We all need to eat a balanced diet to maintain our health, but this becomes even more important when one is pregnant. Aside from making sure you and the baby get the proper nutrients, there are pregnancy food cravings that you need to navigate.
Barring any medical conditions, and when you’ve gone past the usual morning sickness, there’s no reason for you not to give in to your pregnancy food cravings. But why do you have it in the first place?
Pregnancy food cravings meaning: Why do I crave certain food when pregnant?
You’re near the end of your first trimester and suddenly you get the urge to eat a pint of ice cream. And a large serving of fries. You must have it now! What is the meaning of pregnancy food cravings?
While research shows that a lot of women experience food cravings, there is no known scientific evidence as to why pregnant women yearn for specific food combinations, flavours, and even textures.
Like causes are your changing hormones, as well as the body’s need to produce more blood. It could also be because specific foods bring you comfort, which you need as you go through pregnancy.
A pregnant woman’s enhanced sense of smell may also be a cause for cravings while pregnant. We may be turned off by certain foods, and attracted by others.
Finally, the body’s nutritional needs can also be the reason why a pregnant woman suddenly wants certain foods.
Debunking myths about pregnancy food cravings
There are a lot of old wives tales surrounding pregnancy, and these include the food you eat. They say you get certain food cravings when pregnant with a boy, and specific food cravings when pregnant with a girl.
Unfortunately, they are just myths. There are no studies or research to back these claims.
So whether you are craving citrus fruits, meat, or something sweet, this does not mean a specific gender of your baby.
Common pregnancy food cravings and where to get them
We know how frustrating it can be when you want to eat something but you don’t know where to buy them.
So we’ve rounded up the most common pregnancy food cravings, and you can get them with just a few clicks!
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|---|
| Food |
Category |
| Hershey’s Chocolate Bar – Creamy Milk |
When You’re Craving Sweets |
| Australian Kale Chips – Back to Basics – Natural Healthy Snacks |
When You’re Craving Something Salty |
| RedMart USA Strawberries |
When You’re Craving Fruits |
Hego NZ Grass Fed Beef Ribeye
|
When You’re Craving Meat
|
| Sugalight Fantastic Dark Chocolate Ice Cream |
When You’re Craving Dairy |
Common Pregnancy Food Cravings and Where to Get Them
 | Hershey's Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar When You’re Craving Sweets |  | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Australian Kale Chips - Natural Healthy Snacks When You’re Craving Something Salty | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | RedMart USA Strawberries When You’re Craving Fruits | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Hego NZ Grass Fed Beef Ribeye When You’re Craving Meat | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Sugalight Fantastic Dark Chocolate Ice Cream When You’re Craving Dairy | | View Details | Buy Now |
When You’re Craving Sweets
One of the most common pregnancy food cravings is chocolate. Fortunately, all types of chocolate are safe to eat when you’re pregnant.
However, the key thing to remember is to have them in moderation. Also, the darker the chocolate, the more caffeine it contains. Note that you’re only allowed 200mg of caffeine a day.
So Hershey’s Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar is a great pick to satisfy your sweet tooth. A 43g bar only contains 10g of caffeine.
Plus, this chocolate bar is also Halal. Just keep in mind to eat moderately as chocolates are high in calories and sugar.
When You’re Craving Something Salty
There’s a saying that salty food is one of the food cravings when pregnant with a boy. Well, this is a myth!
But that shouldn’t stop you from satisfying your hankering for it! As with all food cravings, the key is to have it in moderation. And what better way than to eat healthy chips?
This Back to Basics Natural Kale Chips from Australia is perfect when you want something salty. Instead of the usual potato chips, reach for a bag of this.
Kale chips contain four times the amount of potassium found in bananas, and more than 10 times the calcium found in 100g of milk!
What’s more, it has no MSG, no oil added, no artificial colours, flavours, or preservatives. It is also Halal and Kosher.
When You’re Craving Fruits
One of the old wives tales is that citrus fruits are among the food cravings when pregnant with a girl. Again, this is a myth as there is no scientific evidence for this.
However, it is common and normal to crave for fruits when pregnant.
What’s great is you can indulge in fruits when you’re expecting as you need to increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Whether you want oranges, grapefruits, or strawberries, have at it!
These RedMart USA Strawberries will surely satiate your desire for fruits. One order comes with 250 grams of juicy strawberries.
They are rich in Vitamin C, potassium, fibre, and folate, which is great when you’re expecting.
Just make sure to wash them thoroughly before eating!
When You’re Craving Meat
You may be wondering about the meaning of your pregnancy cravings, like if you suddenly want a juicy steak.
Scientists have pointed out that craving for meat may be our body’s way of telling us we need to keep our iron levels up. After all, you need 27 milligrams of iron a day when pregnant.
So go ahead and add this Hego NZ Grass Fed Beef Ribeye to your grocery list. Aside from being a rich source of iron, meat also has protein, zinc, and B Vitamins, particularly Vitamin B12.
This vitamin is essential especially in the first trimester, for your baby’s blood formation and brain function.
Just remember to cook meat until it reaches an internal temperature of 145℉. So avoid eating medium rare steaks until you get the baby out!
When You’re Craving Dairy
Wanting dairy like ice cream is perfectly normal as this is one of the common pregnancy food cravings.
It may be psychological, since we are told that dairy is a good source for calcium and phosphorus. Plus, ice cream is delicious!
So when you’re yearning for dairy but still want to keep it healthy, order this Sugalight Fantastic Dark Chocolate Ice Cream.
It ticks off a lot of boxes on the cravings list: it’s sweet, it’s chocolate, and it’s dairy!
What’s great is there is no sugar added, so you can indulge without the guilt. Furthermore, it is low-carb, and is Halal-certified. Also, it does not contain any artificial sweeteners or trans fats.
Price Table
Here’s a quick look at the prices for common pregnancy food cravings, which we hope will help you with your monthly grocery budget.
|
|---|
| Food |
Price (in SGD) |
Weight |
| Hershey’s Creamy Milk Chocolate Bar |
$1.80 |
40g |
| Australian Kale Chips – Back to Basics – Natural Healthy Snacks |
$3.40 |
6g |
| RedMart USA Strawberries |
$7.25 |
250g |
| Hego NZ Grass Fed Beef Ribeye |
$12.32 |
300g |
| Sugalight Fantastic Dark Chocolate Ice Cream |
$15.00 |
277g |
Note: Each item and price is up to date at the time of publication. However, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
How to stop food cravings
Pregnancy food cravings usually start in the first trimester, and peak at the second trimester. They usually start to decline by the time you reach the third trimester.
In general, giving in to your cravings is fine. Just keep in mind not to make a habit of eating processed foods, and maintain a balanced diet. Also, you must know which foods to avoid during pregnancy.
So there is no need to worry and you can stop wondering how to stop food cravings. As long as it’s not affecting your health, you’re in the clear.
To avoid overeating, try having small meals and healthy snacks throughout the day to keep the hunger pangs at bay. It might also help not to stock up on junk foods so they will be “out of sight, out of mind."
Drinking lots of water may also help, as sometimes we feel hungry when in reality, we are just lacking H2O. Keeping busy will also help distract you from your cravings.
Pregnancy is a wonderful time to indulge in your cravings, as long as you do not go overboard. So what are you waiting for? Dig in!
Aside from your pregnancy food cravings, it is essential to have healthy snacks from time to time. Check out: Choices of Healthy Snacks for Pregnant Women
