Let’s know about Cottage cheese during pregnancy. You must choose the right foods during pregnancy, it is not only better for your health but also better for your unborn baby. If you are looking to include paneer in your pregnancy diet, then you are at the right place. In this article, we are discussing the benefits and side-effects of eating paneer during pregnancy. Here we have also listed some delicious paneer recipes that you can include in your diet. But before that let us know whether it is safe to eat paneer during pregnancy or not.
Is it safe to eat Cottage cheese during pregnancy?
If you are wondering whether you can eat paneer during pregnancy or not, the answer is ‘yes’. But if you are lactose intolerant then you should not include paneer in your diet. Paneer is rich in calcium and protein and hence can meet your daily requirements. It is also advised that paneer should always be eaten cooked as it is easy to digest.
Let’s take a look at the benefits and nutritional value of paneer.
Nutritional Value of Paneer
The following is the nutritional value of 40 grams of paneer, let’s find out.
- Energy – 103.5 Kcal
- Protein – 7.5 grams
- Calcium – 190 mg
- Folate – 37.3 mg
- Phosphorus – 132 mg
- Carbs – 4.9 mg
- Fat – 6 grams
Benefits of Cottage cheese during pregnancy
There are many health benefits of eating paneer in general. By the way, it is also a good food item for pregnant women. Here are some of the benefits of eating paneer, let’s find out;
- Good for building teeth and bones: Paneer is rich in calcium and phosphorous. Therefore, it is beneficial for the formation of teeth and bones of the unborn child. The minerals present in it improve the function of the nervous system and prevent demineralization of bones during pregnancy.
- Provides energy: Paneer is very high in protein which increases stamina and provides energy. It helps to cure the symptoms of pregnancy especially morning sickness in the first trimester.
- Is a good source of protein: Paneer is high in protein and hence it is a great food item for pregnant women who keep looking for different sources of protein to meet their daily requirements. Protein is also very important for the growth and development of the unborn child.
- Helps in controlling body weight: Paneer reduces frequent hunger pangs during pregnancy. This will make you feel full and your weight will also be controlled.
- Controls blood sugar: Eating paneer during pregnancy helps in controlling high blood sugar. Paneer is recommended to be eaten with meals or as a snack.
- Helps in reducing pain: During pregnancy, women often suffer from joint pain, which can cause a lot of inconvenience to you. Cottage cheese has anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce joint pain and swelling during pregnancy to a great extent.
During pregnancy, you may unconsciously crave for a lot of things. Although eating paneer is beneficial for health, but eating too much of it can also cause problems. Keep in mind that you must take some precautions while eating paneer. Read further to know more about it.
Precautions to be taken while eating paneer during pregnancy
As mentioned earlier, it is better to eat cheese in moderation during pregnancy. Apart from this, if you are pregnant then you should pay attention to some of the following things while consuming paneer, let’s find out;
- Keep in mind that during pregnancy, you should only eat cheese that is made from pasteurized milk. Because eating paneer made from unpasteurized or pasteurized milk can cause digestive problems. It is best to eat homemade paneer at this time.
- It is advisable not to eat raw paneer during pregnancy as it contains bacteria which can be harmful for you and your unborn baby.
- If you are buying cheese from the market, then definitely check its expiry date. If you eat homemade paneer, finish it in about 2 or 3 days. Paneer is a perishable food item and cannot be stored for long.
- It is advisable to buy paneer from a reputed source or a good brand and at the time of purchase, check the label to check its quality.
- Do not eat discolored, dry or cracked paneer as such paneer is stale and not fit to eat.
How to make paneer easily at home
Paneer can be made easily at home. Here’s how you can make about 200 grams of paneer from 1 liter of milk, let’s find out;
Material
- 1 liter milk (full fat milk)
- 1 tsp lemon juice or vinegar
Method
- Firstly, heat the milk in a heavy pan.
- Then let it boil for a while in low flame.
- After boiling the milk, turn off the flame and keep the milk below the stove.
- You add vinegar or lemon juice to the milk and mix it until the paneer becomes thick and the water starts separating.
- You can also add ice to it to cool it down. Adding cold water or ice will cool it down quickly and make it easier for you to handle.
- After the mixture cools down, filter it with a muslin or clean cotton cloth.
- Leave the paneer in the cloth and squeeze all the water out of it.
- Your homemade paneer is ready.
Now you know how to make paneer at home but keep in mind that the paneer is still raw. Before making paneer’s favorite vegetable, you should cook it well so that you do not have any problem. If you are still in doubt as to why you cannot eat raw paneer, then read on to know that.
Can You Eat Raw Paneer During Pregnancy?
If you like eating paneer, then you would love to eat it in any form. However, be careful while eating raw paneer during pregnancy. Because raw paneer contains bacteria and eating paneer made from pasteurized milk, especially store-bought paneer, can cause health issues. Do not eat raw paneer during pregnancy to avoid any health related issues.
We have advised you to eat paneer in moderate quantity again and again. Let us know here what are the side-effects of eating too much paneer.
Side-Effects of Cottage cheese during pregnancy
Eating too much paneer can have some side-effects too, let’s find out;
- Paneer is high in sodium and can affect blood pressure.
- Eating paneer in excess can lead to digestive problems, stomach upset and in some cases even food poisoning.
- If you eat too much cheese in your diet during pregnancy, then it can also increase your weight.
Well, this is all a lot of information but when it comes to eating paneer during pregnancy, do not worry. Just keep in mind that you should eat paneer in fresh and moderate quantity only. Here are some paneer recipes that you can cook and eat during pregnancy.
Paneer Recipes for Pregnant Women
You can cook the following paneer recipes at home and add something new to your diet everyday during pregnancy. Let us know how these recipes will be made;
1. Spicy Cheese Skewers
Material:
- Paneer (cut into cubes) – 200 grams
- Capsicum (cut into cubes) – 2-3
- Onion (cut into cubes) – 1
- Curd – 1 cup
- Garlic and ginger paste – 1 tbsp
- Chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Ajwain – 1 tsp
- Garam masala – 1/2 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Chaat masala – 1 tsp
- Black pepper powder – 1/2 tsp
- Oil – 1 tbsp
- Lemon juice
- salt to taste
Method:
- First of all, put curd in a bowl and add all the spices and salt to it.
- Now add ginger-garlic paste and a little oil to this mixture.
- Also add chopped paneer and vegetables to the curd mixture.
- Marinate this mixture for about an hour.
- Remove the cubes of paneer and vegetables from the mixture and insert them one by one with a toothpick or skewer.
- Fry it lightly in a pan for about 3-4 minutes or till it is done.
- After it is done, sprinkle chaat masala and lemon juice.
- finally eat it as it is or with mint chutney.
2. Palak Paneer
Material
- Paneer (cut into cubes): 200 grams
- Spinach: 500-600 grams
- Onion (chopped) – 2
- Tomato (chopped) – 2
- Ginger paste – 1 tbsp
- Ghee – 1 tbsp
- Fresh cream – ½ cup
- Chilli powder – 1 tsp
- Coriander powder – 1 tsp
- Garam masala powder – 1 tsp
- Cumin powder – 1 tsp
- salt to taste
Method
- Firstly blanch the spinach leaves. After it is done, grind it and make a paste.
- Heat ghee in a pan. Then add chopped onion to it and cook till it becomes light brown.
- Add ginger-garlic paste to it and cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Add tomatoes, mix well and cook for 6-7 minutes or till tomatoes turn soft.
- Now add all the spices and salt and cook for 2-3 more minutes.
- Then add spinach to the pan and mix.
- Finally cover the pan and let it cook for 5 minutes.
- After the spinach is cooked, add paneer to it. Let the palak and paneer cook on medium heat for a few minutes.
- Add cream to it and mix well.
- If you can afford to have a little more fat in your diet, then fry paneer cubes in a little ghee. Fry it in medium flame till it becomes light brown and then cook for 1 or 2 minutes with just spinach paste.
By the way, paneer is a very good food item for those pregnant women. You can include paneer in your diet during pregnancy with a few precautions and enjoy all its benefits.
