Paris Hiltonyou Want Pickles With That?

Are weird pregnancy food cravings your body telling you what you need – or are they just an excuse to tuck in?

- Jessica Blasé

Your hormones are in a pickle, and you can’t seem to explain why the roast chicken you once loved now makes you squirm, or why you just can’t get enough of caramel-flavoured popcorn. Is your fridge regularly being raided and your poor partner being sent on midnight missions to find Black Cat (no other brand will do!) crunchy peanut butter?

Don’t worry, it’s all quite normal. Pregnancy cravings are bizarre, and largely unexplainable – but up to 75 percent of pregnant women experience them. It may be the body’s way of alerting us to nutritional deficiencies, but often it’s just plain comfort eating.

If you crave something healthy, and broccoli or cottage cheese is the only thing on your mind – then by all means tuck in. But if you, like many women, crave a rather large bowl of ice cream (with extra sprinkles), then it may be time to reassess what these cravings mean, why you shouldn’t always give in, and how to find a healthy alternative.

ARE MY CRAVINGS REAL?

Has someone told you that your desire to eat pickles and chocolate spread is a figment of your imagination? They’d be wrong. Food cravings and aversions during pregnancy are indeed a real thing, says Johannesburg dietitian Claire JulsingStrydom. “They’re powerful urges that pregnant women experience to either eat certain foods or avoid them. Common food aversions include caffeinated drinks, meat and alcohol. Food cravings often include sweets, dairy products and foods that are quick to eat,” she says.