It’s commonplace to long for sweet foods like cakes during pregnancy. But before satisfying your cravings, you should learn about the potential health implications of eating sweet foods like cakes.
Read on to discover whether eating cakes is safe and healthy during your pregnancy journey.
Can You Eat Cake During Pregnancy?
Yes, you can eat sweet treats like cakes when you are pregnant. Having a small or moderate intake of cakes is still safe for your health and the development of the fetus inside.
Eating cakes too much, though, is unhealthy. This is because these sweet foods contain high amounts of sugar. As sugar brings high calories, consuming it in high amounts contributes to a higher risk of excessive weight gain, gestational diabetes, and other diseases.
Further, sweet delights like cakes provide little nutritional value. So needless to say you should think of cakes as foods that fulfill your sweet cravings for a short period rather than seeing them as nutritious foods.
If you want to provide your unborn baby with essential nutrients, plan a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of healthy foods like fresh fruits, starchy foods, and protein sources.
If you can’t resist cakes, indulge your taste buds with a small piece. But, to control your sugar intake, avoiding unhealthy toppings like frosting or gems is best.
You may also want to consider asking your primary caregiver about the recommended intake of cake during pregnancy to keep you and your unborn offspring healthy. After all, expecting moms are not all the same.
That said, let’s look at why it may not be a good idea to take cakes during pregnancy.
Why Eating Cake During Pregnancy Is Not Recommended
There are three key reasons why you should try to avoid taking cake during pregnancy:
- Causes Weight Gain:
Gaining weight is good for pregnant women if their added weight comes from nutritious foods and stays within the weight range suggested by doctors. But, as already mentioned, cakes contain high calories and don’t provide enough nutrients to stay healthy during pregnancy. So eating a cake without control can make you absorb more calories than needed, hence leading to unhealthy weight gain during pregnancy.
Unwanted weight gain can take a toll on your pregnant body and the baby’s health. So, when ordering a cake in a restaurant or a bakery, only eat a small cake slice. This can go a long way in preventing obesity in pregnancy.
- Contains Alcohol
Some bakers use alcohol like bourbon or rum to increase the flavor of their cakes. Such cakes are harmful since liquor can increase the risk of premature delivery and miscarriage.
According to the English NHS, babies exposed to alcohol in wombs can be prone to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) and have low birth weight.
So, if you are pregnant, avoid any type of cake containing alcohol.
- Unhealthy Supplements
Many ready-made cakes or cake mixes contain taste enhancers and food additives like artificial colors. Also, bakers use preservatives like sodium to preserve cakes.
Unfortunately, absorbing these substances in excess is harmful to your baby. They can increase the baby’s chance of developing behavioral problems like hyperactivity after birth. For this reason, you shouldn’t buy store-bought cakes with unhealthy additives.
Cakes That You Can Try During Pregnancy
It would be silly of us to ignore the fact that certain types of cake are actually okay for expectant mothers. If you’re experiencing a nagging cake craving, here are three wholesome types of cakes you can take during pregnancy:
- Dark Chocolate Cake
Dark chocolate is rich in flavonoids, an antioxidant that enhances blood flow and improves brain functions in you and your baby. Therefore, dark chocolate cakes are healthy options for pregnant women.
Below is a dark chocolate cake example:
That said, dark chocolate has high saturated fat amounts that can lead to weight gain if consumed excessively. So eat dark chocolate cakes in moderation. You can also try vegan chocolate cakes that contain plant-based ingredients that carry fewer calories.
- Angel Food Cake
This sponge cake uses beaten egg whites instead of egg yolks and butter. So compared to traditional cakes with icing, angel cakes are lower in fat and contain fewer calories.
However, if angel cakes use refined sugar to create sweetness, they can be harmful to your health. That’s why you should consider cakes containing natural sweeteners like honey and maple syrup.
- Yogurt Cake
Yogurt is recommended for pregnant women for its rich nutrients like dietary calcium, Vitamin B12, and protein. Further, it has probiotics that support food digestion. So, eating a yogurt cake benefits the health of pregnant women and babies.
Keep in mind yogurt goes bad quickly – less than two hours at room temperature. Thus, you should place yogurt cakes in the fridge to preserve them for longer.
In Closing
Cakes are delicious snacks for any sweet tooth. But you should not eat these desserts frequently. To satisfy your sweet appetite, eating a small piece of cake without frosting and sweetened toppings is fine.
Whether ready-made or homemade cakes, you should prioritize ones that contain wholesome ingredients. Some options like yogurt cakes, dark chocolate cakes, and angel cakes prove good for pregnant women and babies if taken in small quantities.
However, consult your doctor beforehand on whether eating cakes is good for your current health conditions. Further, closely follow a healthy diet to provide enough nutrients for you and your fetus.
Richard Fowler is the Head of Sponge and has been with the business since its inception, working his way up the ranks to Managing Director. He is responsible for leading and managing the operation of Sponge, from New Product Development to baking, packing, and trade operations – keeping quality and customer satisfaction at the forefront of our values.
