Health and Nutrition: Coping with Cravings

Cheese with chocolate sauce? Hotdogs slathered in strawberry yogurt?  A sudden aversion to all food with stems? Food cravings and aversions are common and quite unpredictable for many pregnant women. Usually, cravings are strong when you have them, but many women report being repulsed by the very thing they craved once their pregnancies have ended.

No one knows exactly why pregnant women get food cravings. Some experts believe that the cravings should be taken seriously as they could be pointing to a nutritional deficit. For example, a mom who is craving burgers might be low in protein. Others believe that cravings are simply another way that hormones run amok in a woman’s body during pregnancy.

However, when you are craving ice cream and black olives, you probably don’t care what is causing the craving – you want to know what to do about it. If the craving is healthy – for example, you just can’t seem to get enough spinach, than by all means, go for it. However, if the craving is not healthy, try some of these suggestions:

• Never indulge in food cravings that involve substances that you should not eat while pregnant – specifically, alcohol, raw or undercooked eggs, meat, or fish, unpasteurized juices and dairy products (like soft cheeses), and fish that contain high levels of mercury.
• If you are craving nonfood items like clay, dirt, or paper, be sure and notify your doctor immediately. This condition is called pica and is of course, not one you should indulge.
• Indulge unhealthy food craving, but not too much. Control those portions!
• Try to substitute low-fat and low-sugar options.
• Distract yourself until the craving goes away – take a bath, take a walk, read a book, drink a cup of tea, have sex…whatever it takes.
• Eat small meals every few hours – you can avoid cravings by not allowing your blood sugar level to drop too much.
• Exercise is another great way to cut down on cravings.

In general, cravings are nothing to be concerned about. More than anything, they make for great stories to tell once your pregnancy is over. So, go ahead and have that peanut butter and avocado sandwich – just don’t expect anyone else to join you!

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