Pregnancy Food Cravings: The Good, The Bad and The Strange

Cravings are one of those things that every movie about pregnancy depicts as fact, with the mamma-to-be often stuffing her face with pickles and ice cream. Are cravings real? What are pregnant women most likely to crave? Why do they happen?

It turns out they are very real and often very intense for pregnant women. So no, you are certainly not crazy for asking hubby to make you a lemonade and ice frozen delight in the middle of the night or find pickles at the deli counter enticing for the first time ever. There are certainly many theories and a lot of old wives tales about why you crave certain things, so we decided to check out the top craved foods so that you know what to expect and why.

Note: Thank God, you have a legitimate reason to want chocolate ALL the time!

1. Spicy food: Ironically this is said to be because they cool you down because they make you sweat (same reason spicy foods often found in countries with hot climates).

2. Chocolate and lots of it:  If you feel like you might be over indulging then try some naked popcorn with Chocolate drizzled on top – easy to make and not so naughty!

3. Pickles: Likely due to the fact that you are low in sodium

4. Potato chips: Another high salt item you might be craving due to needing more sodium. This is obviously less healthy than pickles but better than fried pickles (but wow are they tasty with BBQ sauce!).

5. Something fizzy: Even if you were never a fan of carbonation, you may be while pregnant. The fizz is thought to help with morning sickness. Stick to carbonated waters and seltzers, rather than sugary sodas.

6. Ice: This isn’t your most vitamin and nutrient-packed snack, but it may reduce inflammation.

7. Fruit: Yep, it is possible to have healthy cravings too. Fruit is refreshing, hydrating and full of vitamin C. Plus sour fruits like lemons can “shock” the taste buds which is desirable in pregnancy because they can change so much.

8. Bizarre and fabulous combinations: No one knows for sure why women often crave strange combinations of foods, but the theory is that it ensures a wide range of nutrients get to baby.

9. Dairy: Want cheese, cheese and more cheese? Likely because of the protein and calcium you need, especially in your first trimester.

10. Non-edible foods: I know this sounds amusing but it’s not. If you get a hankering for some chalk, soil or other non-food items, call your doctor right away as it may be a sign of a condition called Pica, which is dangerous and could be a sign of iron deficiency.

Tags: food cravings, pregnancy, pregnancy food cravings