Savor Scout › What to eat › Eating out while pregnant
Eating out while pregnant
Eating out while pregnant is mostly about a short list of things to ask about — undercooked meat and eggs, raw fish, unpasteurised cheese and deli meats — and restaurants are generally very willing to help.
Search “cooked to order, comfortable seating, simple menu” →
What should you avoid eating at restaurants when pregnant?
Common guidance is to avoid raw or undercooked meat, fish and eggs, unpasteurised cheeses and dairy, cold deli meats unless heated until steaming, high-mercury fish such as swordfish, and raw sprouts. Guidance differs between countries and changes over time, so follow your own doctor or midwife's advice — this is a starting point, not medical advice.
The things to watch for are well known and mostly simple to manage. Steaks and burgers can be ordered well done. Many sushi restaurants have plenty of cooked rolls. Soft cheeses can be checked for pasteurisation. Hollandaise, aioli, Caesar dressing and tiramisu sometimes contain raw egg — it is worth asking.
Nausea and cravings complicate things more than the rules do. Somewhere with a broad, simple menu helps, as does a restaurant where you can order a few small plates rather than committing to a big meal.
Restaurant staff handle these questions every day. Say you are pregnant when you order; it makes the questions quicker and the answers clearer.
What makes a restaurant easier when pregnant:
- Cooked-to-order food — So you can ask for things well done.
- Staff who know the menu — Who can tell you about raw egg or cheese without guessing.
- Simple, varied options — For days when nausea limits what sounds good.
- Comfortable seating — Chairs with backs, not stools.
- Easy access to restrooms — A real consideration.
Try this search
Savor Scout takes a sentence rather than a category, so the criteria above can go straight into the box. For this, something like “cooked to order, comfortable seating, simple menu” works — it reads menus and reviews for those specific things and comes back with one place and the reasons it picked it.
Search “cooked to order, comfortable seating, simple menu” →
What usually goes wrong
Raw bars, tasting menus with lots of raw elements, and very spicy or greasy food on nauseous days. Don't assume a dish is safe because it sounds cooked — sauces and desserts are where raw egg tends to hide. And always follow your own medical guidance over a general guide.
What to eat
Worth considering here: Italian food, Thai food, Pasta, Rotisserie chicken, soup.
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