Craving Chinese food...

[Anonymous]

Is MSG safe, and if not, can I trust a restaurant not to use it if I specify that in the order? Don't want to take any risks, but I must have Chinese food now!

[Anonymous]

What is MSG? I know this is not your question, but I just want to let you know that a friend of mine says she always craves Chinese food when she is pregnant with a boy. Are you having a boy? If you don't know yet, it might very well be a boy... I think that as long as what you eat is well cooked you're fine, although I have no idea what MSG is...

[Anonymous]

I thought pretty much all Chinese restaurants stopped using MSG?

I craved Asian food throughout my entire first pregnancy and ate Chinese at least once a week. Had a perfectly healthy baby.

[Anonymous]

At least one source says MSG is safe in pregnancy:

http://parenting.ivillage.com/pregnancy/psafe/0,,45df,00.html

But if it has given your problems before, avoid it:
http://www.babycenter.com/404_is-it-safe-to-eat-foods-with-msg-during-pregnancy_2285.bc

Me, I'm sensitive--just had a horrible headache recently after eating sausages with MSG in them--so I avoid whenever possible.

[Anonymous]

OP here -- Hooray! I am dialing the phone to order delivery.

[Anonymous]

My doctor said it's safe - the only issue is it can make some women more nauseated (which is an issue in the first trimester), but there's nothing wrong with it. Plus you can ask them to not put any MSG into your order.

[Anonymous]

I never eat Chinese food and was craving it during my first trimester - probably ate it once a week. I actually never thought about MSG because I don't view it as any worse than other additives (so only eat in moderation). But nearly all restaurants have a MSG-free option.
Oh, and I'm having a girl! Enjoy!

[Anonymous]

I tend to need the restroom after eating chinese (sorry if TMI) and I am convinced it is the MSG (mono sodium something) because when I make stir fry, etc. at home, I am fine.

I think since MSG is a form of salt and pregnant women are known to crave salty foods. Now some wives' tales claim that indicates a boy and craving sweets indicates a pending girl.

I'm still in the morning sickness stage with #2 so the thought of any food (especially filling food like chinese) makes me queasy.

Everything in moderation anyway.