Pregnancy Cravings and Aversions: Causes and When They Start

Those sudden changes to your appetite may throw you off, but both pregnancy cravings and aversions are common.

What’s behind these urges, when do they start, and how should you handle them? Read on to learn more.

Pregnancy cravings are intense urges for a specific food that go beyond normal hunger. You might suddenly want sweet or sour treats—or even strange combinations you’ve never considered before (like ice cream and hot sauce).

Studies suggest that between 50% and 90% of pregnant women in the US experience these strong urges. 1

On the flip side, a pregnancy-induced food aversion is a strong feeling of disgust towards a particular food, even one you previously enjoyed. About 70% of women experience an aversion to at least one food during pregnancy. 2

You might notice cravings in your first trimester (they may start during it at any time). They normally peak in the second trimester before gradually subsiding in the third trimester.

However, that isn’t always true, and you could experience them at any point during your pregnancy. They can also strike at any time of day.

When it comes to food aversions, these are often tied to one of the more infamous pregnancy symptoms many women experience: nausea, also known as morning sickness. Despite the name, morning sickness isn’t limited to just mornings. 3 Fortunately, it doesn’t usually last past the first trimester.

Every woman experiences different cravings and aversions. But many women find themselves craving or being disgusted by the following foods:

Common cravings

• Chicken (a very common craving)
• Sweets (like chocolate and ice cream)
• Salty snacks (like chips and fries)
• Sour foods (like pickles and sour candy)
• Starchy carbohydrates (bread, pasta, crackers)
• Fruits and fruit juice
• Dairy products
• Fast food
• Spicy food

Common aversions

• Meat (especially red meat)
• Seafood
• Eggs
• Onions
• Garlic
• Coffee

Of course, your exact cravings or aversions might be different. For instance, while meat is a common aversion for many, it’s also often a common craving. 4

What if you crave non-food items?

Some women develop cravings for bizarre, nonfood items. Known as pica, this condition could make you want to eat relatively harmless items, like ice, but you might also be tempted to eat potentially harmful substances, like soil or chalk.

Pica is surprisingly common. Experts say that about 80% of pregnant women may crave items like paper, dirt, clay, ash, hair, rubber bands, and laundry detergent. 5

No matter what you have a hankering for, report any abnormal cravings to your doctor immediately, as pica can come about due to nutritional deficiencies (usually iron or zinc) or other health issues.

Don’t give in to these unusual cravings. Eating nonfood items can lead to you ingesting harmful substances, such as lead, which will increase your risk of miscarriage, high blood pressure, and preterm labor. 6 Your doctor can guide you on how to address any shortages in your diet—or any other conditions causing pica, which can include mental health issues—in a safe manner.

The exact cause of pregnancy cravings and aversions remains a mystery, but several factors might play a role: 7 8

Hormonal changes

As with many pregnancy symptoms, your hormonal changes are one of the main suspects here.

Your changing levels of estrogen and progesterone may affect your sense of taste (dysgeusia), smell, and overall digestive system. 9 10 Nausea—which can contribute to food aversions—is also caused by a third hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). 11 12

Your heightened sensitivity to certain flavors or odors may shift your tolerance toward certain foods, making some appealing and others repulsive. You might also get a sour or metallic taste in your mouth, even when you’re not eating, which can also contribute to food aversion. 13

Nutritional needs

Many people believe that certain cravings indicate nutritional deficiencies. As mentioned, if you have pica, it might mean you’re lacking in iron or zinc.

You may also have heard that craving salty foods could indicate a need for sodium, while a desire for red meat might suggest an iron deficiency.

However, the research on this isn’t clear. Sometimes, cravings may align with your nutritional needs, but it’s hard to prove cause and effect—in other words, whether deficiencies cause cravings, or if the deficiency develops from abnormal eating habits. 7

Psychological factors

Your cravings may be affected by what you consider familiar and comforting. Pregnancy can be emotionally draining. Sometimes, you just might need a culinary pick-me-up.

For this reason, your culture will probably play a role. For example, in the US, many women crave chocolate. Fruits and vegetables are all the rage in Nigeria, and rice is popular in Japan. 14

Can your cravings determine your baby’s sex?

Many people believe that the nature of your cravings can be a sign of whether you’re having a boy or a girl. If you want sweet foods, it supposedly means you’re having a girl, and if you’re craving salty or sour foods, a bouncing baby boy is on his way.

While plenty of old wives’ tales claim that your symptoms can determine your baby’s sex, there’s no scientific proof behind this. Any anecdotal evidence you heard about it is probably just a coincidence. In reality, your cravings can’t reliably predict your baby’s sex. 4 15

Again, cravings and aversions are a normal part of pregnancy. There are lots of ways to manage them.

Managing cravings

Find healthier alternatives if you’re struggling with unhealthy pregnancy cravings. If you want sweets, opt for fruit, smoothies, yogurt, or a small piece of dark chocolate instead of processed sugary snacks. Instead of salty junk food, try baked chips, air-popped popcorn, or nuts.

Try to:

• Prepare healthy pregnancy snacks: You can eat three main meals and two to four snacks a day. Try to eat something every two to three hours to keep your blood sugar levels stable, reduce your nausea, and curb your hunger. 16 17 18
• Stay hydrated: Sometimes, you might mistake thirst for hunger. Drink plenty of water throughout the day to see if it curbs your appetite. Generally, you should have about 12 cups of 8 ounces each when you’re pregnant. 19
• Distract yourself: When cravings strike, try distracting yourself with an activity you enjoy, like taking a walk, reading a book, or simply chatting with a friend.

While you shouldn’t overindulge, don’t deprive yourself completely. Sometimes, you might end up overeating if you replace that craving with something that you don’t really want. It’s fine to have a cheat snack every now and again.

Managing aversions

Pay attention to the foods that trigger your nausea and just try to avoid them. You’ll probably want to steer clear of food that’s spicy, fried, greasy, or too hot.

Eating cold food might help since the smell or taste might be more manageable. You can also try bland foods like crackers, toast, or plain rice. These may be easier to tolerate. 20 21

While food aversions can make it challenging to eat a balanced diet, you can try to fix that by:

• Eating acidic or citrusy foods: Try acidic or citrusy foods to get rid of metallic tastes in your mouth. Good options include lemonade and vinegar-marinated food. 13
• Maintaining oral hygiene: You can also brush your teeth and tongue with a pinch of salt or baking soda to remove any lingering tastes or smells causing nausea. (Regularly brushing your teeth also prevents cavities, which is especially important if you’re snacking more.)
• Finding substitutes: Look for alternative sources of nutrients if you can’t stomach a particular food. For example, if you can’t stand meat, try beans, lentils, tofu, or nuts for protein.
• Preparing food differently: Sometimes, changing the way you prepare food can make it more appealing. Can’t stand boiled eggs? Try scrambling or poaching them.
• Natural remedies: Try products made with real ginger to manage nausea, like tea, ale, candies, or supplements. Some women find relief from sucking on peppermint candies or drinking peppermint tea. 21 22 You can also try taking Vitamin B6.

Whether or not you should give in to your cravings (and aversions) depends on what they are.

As long as you’re following a healthy pregnancy diet and staying away from the foods you should avoid during pregnancy, you can do more or less what you like. It’s okay to eat junk food every now and then when you’re craving it, but don’t let it take over your diet, and talk to your doctor if you’re having trouble getting enough protein, veggies, or other healthy foods.

Again, talk to your doctor immediately if you have pica (craving non-food items) or are concerned about maintaining a healthy weight. You should also talk to your doctor if: 1

• You have severe morning sickness: You might experience persistent, severe nausea and vomiting (more than three times a day). This generally isn’t dangerous in and of itself, but it can make it hard to get adequate nutrition, and it’s best to get it addressed by a professional.
• You’re dehydrated: You might be unable to keep down food or fluids, leading to constipation and other signs of dehydration, such as dark urine, dry skin, or lightheadedness.
• You’re losing a lot of weight: Losing more than five pounds or more than 5% of your pre-pregnancy weight is a sign that you’re not getting enough nourishment.

These symptoms might be a sign that you have hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness. If you don’t treat it, it can lead to electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and other health problems for both you and your baby. 23

To treat you, your doctor may need to give you intravenous (IV) fluids or anti-nausea medications.

You might get funny looks if you douse your ice cream in Tabasco or start retching during your cousin’s cookout, but know that pregnancy cravings and aversions are completely normal.

So long as you give in to them in moderation and keep in contact with your doctor, you’ll continue to breeze through your pregnancy. Who knows—you might even discover a few new favorite food combos along the way.