Are you longing for chaat during pregnancy? Well, pregnancy craving is real; it is perfectly fine to drool over food during pregnancy. How can you deny those tempting and mouthwatering choices available in the form of chaats, golgappas, pakoras, bhelpuri, and dahi bhallas in the market?
However, now that you are pregnant and have to look after the tiny life inside you, we advise you to be wary about the ingredients and hygiene of the street food you crave.
Can We Eat Chaat During Pregnancy?
Well, yes. The reason for advocating avoiding eating street food while you are pregnant is that your body is vulnerable and hence it is imperative to be careful about what and where you eat. Pregnancy can put you at a higher risk of getting infected with many ailments.
Though eating all the sweet and savory cravings is not all that bad, during pregnancy, you need to be more careful about what you are eating. Having street food while you are pregnant can put you and your baby at higher risk of getting infected and can pose danger to your unborn child.
[Read: Pani Puri During Pregnancy – Is it Safe to Eat?]
Top 20 Tips to Ensure Street Food During Pregnancy is Safe for You
If in case you are craving spicy and tangy street food, then preparing them at your home can be a better option for you. Not only the food will taste good, but it will also be healthier and you can even make it according to your taste buds.
However, if your culinary expertise is limited and cravings are getting uncontrollable then the following tips will help:
1. Choose a food joint that is reputable and clean.
2. Look for better food quality.
3. Water can be a prime source for various infections, so make sure the vendor uses quality water.
4. Try to drink only sealed bottled water.
5. Always eat a smaller amount of your favorite street food
6. It’s best to avoid uncooked and raw vegetables.
7. Avoid dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs to avoid salmonella contamination.
8. Avoid milkshakes from street vendors as it’s impossible to ensure the freshness of the fruits and milk used by them.
9. Avoid drinking chilled beverages as the ice used will be of low quality.
10. Try not to opt dahi bhalle. Eating too much sour curd can upset the stomach.
11. Eating bhallas made from fermented dal can also cause a problem.
12. Avoid eating cottage cheese or paneer in any form as the quality and freshness of these items might be compromised.
13. Avoid eating fruit chaat from a roadside stall due to an increased risk of bacterial contamination.
14. The best idea will be to cut your favorite fresh fruits at home and then sprinkle some chaat masala into it.
15. Be cautious in eating street chaat especially during the monsoon season as chances of water contamination are much higher than usual.
16. Try cooked and safer chaats like aloo chaat, or aloo tikki.
17. Instead of eating chutney offered by street vendors, try the sealed sauce.
18. Avoid eating the kulfis and other ice-cream bars that are not branded and properly stored.
19. Avoid mint, onion, and coriander leaves toppings.
20. The machine used to make sugarcane juice can be a colony of germs. Avoid sugar cane juice.
[Read: 10 Ways Junk Food Can Be Unsafe During Pregnancy]
List of Chaats That are Safe During Pregnancy
When it comes to chaats during pregnancy, homemade chaats are always preferable. Discover some healthy chaats that pregnant women may try for mid-day snacks.:
- Chole chaats
- Panneer chaats
- Aloo chaat
- Fruit chaat
- Baby Corn chaat
- Vegetable chaat
- Mixed sprout chaat
- Alloo tikki chaat
Craving all those spicy, tangy, and masaledaar dishes available at the roadside stall is okay. But keep in mind that your cravings meet high-quality standards. Most of the time food is the major source of food poisoning, infections, and some other disorders as well. The best would be to look for the recipes of these foods online and try to make them at home. It can be a fun and safe eating option for you.
Also Read: Samosa During Pregnancy – Is It Safe to Eat?
FAQ’s
1. Can Eating Chaat During Pregnancy Harm the Baby?
It depends on where you eat it. Eating street food, on the streets may cause harm. Street vendors don’t use very clean products, thus making them risky.
2. Can I Get Infections by Eating Gol Gappe?
Yes, you can. Gol gapes contain a lot of water. If the water used in making them is contaminated, you can get infected.
3. Can I Make Samosa Chaat at Home and Eat When Pregnant?
Yes, you can eat samosa chaat during pregnancy. Making them at home with clean ingredients is safe. This could be the best option.
4. Can I Eat Chaat With Curd in it, When Pregnant?
Not advisable. Yes, these don’t use much of the contaminated water. However, sour curd can also cause indigestion.
