If you are craving Little Caesar’s Pizza during pregnancy you might be wondering what you can eat there and whether or not there are any healthy options.
Little Caesar’s Pizza is generally regarded as safe to eat while pregnant if the food is prepared properly and served piping hot. Little Caesar’s uses pasteurized mozzarella cheese and cured pepperoni which still must be cooked to proper temperatures before serving. The Veggie Pizza and Caesar Wings are the healthiest options on the menu.
Read on to learn more about what to order at Little Caesar’s while pregnant as well as what you should avoid and frequently asked questions about their pepperoni, meats, and cheeses.
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Is it safe to eat Little Caesar’s while pregnant?
Don’t feel silly asking about whether or not it is safe to eat at a fast-food restaurant while pregnant – it is completely normal to want to determine the healthiest food options for you and your baby!
In general, Little Caesar’s is safe to eat while pregnant as long as there are no sanitation issues and the food is cooked to the recommended temperature and served piping hot. Cooking pepperoni, cheeses, and toppings to the proper temperature ensures that all food-borne bacteria have been eliminated and there is a negligible chance of getting sick from the food. The biggest potential issue with pizzas, in general, is undercooked ingredients, improperly handled fresh ingredients like lettuce and salads, and eating pizza that has been left out for too long or not reheated properly as leftovers.
As long as you check your food closely before eating and purchase from a restaurant with a good health department score, it is possible to find something reasonably healthy on the Little Caesar’s menu that shouldn’t pose much risk to you or your baby.
Can you eat pepperoni from Little Caesar’s while pregnant?
One of the most frequently asked questions about eating Little Caesar’s pizza, or any pizza while pregnant, is whether or not the pepperoni is safe.
Although pepperoni is cured and contains preservatives, it is considered a raw food that should be cooked before eating, including on pizzas. If the pepperoni is cooked to the proper temperature and served piping hot it should not pose a safety issue for pregnant women because the food-borne bacteria will have been eliminated during cooking.
Just be sure that you don’t leave your pizza out on the counter for too long after eating and that you’ve properly cooled and stored the pizza within 2 hours of cooking. Any pizza eaten as leftovers should be consumed within a few days and reheated thoroughly!
Is Little Caesar’s pepperoni pasteurized or cured?
Little Caesar’s does not directly state whether or not their pepperoni is cured but based on the list of ingredients it appears as though it is cured and processed.
Like most other pizza chains and pizza products, Little Caesar’s probably uses cured pepperoni in their pizzas which should still be cooked before serving.
Here is a complete list of ingredients found within the Little Caesar’s pepperoni:
- Pork
- Beef
- Salt
- Contains 2% or less of: spices, dextrose, lactic acid starter culture, natural flavor, sodium ascorbate, garlic powder, oleoresin of paprika, sodium nitrite, citric acid
Is Little Caesar’s cheese pasteurized?
Little Caesar’s uses cheese made with pasteurized milk and cheese cultures.
Ciliegine fresh mozzarella
Here is the ingredient list for this cheese:
- Cultured pasteurized milk
- Salt
- Enzymes
Parmesan
Here is the ingredient list for this cheese:
- Pasteurized milk
- Cheese cultures, Salt
- Enzymes
- Powdered cellulose (to prevent caking)
Shredded blend
Here is the ingredient list for this cheese:
- Pasteurized part-skim milk
- Cheese cultures
- Enzymes
- Salt
- Powdered cellulose (to prevent caking)
Potential issues with eating pizza during pregnancy
As I’ve mentioned before, the usual culprit with pizza, in general, stem from improperly prepared or undercooked ingredients.
Here is a brief list of possible food safety issues with pizza during pregnancy:
- Undercooked meats
- Undercooked veggies
- Improperly handled food ingredients, storage containers, and equipment
- Indigestion from acidic ingredients such as tomato sauce
What can pregnant women eat at Little Caesar’s?
Let’s face it, a pizza place is never going to be the healthiest option!
At the end of the day, pregnant women can eat anything they want from Little Caesar’s, within moderation, as long as it is properly prepared and served piping hot. Pizzas, bread, wings, salads, and more are all safe to eat but they are high in calories, fats, and sodium so it is important to pay special attention when adding it to an otherwise healthy diet.
But, if you are craving Little Caesar’s while pregnant there are a few things that you can try to get your fix without destroying your diet!
Essentially, you’ll be looking at the salads and the Veggie Lover’s pizzas.
Little Caesar’s wings
You might not think of wings as the healthiest option, and they aren’t, but if you are careful then you can get a lot of protein with chicken wings while reducing the amount of extra calories you get.
Order wings at Little Caesar’s oven-roasted or with the sauce on the side to reduce the amount of fat and sugar and you will find an entree that offers 47 grams of protein and stays under 600 calories. Wings at Little Caesar’s come in oven-roasted, buffalo, BBQ, and garlic parmesan flavors. However, all options will still contain more sodium than the daily recommended allowance.
Here is the nutrition information for the oven-roasted wings at Little Caesar’s:
- Calories: 510
- Fat: 35 grams
- Carbs: 3 grams
- Protein: 47 grams
- Sodium: 1740 milligrams
- Dietary fiber: 0 grams
Veggie Pizza
The biggest benefit of choosing a Veggie pizza over one with more meat toppings is that you’ll avoid all of the extra fat content inside the meats but still get the delicious sauce, cheese, and seasonings that you are craving in a pizza!
The Veggie pizza at Little Caesar’s comes with classic marinara, mozzarella and muenster cheeses, mushrooms, black olives, green bell peppers, onions, and veggie-flavored parmesan cheese blend.
Here are the nutrition facts for a slice of a large Veggie pizza from Little Caesar’s:
- Calories: 280
- Fat: 10.5 grams
- Carbs: 33.4 grams
- Protein: 12.5grams
- Sodium: 671.25 milligrams
- Dietary fiber: 2.5 grams
Diet and nutrition safety recommendations for pregnant women
During pregnancy, it is vital that both you and the baby get the proper nutrients. You can do this by eating a well-balanced diet focused on proper nutrition, and staying hydrated. It’s equally important to know which foods to limit or avoid.
Foods to avoid while pregnant
Foodborne illnesses are one of the biggest concerns during pregnancy. To avoid potential contamination with harmful bacteria, certain foods should be handled with care and others avoided during pregnancy.
Pregnant women are generally more susceptible to foodborne illnesses. Here are the foods to avoid while you’re pregnant.
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- Unpasteurized milk, yogurt, and cheeses – Brie, Camembert, or blue-veined cheeses can contain the bacteria Listeria.
- Raw or undercooked egg – Cookie dough, Caesar dressing, mayonnaise, hollandaise sauce made with raw or undercooked eggs can contain salmonella.
- Raw fish or seafood – Including sushi, oysters, shark, tilefish, king mackerel, and swordfish contain high levels of mercury that can damage the baby’s nervous system.
- Raw/undercooked meat – Undercooked steak, poultry, and pork can be infected with Toxoplasmosis, Salmonella, Listeria, or E.Coli.
- Pate/liver – This contains extremely high levels of vitamin A, which can affect fetal brain development.
- All forms of alcohol – Excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with several fetal issues.
- Lunch meat, hot dogs, and other processed meats – Unless they are cooked until steaming to kill bacteria. They are also high in salt and saturated fat.
- Teas – Avoid drinking tea with meals. The tannins prevent the absorption of iron.
- Energy drinks – These are high in caffeine and not recommended during pregnancy.
Foods to limit while pregnant
The following foods and drinks should be limited during pregnancy to prevent adverse effects on your or your baby’s health.
- Caffeine – How much: limit to less than 200mg/day.
- Tuna – How much: limit to two cans or two fresh steaks per week due to mercury levels.
- Sugary sodas, juices, and flavored waters – How much: 1 soda per day or less. These drinks are low in nutritional value and high in sugar or may contain artificial sweeteners, which can be harmful.
General nutrition for pregnant women
A healthy diet could help reduce some of the more unpleasant symptoms of pregnancy like constipation and nausea. Enjoying a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats will also promote the baby’s growth.
You should also ensure you’re getting plenty of the following nutrients as they play a critical role in mommy and ba. You can get them naturally through your diet and they can also be contained in prenatal vitamins suggested by your doctor.
- Folic acid – Helps prevent birth defects
- How much: 0.4mg per day.
- Found in: leafy green vegetables, berries, nuts, beans, citrus fruit, and fortified breakfast cereals.
- Calcium – Strengthens bones
- How much: 1,000 milligrams a day.
- Found in: dairy products, broccoli, kale, fruit juices, and some breakfast cereals.
- Vitamin D – Promotes bone strength
- How much: 600 international units (IU) per day.
- Found in: fat-free dairy, skim, or 1% milk, soymilk, juice, eggs, fish.
- Protein – Promotes growth of muscle
- How much: 71 grams per day.
- Found in: beans and peas, nuts and seeds, lean beef, lamb, pork, poultry, salmon, trout, herring, sardines, and pollack.
- Iron – Prevents iron deficiency anemia
- How much: 27 milligrams per day.
- Found in: lean red meat, poultry, and fish. Also found in iron-fortified breakfast cereals, beans, and vegetables.
Eating a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains can make you feel better during pregnancy and protect the health of your baby. Enjoy this wonderful time in your life and indulge in your favorite fast foods in moderation. Your body will thank you for it later.
