Our bodies perform amazing feats during pregnancy. They purge, grow, and accommodate new life, showing us just how amazing nature can be. Still, they do rely on some input from us. Mainly, they depend on us for the all-important fuel that allows them to get to work.
Many pregnant women hope that their bodies will let them know the healthiest things to eat during this vital stage, but it rarely works that way. Healthy options like beans and lentils are top of the list for ingredients moms-to-be can’t stand, and cravings are rarely for fruit and veg. Instead, pregnancy tends to come with urges to eat the starchiest, sweetest foods you can find.
As you know if you’ve experienced cravings yourself, these urges can be challenging to overcome. In fact, when your body wants something, you may struggle to stomach much else. That’s a problem when pregnancy has sent your sweet tooth soaring. Luckily, there are tips for curbing those sickly-sweet cravings without completely derailing your nutrition.
Keep it Small
Your body may want sweet treats, but that doesn’t mean you have to eat an entire slice of cake. Instead, prepare some small sweet treats to have on hand at all times. This super easy recipe for mini apple hand pies could work fantastically for this, as could Bliss Balls, or something similar. Even breakfast cookies could provide satisfaction for your sugary needs. By making these recipes at home, you can also tailor how much sugar goes into each. That means you’ll be able to find the ideal balance between satisfying and unhealthy.
Find Sweet Alternatives
Sometimes, there are alternative solutions to unhealthy sweet cravings. While these might not be quite what your body wants, they should go some way towards curbing your needs. Sticking a spoonful of sugar in a caffeine-free tea is a fantastic option here, and should just about satisfy. Equally, freshly-pressed juices can, in moderation, provide a sugary kick without the fats and other things that typically go into cakes. Remember that it’s sugar your body is craving, even if you can’t get chocolate out of your mind. By finding new ways to incorporate small amounts of sugar into your diet, you should, therefore, be able to find a healthier path through your pregnancy.
If in Doubt, Don’t Forget Fruit
Fruit doesn’t often seem like it would cut it compared to a chunk of cake, but you would be surprised. Oranges, peaches, nectarines etc. can be incredibly sweet when in season. Equally, dried fruits can provide a real sugar hit when you need it. Though the idea of these might not be what your body’s after, picking up fruit instead could still satisfy you in unexpected ways. Note that the sugar content in fruit is still high, especially for dried options. As such, you will want to keep consumption in moderation here too. That said, it’s certainly a better bet for a healthy pregnancy than those sweet treats you would be eating otherwise!
