Can you eat mochi when pregnant?
In this article we are going to answer: can you eat mochi when pregnant, what is mochi, how to store mochi, is mochi healthy to eat when pregnant, and how to add mochi to your diet.
Can you eat mochi when pregnant?
Yes, mochi can be eaten when pregnant but you should eat it in moderation because it is a high carbohydrate food. Try to choose mochi paired with healthy food like the Japanese use to eat them and avoid mochi desserts, such as mochi ice cream.
What is mochi?
Mochi is a Japanese rice cake that is made with mochigome, a type of short-grain japonica glutinous rice and sometimes it has other ingredients like water, sugar, and cornstarch. The rice is pounded into a mold into desired shapes. Mochi is traditionally made in a ceremony called mochitsuki.
Mochi is eaten all year round but is a traditional food for the Japanese New Year. Mochi has a structure of amylopectin gel, starch grains, and air bubbles. It is made with special rice, with higher protein content, that creates a gel-like consistency.
Mochi can be compared to Dango but they are different because mochi is made by pounding grains of rice and Dango is made with rice flour.
Modern preparation includes sweet flour of rice known as mochiko. Mochiko is mixed with water and cooked until it forms a sticky, opaque, and white mass. This process is performed twice until the mixture becomes malleable and a bit transparent.
Mochi is made basically of rice and water. Rice is the most important ingredient, it has to be sticky rice, it doesn’t matter if it’s white or brown. Other ingredients can be added such as salt or seasonings and flavors. These ingredients should be chosen with caution because they can break the mass.
Some ways you can find mochi are
- Mochi rice cakes are the traditional way to eat mochi rice cakes. They are made from mashed steamed rice and shaped into ‘cake’.
- Ozone: This is a dish served on New Year’s Eve, it consists of a soup with small mochi rice cakes.
- Mochi Ice Cream
- Strawberry mochi
- Mochi bits: they can be plain or in different flavors
Is mochi healthy to eat when pregnant?
Mochi can be considered a healthy food as long as it is eaten in moderation and paired with a balanced and healthy diet.
If mochi is healthy or not, depending on the ingredients it can be added to give flavor and texture. The original recipe is healthy because it was made with steamed rice that was then pounded and mashed. Then, the mass is formed into the final mochi and baked or boiled.
If eaten as Japanese use to eat them, as kinako mochi served with soy and wrapped in seaweed or other edible leaves or asanko mochi with red bean paste, they are surely healthy because it is paired with healthy food.
One piece of strawberry mochi contains, approx 46 grams, containing 126 calories, 2.6 grams of fat, 25 grams of carbohydrates, 0.2 grams of fiber, 17 grams of sugar, and 1.3 grams of protein.
Also, mochi ice cream is healthier than normal ice cream. Mochi ice cream has fewer calories and fat. One ball of mochi ice cream has about 100 calories while one ball of regular ice cream has 350 calories.
How to store mochi?
Mochi should be refrigerated for short periods because it can become hard and not usable. Mochi should be wrapped in a plastic bag and frozen. While in the freezer, it can last up to a year but it can lose flavor and consistency.
In new recipes, tapioca starch has been added to extend mochi shelf life.
How to add mochi to your diet when pregnant?
Mochi can be added to your healthy diet as long as they are eaten in moderate amounts and with healthy ingredients. Try to stay away from mochi as desserts that have added sugars.
Follow this link on how to eat mochi at home.
Other FAQs about Rice Cake that you may be interested in.
What happens if you eat expired mochi?
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat mochi when pregnant, what is mochi, whether or not mochi is healthy to eat when pregnant, how to store mochi, and how to add mochi to your diet.
Citation
https://www.bonappetit.com/story/what-is-mochi
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-42537953
