ICE CREAM - Can I blame it on the pregnancy?!!

I've noticed myself craving certain things during this pregnancy. I've mostly had a desire for Chinese food (particularly lo mein) or dairy products, like yogurt and milk (YUM - I LOVE milk!), and certain other foods. But none, I say NONE, compare to the cravings I have had for ICE CREAM! And not just any ice cream, mind you. It has to be Ben & Jerry's Mint Chocolate Cookie Ice Cream.

I've literally eaten this ice cream almost every evening for the past 8 months! Now before you begin thinking that I'm a sweetaholic and will be 200 lbs in no time, let me defend myself a little bit first. I only eat about 1/2 cup or so each time, which is just enough to satisfy my desire. This pint size beauty generally lasts me 3-4 nights.

Why only this flavor, you ask! I wish I knew. I've tried sooo many other flavors, particularly because this certain flavor is only available at one grocery in town (trust me, we've checked!), so when we're shopping somewhere else, I have only one option... to get a different flavor. All others, though, have generally left me feeling unsatisfied. I almost wished I hadn't eaten them at all. I mean, what's the point of eating something high in calories, if you don't throughly enjoy it, right?!

I'm just wondering if I'll continue to "need" this dish of sweet perfection after Miss Audrey makes her debut.

At first, I wasn't sure if wanting the ice cream on a daily basis really was a pregnancy related craving or just the need for something sweet. So, I began researching pregnancy and food cravings. I've always thought cravings during pregnancy existed, but was that because so many movies I've seen or TV sitcoms instilled that thought in my brain? Well, during my researching, I actually discovered some interesting information on this topic. Food cravings during pregnancy is very real, and apparently there are several possible reasons for it.

Evidently, most women experience food cravings at some point during their pregnancy. Generally it's the sweet or salty foods, spicy or fatty foods, some type of cuisine, or a certain unusual food that is the culprit. I suppose, in my case, it's mostly sweet.

The most obvious reason for food cravings is that my body is working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to grow a healthy baby, so the cravings could be a result of my body's need for additional calories. Another reason for food cravings during pregnancy is that they may be the result of certain nutritional deficiencies. My body knows what it's lacking and what I need to give it for extra supply. Pretty neat concept. Like iron, for example. If I'm craving meat at a certain point in my pregnancy, it could be my body's way of telling me, "Hey, I'm running low on iron here. Fill me up!"

So, perhaps, I've been craving ice cream every evening for the past 8 months because my body is trying to tell me that I need that additional calcium. Or, maybe I'm just trying to find a good excuse to eat something I find irresistibly delicious ;) We may never know!

If you've been pregnant or are pregnant, what, if any, cravings have you experienced or are experiencing?! Have you ever wondered why you were desiring those certain foods? Too bad I couldn't crave something a little healthier for me... at least it is a good source of calcium though ;) I mean, I could have craved potato chips or candy bars... then I really would be taking in lots of empty calories!