Are Instant Noodles a Healthy Food to Eat During Pregnancy?
I’m wondering if it’s safe to eat instant noodles while pregnant. They seem like a great option because they’re quick to prepare, delicious, and full of spices. However, consuming them while pregnant is not quite safe. To begin with, instant noodles are merely a temporary appetite suppressant and have no nutritional value. They are as tasteless as they can get, so it would be best to stay away from them. MSG is another dangerous ingredient found in instant noodles that can be harmful to a baby if consumed in excess. Therefore, it’s advisable to abstain from eating noodles while you’re pregnant.
Nutritional Value Of Instant Noodles
Salt, starch, palm oil, and wheat flour are the ingredients of noodles. Sometimes wheat flour is replaced with buckwheat too.
| Instant Noodles (Raw) | |
| Nutritional value per 100 g (3.5 oz) | |
| Energy | 1,895 kJ (453 kcal) |
| Carbohydrates | 65 g |
| Dietary fiber | 2.4 g |
| Fat | 17 g |
| Saturated | 7.6 g |
| Monounsaturated | 6.5 g |
| Protein | 9 g |
| Vitamins | |
| Thiamine (B1) | (61%) 0.7 mg |
| Riboflavin (B2) | (33%) 0.4 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | (36%) 5.4 mg |
| Folate (B9) | (37%) 147 μg |
| Trace metals | |
| Iron | (33%) 4.3 mg |
| Potassium | (3%) 120 mg |
| Sodium | (77%) 1160 mg |
| One package is 80 g | |
| Units μg = micrograms • mg = milligrams IU = International units | |
| Percentages are roughly approximated using US recommendations for adults. |
Tips To Make Instant Noodles Healthier
The only way to somewhat improve the nutritional value of noodles is to add hard-boiled eggs and/or fresh vegetables. Related:
If you must eat noodles while pregnant, make sure to load up on fresh veggies like potatoes, tomatoes, peas, and capsicums. These vegetables also contribute to enhancing the taste of the noodles and increasing their nutritional value.
- In South Asian nations, Nestle Maggi is the most popular instant noodle brand. Their atta noodles and multigrain noodles are relatively healthier.
- Additionally, Horlicks’ Foodles are considered the healthiest instant noodles available in India.
- Knorr Soupy Noodles also contain a decent amount of vegetables.
- The oil that is used while making noodles is another item that must be considered. The majority of people prefer to garnish instant noodles with no more than one tablespoon of oil rather than simply boiling them in water. ) Make sure that the oil is fresh and clean. Ensure it hasn’t turned rancid.
- Never forget that noodles with extra vegetables are packed full of preservatives.
Quick tip: You only need to use a tiny bit of the noodles’ flavoring. As an alternative, you could use homemade flavoring ingredients instead of the tastemaker.
