Can pregnant women eat sushi?

Pregnant women can eat sushi if it is cooked or pasteurized properly. However, they should avoid uncooked or unpasteurized sushi.

How can pregnant women combine nutrients?

Pregnant women can combine international dishes with other nutrient-rich foods like green salads, fruits, cooked meat or seafood, and pasteurized soft cheese.

Prenatal nutritionOctober 17, 20262 min readUpdated October 17, 2026

Pregnancy Food Safety Analysis: Sushi, Salads, BBQ, and Cheese Boards

A pregnancy food safety analysis of international favorites like sushi, salads, BBQ, and cheese boards

Keywords

Pregnancy Meal Planner Team · Pregnancy Meal Planner Nutrition Editorial (WHO/CDC/NHS/ACOG)

Introduction

When it comes to pregnancy, choosing safe and nutritious food is crucial. However, with the variety of international dishes, many pregnant women are often unsure about what to eat and what to avoid. In this article, we will analyze the safety of international dishes like sushi, salads, BBQ, and cheese boards for pregnant women.

Food Safety Analysis

According to the CDC and NHS, pregnant women should avoid eating the following foods:

* Uncooked or unpasteurized sushi and sashimi

* Unwashed and unpasteurized salads

* Undercooked or unpasteurized meat and seafood

* Unpasteurized soft cheese

However, if these dishes are cooked or pasteurized properly, they can become a great source of nutrition for pregnant women. For example, cooked sushi with omega-3 rich fish like salmon or tuna can provide healthy fats and protein.

Nutrient Combination

To ensure adequate nutrition, pregnant women should combine international dishes with other nutrient-rich foods. For example:

* Combine cooked sushi with green salads and fruits to increase vitamin and mineral intake

* Add cooked meat or seafood to salads to increase protein intake

* Combine pasteurized soft cheese with fruits and green salads to increase calcium and vitamin intake

Foods to Avoid

Pregnant women should avoid the following international dishes:

* Uncooked or unpasteurized sushi and sashimi

* Unwashed and unpasteurized salads

* Undercooked or unpasteurized meat and seafood

* Unpasteurized soft cheese

Sample Meal Plan

Here are some sample meal ideas for pregnant women:

* Breakfast: Cooked sushi with omega-3 rich fish, green salad, and fruits

* Lunch: Cooked meat or seafood with green salad and fruits

* Dinner: Pasteurized soft cheese with fruits and green salad

Conclusion

When it comes to pregnancy, choosing safe and nutritious food is crucial. Pregnant women should avoid uncooked or unpasteurized international dishes, but can combine them with other nutrient-rich foods to ensure adequate nutrition. For more information on meal planning and nutrition for pregnant women, visit our meal planner or read more about related topics.

Explore on Pregnancy Meal Planner

Use these Pregnancy Meal Planner pages next — each link goes to a different part of the site:

Sources

* CDC

* NHS

* WHO

Educational overview inspired by Pregnancy Meal Planner Editorial. Not a verbatim copy.

Frequently asked questions

Can pregnant women eat sushi?: Pregnant women can eat sushi if it is cooked or pasteurized properly. However, they should avoid uncooked or unpasteurized sushi.
How can pregnant women combine nutrients?: Pregnant women can combine international dishes with other nutrient-rich foods like green salads, fruits, cooked meat or seafood, and pasteurized soft cheese.
What foods should pregnant women avoid?: Pregnant women should avoid uncooked or unpasteurized international dishes like sushi and sashimi, unwashed and unpasteurized salads, undercooked or unpasteurized meat and seafood, and unpasteurized soft cheese.

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