Chicken nuggets are small pieces of chicken, often minced and reformed, coated in breadcrumbs or batter and fried or baked. Cooked until piping hot they are safe in pregnancy; the thing to keep an eye on is how often, because of the salt and fat.
Why it's good in pregnancy
Nuggets still deliver chicken protein and niacin, and for many people they are one of the few foods that stay appealing through first-trimester nausea. Oven-baked versions with a side of vegetables make a workable meal on a difficult day.
Key nutrients
ProteinA serving of six nuggets gives roughly 15 g of protein from the chicken inside.
B VitaminsChicken contributes niacin and B6, which help your body use energy and build red blood cells.
Serving ideas
Oven-baked nuggets with peas and corn
Nuggets over a big salad with yogurt dressing
In a wholegrain wrap with lettuce and tomato
With roast sweet potato wedges
Homemade nuggets from breaded chicken breast
Safety
Cook until piping hot in the centre with no pink; follow the pack time fully.Treat them as an occasional meal, as they are high in salt and fat.
Cook nuggets from frozen for the full time on the pack and check the centre is steaming hot and white, not pink, before eating; reformed chicken has bacteria mixed through it, so this matters more than with a chicken breast. If you reheat leftovers, do so once and until piping hot. Six nuggets can carry around a quarter of your daily salt, so pair them with vegetables rather than chips and skip the salty dips. Look for packs that list chicken breast first and have shorter ingredient lists.
Common questions
Can I eat chicken nuggets while pregnant?Yes, as long as they are cooked until piping hot in the middle; they are safe but best kept as an occasional meal.
Are fast-food chicken nuggets safe in pregnancy?Yes, they are cooked at high temperatures; the drawback is salt and fat rather than food safety.
Why do I crave nuggets in my first trimester?Plain, salty, carb-coated foods are often easier to face when nauseous; eating them is fine, and you can add more variety as the sickness eases.
Did you know?
Many frozen nuggets are only part-cooked, which is why the pack time must be followed to the end.
Homemade nuggets from breaded chicken breast carry about half the salt of a typical frozen pack.
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