Local registered dietitian Catherine M. Robinson says there's no reason why women shouldn't give in to a craving now and then - as long as it's not for something that would harm the baby.
The key is moderation.
"If you're craving something desperately, you should just have a little of what it is," said Robinson, who's also a certified diabetes educator.
She offers a few snack suggestions as healthy ways to curb cravings:
● Try fruits. Bananas, dates and dried fruits along with graham crackers may quell the urge for candy.
● Have milk and yogurt, instead of ice cream.
● Eating whole-grain crackers or oatmeal can cut cravings.
"I grew up liking pickled pigs feet but never had them that often. When I was pregnant with my first son, I was craving them (possibly because of the 'pickle' syndrome) to the point that I ate an entire jar of them myself. That made me so sick, I never touched them again.
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My second pregnancy, with a daughter, went without incident. Then, after more than 10 years, 'out of the blue' I had a craving for them again. Within two weeks I discovered I was pregnant again, this time with another son."
● Sherry A. Rollins
Senior business manager for the University of Arizona's Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Institute of Atmospheric Physics
"Canned peaches. . . . Three out of three pregnancies. The boys are now 12, 14 and 16, and only one really likes
canned peaches."
● Lisa Erly
Substitute school nurse
"With my first child I craved apples. I must have eaten three bushels. I also craved a mix of white rice, soy sauce and canned, sliced mushrooms. I had them just about every day for nine months.
With my second child, it was peaches and Chinese food. Just about every day, too! After eating all of that, the only thing I can't stomach any more are mushrooms."
● Diane Newman
Mall coordinator at the University of Arizona
"When I was pregnant with my twins (they are now 4), I had a terrible time with morning sickness and food aversions. For an entire month, the only thing I could eat was lemon meringue pie, which was odd because prior to getting pregnant I hated it! My doctor told me all he cared about was calories, since I was getting my vitamins from supplements. Oh, and by the way, the pie had
to be from Marie Callender's."
● Barbara MacDonald
Public relations director for the Metropolitan Tucson Convention & Visitors Bureau
"When I was pregnant in the early '60s in Colorado, I craved tacos - morning, noon and night - and ate them for meals as well as snacks, always topped by very hot, spicy salsa! . . . Both my children love
hot, spicy food; and as a matter of fact, my daughter won the suicide chicken wing eating contest while a student at Northern Arizona University in the late '80s. Must be a prenatal connection involved here!"
● Janet Koury, of Green Valley
Retired schoolteacher who admits she still indulges in the occasional taco for breakfast