Pregnancy Cravings/Aversion Thoughts

I just found an article about food cravings during pregnancy. I find this interesting because I craved so many things that, although normal to others, were not normal for me.  As I'm starting this second trimester (17.5 weeks along), I find that I don't have the cravings or aversions that I once did. I'm thankful for this because it allows me to eat more foods that I typically like, but that also means I could possibly gain more weight than recommended because I can eat most cookies again!

Anywho, in this article, I thought it was interesting that those who have the greatest food cravings also have the greatest food aversions. Thus, if you don't really crave anything you will also not likely avoid certain foods. Hmm. In my 1st trimester I craved fried foods (fried fish, the skin of extra fried chicken ~ though I didn't actually cave to this one, french fries), ranch dressing, potato chips (any flavor, I'm normally a tortilla chip girl), Thai food (mmm, curry!) and anything that peaked my interest on tv or in magazines (McDonald's ice cream sundae, Nutter Butters, pomegrante seeds, etc.). When I wasn't eating my high fat cravings, I was stuck with crackers, ramen noodles, brothy soups, you know, bland things. I avoided (and mostly still avoid) CHICKEN (which turned to any poultry in any way), all cookies (sad face), beans, wheat bread (still not eating), brown rice, steak, bell peppers, apples and I couldn't stand to be in the room with cooked ground beef (shivers).

As I've entered this 2nd trimester, I think I could eat salad 2 times a day every day ~ which I do many days. I haven't gotten remotely sick of it.  I will eat warm veggies but my dreams are of cold, fresh veggies. I drool for tomatoes, croutons and olives ~ all the first things I would pick out of a salad before. And I MUCH prefer vinegars to any other type of dressings. Unfortunately, I found I can eat many types of cookies (yes to White Chocolate Macadamia nut, Butterscotch Oatmeal & Eggnog cookies,  but no to Peanut Butter, Frosted Animal Cookies and others that weren't my favorite anyway). Baby Toney is not craving cookies, I think I just eat them because I can.  I could also eat oatmeal all day long - in bars, mushed, in cookies, sprinkled on other things, whatever way I can get it I'll eat it. This baby is so healthy, if only I could stop myself from eating bad things just because I can!

I also read this:

What do pregnant women crave? When we surveyed BabyCenter moms, almost 40 percent said, "Give me something sweet." Slightly fewer (33 percent) chose salty snacks. Fans of Mexican food and other spicy cuisine came in third (17 percent). Trailing (at 10 percent) were those who craved citrus fruit, green apples, and other lip-puckering tart or sour foods.Obviously my preferences have changed from the salty group to .....wait, oatmeal and veggies isn't on the list. Am I that strange?

Now, it reads that there's no real meaning for cravings, or at least none that they could find, although many people think our bodies are smarter than us (but why don't we crave veggies instead of candies?). The article did suggest in the end that you should give into your healthy cravings (well, duh) and limit your un-healthy cravings (so no more eggnog shakes from Jack-in-the-Box?). If you do want to give into your cravings, it suggests finding healthier alternatives like yogurt instead of ice cream. What they didn't address is how specific my cravings can be and substitutions just don't cut it. I had to have Better Chedders, Goldfish crackers or Cheez-It's didn't work. I needed a McDonalds vanilla ice cream sundae with caramel and nuts, not store bought ice cream. I required a balsamic vinegar not a vinegarette.

Well, this baby has decided that, once again, I will be hungry all the time. I'm trying to make healthy choices not only for my waistline (which is 5 inches bigger!!!!!!) but for a healthy baby also. So, as I'm surrounded by goodies I love to indulge in this time of year, I hope that I'm listening to BB to reach for more salad, eggs and oatmeal rather than listening to my mind which says "You know you've always loved these before and you have an excuse for gaining weight this year."  Did I mention I love being pregnant? All this stuff fascinates me endlessly. I can't wait to find out what my sisters will be like when they get pregnant :)