Alternative Healthier Pregnancy Cravings
I know how hard it can be to avoid eating unhealthy foods during pregnancy. While we can’t always avoid it, I am going to share some alternative healthier pregnancy cravings that you can eat instead.
Pregnancy is a wild thing where your body endures immense change to meet the growing needs of your baby. Your hormones change, your nutritional needs change, not to mention all the physical changes of pregnancy.
I am a huge advocate for eating well. However, I know from experience that it is not always possible to eat the best of foods while pregnant. However, I would love to offer some alternative healthier pregnancy cravings that will not cause a spike in blood sugar and leave you feeling worse than you already do.
In every trimester of pregnancy, your body is working in different ways to grow a beautiful baby.
In the first trimester, your baby is growing their organs, limbs, heart and the formation of their brain, spinal cord and digestive system are emerging.
In the second trimester, your baby is beginning to form smaller details like eyelashes and fingernails. Your blood volume increases up to 60% more in the second trimester, so your needs for iron increase.
In the third trimester, baby’s brain and spine are rapidly developing, so nutrients like Omega 3 and Vitamin K2 become important here.
With all of that mentioned, no wonder your body craves certain tastes and textures. Your body, the marvel that it is, is being demanded so much of.
Let’s explore what we can do about these cravings.
Do I Ignore My Cravings?
No, don’t ignore them! They are a signal that your body is in need of certain nutrients.
There are many theories about why pregnancy cravings happen.
One theory is that cravings serve as a protective mechanism for mother and baby.
Other theories suggest that food cravings occur to satisfy the energetic needs of the baby, or to replenish nutrients lost from nausea, vomiting and food aversions in the first trimester (source).
Even if these are just theories, it is important to listen to your body when it craves certain foods.
Let’s explore how we can make alternative healthier pregnancy cravings.
Alternative Healthier Pregnancy Cravings
My biggest tip when it comes to managing cravings is to eat balanced protein-rich meals.
When you eat nourishing meals, it leaves little room for desiring unhealthy cravings.
Of course, please hear me out when I say that I am all about balance! This means that if you are eating well most of the time, then give in to those cravings every now and then.
However, we are looking to eat more nourishing foods for the health of our changing body and growing baby, so read below for my healthier pregnancy swaps.
With three out of four of my pregnancies, I craved bread, burgers and pasta at the beginning of each of those pregnancies. Common denominator: carbs, carbs and more carbs!
With my fourth pregnancy, I just craved real, fresh and homemade food. I could not stand fast food this time. So strange how I craved completely different food in my last pregnancy, but that is how different each pregnancy can be.
Let’s explore common cravings and how you can make healthier swaps:
Sweet: craving sweet foods may be a way to increase calorie consumption. Try to avoid sugary foods and opt for naturally sweet foods like fresh in season fruit, yoghurt, energy balls (dates, nuts, oats, maple syrup), dark chocolate (at least 70%) and berries and cream.
Salty: an increase in blood volume in the second trimester could indicate a craving for more salty foods. Try to avoid excessive salty foods found in fast food restaurants and packaged foods. Alternatively try air-popped popcorn, homemade fries with olive oil and sea salt, natural corn chips with homemade guacamole or a homemade burger.
Sour: sour foods like sour worms or soft drink can compromise digestion. Naturally sour foods like naturally fermented pickles, sauerkraut and kimchi are great probiotic-rich foods that support a healthy gut microbiome.
Other healthy pregnancy snack ideas:
Roasted chickpeas
Edamame
Vegetable sticks with hummus
Apple slices with almond butter/peanut butter
Bananas drizzled with melted dark chocolate and nuts
Rice cakes with tuna
Yoghurt and berries
Peanut butter on whole grain toast
Boiled eggs
What does craving non-food items mean?
Some women will crave non-food items like chalk, dirt, soap or ice. These cravings can signal a mineral deficiency, most commonly iron.
I would suggest getting your minerals checked via a blood test if you are craving non-item foods.
Conclusion
While it is okay to give in to your cravings every now and then, it is also important to eat as well as you can during pregnancy.
This is why eating healthier food swaps is a good way to meet those cravings and eat a more balanced diet at the same time.
