In America we love pizza, eating an incredible 3 billion pizzas each year, or the equivalent of 46 slices for every single person each year.
Given this popularity, which is mirrored in many other countries across the world as well, there’s a very good chance you might be wondering if you can eat Domino’s pizza during your pregnancy.
The good news for pregnant women is Domino’s Pizza is typically safe to eat during pregnancy, provided everything is cooked properly and the pizza is served hot.
Table of Contents
Can I Eat Domino’s Pizza During Pregnancy?
If you recently discovered you are expecting, two of the biggest dietary changes you should make is avoiding eating unpasteurized cheese, and ensuring all meat you consume is fully cooked.
This is noteworthy for pizza lovers, because almost all pizza contains cheese, and many of us like to add meat toppings to our pizzas.
Pregnant women are 10 times more likely to develop listeriosis, a serious infection that can be found in raw, unpasteurized milk, and this is why experts recommend that moms-to-be avoid cheeses that are made using unpasteurized milk and only eat commercially-made ice cream.
It’s also very important for expectant moms to avoid the risk of getting toxoplasma or becoming ill from some other bacteria which originate from parasites found in raw and undercooked meat.
The good news for fans of Domino’s Pizza is that all their products are made from pasteurized cheese and are fully cooked before being delivered, meaning they are indeed safe to eat during pregnancy.
Pizza Toppings To Avoid While Pregnant
Whether it’s Dominos’s or any other pizza, it’s important to know which toppings are safe and which ones you should avoid during pregnancy.
The vast majority of our favorite and most popular pizza toppings are safe to eat during pregnancy, provided all cheeses are pasteurized and all toppings are cooked thoroughly.
Some popular pizza toppings you should avoid ordering while pregnant include:
- Unpasteurized cheese (be particularly careful which soft cheese like brie and camembert)
- Shellfish
- Seafood with high mercury levels (tuna, swordfish)
- Processed and cured meat, unless they are thoroughly cooked, which means heated to an internal temperature of 165°F and served piping hot
- Undercooked eggs
Can I Eat Pepperoni Pizza From Domino’s While Pregnant?
Pepperoni is one of the world’s most popular pizza toppings, so it’s unsurprising that a Pepperoni Pizza is one of Domino’s best sellers.
But should you steer clear of ordering a pepperoni pizza while expecting?
Pepperoni falls under the classification of a cured or processed meat, which means it’s not technically cooked, so you might assume it’s off the table.
However, as we mentioned above, cooking raw meat kills off harmful bacteria.
So provided the pepperoni is fully cooked – which the chain confirm is the case with all their meats – pregnant women can safely enjoy a Domino’s pepperoni pizza.
Can You Eat Cold Domino’s Pizza While Pregnant?
If you have any leftovers from your pizza order, then you should place them in the refrigerator when your meal is over.
Come the next day, whether it’s for convenience or taste, a lot of people like eating their pizza cold.
But is this something that is safe to do while pregnant?
The short answer is that to avoid taking unnecessary risks and to help kill off any bacteria, it’s advisable to fully heat up any leftovers until the pizza is piping hot before eating.
Why Am I Craving Pizza During My First Trimester?
Have you noticed yourself craving Domino’s Pizza more often than usual since becoming pregnant?
This may not be in your imagination, because pregnancy cravings are common among moms-to-be, and for many women they tend to be strongest in the first trimester.
Pregnancy cravings come in all different forms, from a desire to eat onions to wanting carbohydrate-rich foods like bread and pasta.
Given pizza dough and bread dough have similar ingredients, it’s no surprise that you might therefore find yourself craving a Domino’s while pregnant.
Although pregnancy can be very exciting, there is no denying that it is a tiring time for both your mind and body.
So eating pizza, which is a good source of carbohydrates (and not to mention a popular comfort food), can provide you with much needed energy to help you function throughout the day, and this may help explain your pregnancy craving.
See Also: The Complete Guide To A Happy & Healthy Pregnancy
