Can I Eat Hot Cheetos While Pregnant? – Guide Through Trimesters

You’re pregnant and craving hot Cheetos, you want to eat them soo badly, but, are they safe?

Can I eat hot Cheetos while pregnant? That’s the question we will deal with in this article.

There are many myths and concerns about that spicy snack, so let’s check the facts and solve the mystery.

Food Cravings During Pregnancy

While pregnant, many women go through all sorts of cravings.

Those cravings can be caused by several different things such as hormone changes, a heightened sense of taste (or smell) and nutritional deficiencies.
It’s a perfectly normal condition, but women should be careful since not all food is good for them and their babies.

Some women crave chocolate, some prefer fresh fruit, while some of them crave spicy and crunchy food or snacks, and hot Cheetos are like that.
So, can women eat them and are they safe for them and their babies? There is a lot of concern about spicy food consumption during pregnancy.

Can Pregnant Women Eat Cheetos?

Actually, it is common for pregnant women to crave spicy food. When it comes to Cheetos, let’s check what these snacks are and whether should you eat or avoid them.

What Are Hot Cheetos?

These crunchy, cheesy snacks come with a hot and spicy flavor. Hot Cheetos come from the Frito-Lay Snacks division – and Pepsi owned them.

Hot Cheetos contains enriched corn meal, vegetable oil, salt and seasoning. They aren’t a vegan product, since this snack contains cheddar cheese, milk, whey and buttermilk. In the pic below, you can see the list of ingredients.

There are many artificial colors, flavors, fat and salt. Still, this is a very popular snack in the USA and all around the world.

How Cheetos Can Affect Your Pregnancy? – 1,2 & 3 Trimester

There are a few reasons why you should avoid this snack. Read them and decide if you still want to eat them.

• Cheetos can worsen your morning sickness – During the first trimester of pregnancy when many women struggle with morning sickness, eating spicy food isn’t the best idea. For women who suffer from all-day nausea, eating spicy food can trigger the release of stomach acid and make nausea worse.



• Can trigger heartburn – In the second and third trimester of pregnancy, spicy food and snacks can cause heartburn. That means Cheetos can worsen the symptoms of heartburn and cause increased discomfort.
• Cause diarrhea – These snacks also can cause bloating, increased gas and diarrhea (not just in pregnant women). Some components in spicy food can irritate the stomach and digestive system and lead to diarrhea. If you eat spicy food during pregnancy, increase your intake of fluids to remain hydrated.

There are many myths when it comes to eating spicy food during pregnancy, so let’s solve them too.
Eating spicy snacks won’t cause miscarriage and won’t burn a hole in your stomach. If Hot Cheetos were so dangerous, no one would eat them.

So, You Can’t Eat Them?

Hot Cheetos aren’t healthy, that’s for sure, like many other snacks. There are a lot of chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors. It is a nutritionless snack. Although this snack can be appealing to you, it will provide no nutritional benefit to your body.

However, you can enjoy them once in a while even if you are pregnant. All spicy chips, including Hot Cheetos, are safe during pregnancy. It will not harm the health of your unborn child or developing fetus.

But keep in mind that this snack is high in sodium and fat, so you must consume it in moderation.

Also, if a pregnant woman isn’t used to spicy food, she may develop some uncomfortable symptoms and even worsen the pregnancy symptoms she already has.

Can You Eat Flaming Hot Cheetos While Pregnant?

Flamin’ hot Cheetos is one of the varieties of Cheetos. It’s a spicy and crunchy snack with a cheesy flavor. This variety is shaped like a long red twisty straw.

As we mentioned, spicy food is okay, as long as you eat it in moderation. That works for Flaming Hot Cheetos too. Consume them as an occasional snack and in small portion sizes.

What To Eat Instead?

There are some things you can to do keep this unhealthy craving under control.

You can eat regular, healthy meals – that will help prevent sudden hunger. Keep your pantry stocked with healthy snacks, so you can’t eat fast food or unhealthy snacks – because you don’t have them in the pantry. 😀

Always choose healthy, low-glycemic index foods that will keep you full for a longer period (porridge, wholegrain bread, baked beans).

It is okay to give in to occasional food cravings, but that should be occasional. You should eat healthy food that promotes healthy baby development. Maintaining a healthy diet during pregnancy is essential.

Also, there are some healthy alternatives you can eat instead of that spicy snack.

• You can make your own Cheetos flavored snack using puffs or popcorn, tossing with olive oil and then you can sprinkle on some chili powder and hot paprika.



• Choose chips made from plants, such as peas, chickpeas, lentil flour with a spicy seasoning or just a snack that doesn’t contain so much junk.



• Find snacks that are baked, rather than fried ones.
• Low-sodium, low-fat chips, popcorn or pretzels
• Whole wheat crackers
• Fresh fruit is a good choice anytime
• Dried beans – If you’re craving chips, these beans are a healthier substitute.
• Try veggies and hummus if you need a boost of fiber. They will support your immune and digestive systems.

Make Your Stove-Top Cheesy Popcorn

Consider this homemade snack, it’s a great alternative to Hot Cheetos and its preparation doesn’t require a lot of your time.

AuthorPatriciaDifficultyBeginner