Mmmm the refreshing, sweet, icy goodness of a slushie or Slurpee on a hot day. You just can’t beat it. And it’s really no surprise that many pregnant women crave an icy drink like this – but are they safe?
I’m 28 weeks and can’t stop craving Slurpee’s. Is it safe to suck on one (or two *gulp*) every day? They just taste sooooo good.
– Sarah, Summer 2021/22 baby group member
Are Slurpees safe while pregnant?
Great news – we’ve trawled the internet and cannot find any official advice to suggest that Slurpees or slushies are unsafe. Hooray!!!
Take the good with the bad though. They’re ok to indulge in occasionally but you’ll definitely want to limit your intake.
What’s bad about drinking Slurpees during pregnancy?
Slurpees are basically made up of two ingredients, sugar and water. And when we say sugar, we mean a LOT of sugar. There has to be at least 12%-22% of sugar in the mix to prevent the liquid from freezing solid.
You’re probably thinking that there’s lots of sugar in most soft drinks, right? Correct, but, according to Live Lighter, frozen drinks tend to have more, and you’ll also often have a much larger serving.
Firstly, this is a great way to pack a lot of weight on very quickly. Also, too much sugar in your diet during pregnancy can be a one-way ticket to gestational diabetes so proceed with caution!
But they’re so good?
We know! And look, we’re definitely not here to tell you that you can’t have one ever again.
Luckily If you do a quick internet search for healthy alternatives, there are loads out there. Think lots of beautiful summery fruit, served over ice and maybe even add a dash of soda water for fizz.
Yes, there’s still sugar in fruit, but way less than a slushie, and you get the nutritional goodness of fresh fruit. And the best part? You can make one at home, so no more trips to your local servo at weird hours.
See you next time, we’re off to read 5 pregnancy smoothies for healthy mums-to-be.
