cream. It can be cooked in a pie crust, graham crackers, or just a regular crust. 

The filling of the key lime pie is yellow because it is largely made of egg yolks. It is made simply by mixing the egg yolks and condensed milk with lime juice. It is usually baked to pasteurize the eggs and thicken the filling. 

Is it healthy to eat key lime pie when pregnant?

No, key lime pie is not considered a healthy food. One slice of 128 grams has 440 calories, 57 grams of carbohydrates which are 45 grams of sugar, 20 grams of fat, and only 6 grams of protein. 

It is considered a high glycemic index food because of its high sugar content. Sugar can be very dangerous to eat when pregnant because it has no nutritional value and it can lead to rapid weight gain. 

My recommendation is to not eat key lime pie, only once in a while a little slice or look for a recipe or healthy key lime pie. 

What happens if you eat too much key lime pie when pregnant?

Key lime pie is a dessert, high in calories and sugar. Too much key lime pie can lead to rapid weight gain because of its sugar, calorie, and fat content. The consumption of desserts high in sugar can cause harm to pregnant women because it is food that does not contain any nutrients. 

If you gain too much weight during pregnancy there are several complications mom and baby can suffer.

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

Gestational Diabetes

You can develop gestational diabetes, a condition where glucose or sugar in the blood is way too high and insulin can’t work correctly. 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. It can also lead to premature birth. 

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. The lack of nutrients in junk food can interfere with proper organ development. 

Babies of moms that didn’t follow a healthy diet during pregnancy have more risk of behavior disorders like depression, attention deficit disorder, and poor learning. Also, a lack of nutrients in a mother’s diet has been connected with autism. 

What can you eat for dessert when pregnant?

Pregnant women should look for desserts that have nutrients. Yes, you can indulge once in a while in those high-calorie, high-sugar desserts. I know it’s hard to stay away from them your whole pregnancy but I will give you some healthy swaps for that sugar craving. 

  • Fruit with yogurt
  • Key lime pie greek yogurt
  • Dark chocolate
  • Fruit pops
  • Yogurt parfaits with oats
  • Chocolate covered oats

If you are still craving that key lime pie, follow this link to a healthy key lime pie without sugar.

Other FAQs about Lime that you may be interested in.

How to keep lime fresh?

Where is lime juice in grocery stores? 

Why lime in  corona?

Conclusion

This article answered can you eat key lime pie when pregnant, what is key lime pie, is it healthy to eat key lime pie, what happens if you eat too much key lime pie when pregnant, and what can you eat for dessert when pregnant. 

Citation

https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/pregnancy-health/dessert-during-pregnancy/

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1992-07-05-9202180135-story.html

https://www.carbmanager.com/food-detail/md:6c3acf7194db33a14bf1b1563c5736da/key-lime-pie

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