Can you eat meatballs when pregnant?

In this article we are going to answer can you eat meatballs when pregnant, what are meatballs, are meatballs healthy to eat when pregnant, how can you add meatballs to your diet, how can you cook meatballs that are safe to eat, and what is the risk of eating undercooked meatballs when pregnant.

Can you eat meatballs when pregnant?

Yes, you can eat meatballs when pregnant but with some precaution. Meatballs have to be fully cooked up to 165 F/75C, even if they are made of pork meat. You can eat pre-cooked frozen meatballs but only if you follow the instructions and eat them at the moment.

Just be careful to not eat undercooked meatballs or meatballs that have been sitting for a long time in the refrigerator to prevent food poisoning. 

What are meatballs?

A meatball is a ground meatball made with other ingredients such as bread crumbs, minced onion, eggs, butter, rice, and seasonings. Meatballs can be cooked by frying, baking, steaming, or braising in the sauce. 

There are a lot of recipes to make meatballs using different meats and spices.

Are meatballs healthy to eat when pregnant?  

It all depends on the recipe you are eating but as long as meatballs are not fried, they are healthy to eat when pregnant. Meatballs tend to be high in iron and protein. If they are cooked with tomato sauce you get vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from tomatoes. 

If you are cooking your meatballs, try to choose lean beef and stick to modest portions so they can be part of your healthy and balanced diet. If you are eating spaghetti and meatballs, try to choose whole-wheat spaghetti. 

What is the risk of eating undercooked meatballs when pregnant?

If you eat meatballs that have not been cooked fully or you didn’t reheat after being cooked, there is a risk of food poisoning. 

According to the FDA, meatballs can be contaminated with listeria after being processed and packaged at the plant. You need to reheat and cook it always. 

Although nowadays it’s very difficult to catch an infection, pre-cooked meatballs are a risk. The three main diseases you can contract if you eat uncooked meatballs are toxoplasmosis, salmonella, and listeriosis. 

Listeria monocytogenes are the main bacteria that can be found in undercooked meatballs. It causes 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. 

Symptoms include

• Nausea

• Vomiting

• Chills and fevers

• Muscle pain

• In pregnant women, it may cause flu-like symptoms with fever and chills 

How can I heat or cook meatballs that are safe to eat?

To be safe you need to heat or cook your meatballs to at least 160 F, you can use a thermometer or wait until it is steaming hot. You can use

• Oven: bake your meatballs for about 10 minutes at over 160 F. 

• Boil: boil for about 2 to 3 minutes until is steaming hot

• Use a microwave: it is not the best option but heats the meatballs for about a minute or two. Use a thermometer to be sure it is over 160 F  inside. 

• Use a grill: just make sure that is over 160 F inside. 

How can you add meatballs to your diet when pregnant?

Meatballs can be added to a variety of side dishes and not only to spaghetti. You can pair them with some stir fry vegetables or brown rice. Follow this link for 10 side dishes to pair with meatballs besides spaghetti. 

Other FAQs about Meat  that you may be interested in.

Can you eat meat when you have shingles?

Can you eat meat when you have Lyme disease?

Can you eat meat when you have hemorrhoids?

Conclusion

This article answered: Can you eat meatballs when pregnant, what are meatballs, are meatballs healthy to eat when pregnant, how can you add meatballs to your diet, how can you cook meatballs that are safe to eat, and what is the risk of eating meatballs when pregnant.

Citation

https://www.babymed.com/food-and-nutrition/ground-meat-during-pregnancy-it-safe

https://www.marchofdimes.org/pregnancy/foods-to-avoid-or-limit-during-pregnancy.aspx

https://www.babycenter.ca/x536439/is-it-safe-to-eat-pre-cooked-frozen-food-during-pregnancy