During your pregnancy, medical professionals often advise a diversified and balanced diet. Nevertheless, you can be lost in authorized and prohibited foods. There are a number of steps you will take during pregnancy to guarantee that your baby grows as well as possible. Nevertheless, in all this, can we eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant ? Desserts and pastries are a sweet temptation that you don’t see being forbidden from food. We will examine with you first of all if you can eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant, then the measures to take for desserts and pastries and finally a slight explanation on weight during pregnancy.
Can I eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant ?
Pastries and desserts! Can we really not having it for nine months? Can we eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant ? The answer will be almost YES, you can eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa during pregnancy. BUT BE CAREFUL, there are many measures to follow to eat them properly.
Which are the problems linked with eating
dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant ?
The risks associated with eating
dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant
There are three main risks linked to two bacteria (Salmonella and Listeria) and one parasite (toxoplasmosis). The first is associated with the risk of Salmonellosis. This risk occurs particularly when eating raw, undercooked or not fresh eggs. The second problem is listeriosis, which is found in dairy products (milk, cream, butter) produced from raw milk that will not be cooked at more than 70°C/158°F. The third one is toxoplasmosis that may be present on fruits, which you will put on pies for example.
Suggestions to prevent disease when eating dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa while pregnant
To limit the risk of Salmonella and Listeria infection, make your own pastries or desserts with boiled eggs. If you sometimes want to use them fresh, use eggs very close to the laying date and store them properly in a cool place. Preferably, select recipes where the eggs will be cooked properly. In the same idea, use pasteurized milk and cream. To limit infection with toxoplasmosis, wash the fruit properly.
In bakery, pâtisserie, restaurants or friend’s houses, avoid pastries made with snow eggs or raw or undercooked eggs, so as not to take any risks (tiramisu, meringue, lemon meringue pie). The date of laying of the eggs used to make the cake and whether the pastry was properly stored is unknown. For industrial manufacturing, there is low risk. Prefer lemon pie, chocolate mousse, and many other industrial recipes rather than homemade ones.
To make it less difficult to understand everything that has just been said, eat desserts or pastries that are industrial or homemade recipes but made with cooked eggs, pasteurized cream or milk.
Weight during pregnancy
You will gain weight during your pregnancy. Nevertheless, it is recommended to limit it to a certain number of kilos (12kg on average during the entire pregnancy). You will often have increased appetite, take a snack, but you preferably should choose fruits or yoghurts. Dessert or pastry will be very occasional, so you can eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when you’re pregnant.
Do not hesitate to contact your doctor or midwife if you want to ask them any questions you may have.
Consider regular training for your personal well-being.
You really want more info on physical exercises during pregnancy :
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/pregnancy-exercise/
Conclusion
For desserts and pastries, you can eat dark chocolate with minimum of 40% cocoa when pregnant, but check out that every precaution has been taken.
If you are interested to know if you can eat another food, enter it in our search bar for pregnant woman.