It’s little secret that pregnancy and food cravings go hand in hand.
Yep, though it’s completely normal for everyone to be hit with a food craving from time to time, when you’re pregnant, those cravings can be more intense than ever!
Even the healthiest of eaters might want to reach for hot chips or a family-sized block of chocolate at some point during their nine months.
But what if you have quit sugar pre-pregnancy? Should you give in to the cravings for the sweet stuff? And what if you’re craving something totally bizarre, like soap?
As a naturopath specialising in preconception and pregnancy, I’m asked these kinds of questions every day. So here are my tips for eating your way through a healthy pregnancy. Not only will you feel great, you can be assured you are giving your baby the best start to life, too!
A word on crazier cravings.
Some women will crave things that are not even food, like chalk, clay, soap or sand. This is known as pica and is usually the body’s attempt to obtain minerals and vitamins that might be lacking.
If this is the case for you, be sure to contact a health professional as soon as possible, as eating such things could harm yourself or your baby.
The first trimester is the toughest for many pregnant women.
But if you’re just craving a bit of extra chocolate cake or some hot chips, you’re definitely not alone.
I’ll be the first to admit that the first trimester of pregnancy in particular is challenging, especially if you experience morning (all day) sickness. Cravings usually start in the first trimester and will often taper off or at least be more manageable by the second.
For many, green vegetables go pretty much out the window. And if you had a choice, your entire diet would consist of white and yellow foods (hello, cheese, white bread and hot chips!)
But with a little bit of forward thinking you can have healthy snacks and meals ready to go when the cravings kick in.
Eat something every 2–3 hours.
Remember you’re growing a baby and that takes a lot of energy. Drops in blood sugar can make you feel dizzy, nauseous and leave you reaching for the donuts or white bread toasties for a quick pick-me-up.
By eating regular, healthy meals and snacks you will feel more energised, less fatigued and much less likely to give in to any cravings for sugar or refined carbs.
Always keep healthy, wholefood snacks on hand.
Fill your freezer and pantry with homemade IQS-friendly protein balls, muffins and granola bars. Make up nut and seed mixes to eat on their own or sprinkled on natural yogurt with berries or seasonal fruit. Hardboiled eggs can also be a lifesaver when the hunger pangs hit.
Make your own healthy version of the food you crave.
If it’s hot chips you want, you can make your own-oven baked chips! Toss in olive oil, sprinkle with pink salt, yum!
Feeling like a hot chocolate? Add a spoonful of raw cacao powder, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of rice malt syrup in hot milk will do the trick. There’s plenty of great IQS recipes for homemade raw chocolate – you’ll only need a little bit to hit the spot.
Smoothies will be your friend throughout pregnancy.
They’re quick to make, easy to drink on the go, and a great way of getting a range of healthy nutrients in fast, for you and your little one!
Start with the liquid (dairy milk or non-dairy such as almond or coconut) then add fruit (berries, half a banana or other seasonal, low-fructose fruit) pea or whey protein powder, nut butter (cashew, almond, peanut), chia seeds and cinnamon (great for balancing blood sugar). This is your license to get creative!
Don’t forget protein and healthy fats.
These nutrients keep you feeling satisfied and your blood sugar stable as your baby grows. Make sure you have good quality protein (chicken, meat, fish, legumes, pulses, eggs, nuts and seeds) and healthy fats (avocado, oily fish, cold-pressed oils, nuts and seeds) with each meal.
Be kind to yourself.
Growing another human being is hard work! Don’t be hard on yourself if you do cave to an unhealthy craving. It’s not the end of the world. Just get back on track for your next meal. Just focus on eating a healthy whole food diet for the majority of the pregnancy.
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