My Pregnancy My Way

21/04/2026

Pregnancy cravings of the healthy kind

Author: Friso

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Pregnancy cravings are inevitable and swapping salty chips to healthy dips can be a downer. What if you can wire them into cravings of the healthy kind? It’s going to be much healthier for both your baby and you, and who knows, it may even help reduce those midnight hunger pangs!

As you progress from trimester to trimester, prepare for your body to go through numerous aggravations – morning sickness, fatigue, and heartburn, just to name a few. The beauty of pregnancy is that your cravings are your best defence. Here’s what to expect and how you can make the most of each trimester.

First Trimester

EXPECT:
Nausea, giddiness, 
heartburn, food cravings, and fatigue.

TRY:
High fibre foods1, citrus foods, and healthy snacks.

AVOID:
Spicy foods, greasy foods, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners.

>

Second Trimester

EXPECT: 
Your baby to fully develop organs, muscles, and nervous system.

TRY: 
High protein foods2 and good fats.

>

Third Trimester

EXPECT: 
Shortness of breath, frequent urination, and
increase in appetite.

TRY: 
Folic acid3, calcium4, iron5, and vitamins6.

>

References: 

  1. Axe J. 20 Ultimate high fiber foods. Available at: https://draxe.com/high-fiber-foods/
  2. Diet during pregnancy: Healthy eating while pregnant. 2016. Available at: http://americanpregnancy.org/pregnancy-health/diet-during-pregnancy/
  3. 15 Foods high in folic acid. 2015. Available at: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/folic-acid-foods/
  4. Axe J. Top 10 calcium rich foods. Available at: https://draxe.com/top-10-calcium-rich-foods/
  5. Anemia and pregnancy. Available at: https://www.ucsfhealth.org/education/anemia_and_pregnancy/
  6. 25 Vitamin-rich foods you should be eating. Available at: http://www.rd.com/health/diet-weight-loss/25-vitaminrich-foods-you-should-be-eating/

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Important Notice!

Breastfeeding is the best nutrition for healthy growth and development of babies. Good maternal nutrition helps sustain an adequate supply and quality of breast milk. Unnecessary introduction of bottle-feeding, partially or fully, or of other complementary foods and drinks may have a negative impact on breastfeeding, which may be irreversible. Consult your doctor and consider the social and financial implications before deciding to use breast milk substitutes or if you have difficulty breastfeeding. Follow usage, preparation and storage instructions of breast milk substitutes or of other complementary foods and drinks carefully as improper or unnecessary use may pose a health hazard.