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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Junk food

17 replies

LDNmummy · 05/05/2011 12:45

So I'm really struggling with what I eat because even though I eat healthy foods such as fresh vegetables and a balance of carbohydrates, dairy products and meat daily, I cannot fight my sweet tooth or urge for junk food right now.

For instance, before my pregnancy (I am 19+1 today), I didn't like McDonalds except on the very rare occasions, but now I actively crave it (specifically their chicken burger).

I do try fighting the cravings but it actually gets to the point where if I don't have something one day when I want it, I will think about it everyday till I give in and get it.

The problem now is that in the last two weeks I have had McDonalds 4 times, and that is on top of the chocolate and sweets or odd Coke I have consumed.

Is this excessive?

I eat healthily for the most part otherwise, except that I have been unable to tolerate milk since getting pregnant (eating yogurt instead to compensate for calcium) and have totally gone of chicken (yes I see the irony as I crave chicken burgers at the same time ) as well as going off eating as much meat as I used to. My Iron levels became quite low so I am now taking supplements.

I suppose I am worried about what my baby is eating via me. I certainly wouldn't feed a new born or even a two year old McDonalds or this much sugar that often (I worked my way through a Cadbury's family sized fruit and nut bar bar the other day and am steadily doing it again today ).

Anyone out there worried about the same thing or experiencing the same cravings? How can I keep it under control?

OP posts:

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mousymouse · 05/05/2011 12:48

as long as you generally have a good varied diet, try not to worry!

Armi · 05/05/2011 13:10

I just want to eat rubbish, if that's any consolation. I went off meat around week 8 and am still not keen at 30 weeks and although I force myself to eat fruit and veg I'd really rather live entirely on Rolos, cake and thickly buttered cream crackers. On Saturday I had a McDonalds for the first time since becoming pregnant and now all I can think about is a chocolate milkshake.

It'll all come right in the end!

MarathonMama · 05/05/2011 13:25

I'm so with you! I'm desperate for a McDonalds or a Chinese takeaway and eat two bars of chocolate a day. I'm normally really healthy but pregnancy seems to bring out the crap food junkie in me, it was the same with my first pregnancy.

I'm quite small and slim (BMI is 18) so wonder if it's my body's way of getting me to put on weight.

Original poster

LDNmummy · 05/05/2011 14:13

Phew I feel less alone now, I guess it has been stressing me out a bit more because family members keep going on at me to eat healthily and actually asking me what I am eating all the time

Thanks guys!

I just finished that family sized fruit and nut bar though

OP posts:

hmmmum · 05/05/2011 14:32

That's funny about McDonald's, I never ate it much before I was pregnant either but then I got a total craving for it as well - especially their french fries. I too eat chocolate etc but I think as long as you're eating lots of healthy things as well, i.e. the vegetables etc that you mentioned, then the baby will be getting lots of good nutrients. People can be quite bossy about what you eat but I think that as long as your actual meals are healthy and well-balanced and you have lots of healthy food in the house, some chocolate /McDonalds here and there is fine!

lolajane2009 · 05/05/2011 14:42

I hadnt ate much junk food before I was pregnant as I was health food and exercise addict after losing a lot of weight... now all i crave is chocolate, kfc, fizzy pop and sweets. I feel so guilty but at least i'm not alone in this. I have found that the 1200 calories I consumed a day pre preg would hardly touch the sides when hungry now and although I try to ignore the constant hunger and cravings if I do it too long I get extremely grumpy. i feel like I am failing my son but from scan last week he is healthy and happ, although stubborn.

Fluter · 05/05/2011 15:39

Ooooh: I know the feeling about everyone nagging you to eat healthily! My DH nags me all the time even when not pregnant - and I reckon I actually have quite a good diet.

Chocolate milkshakes (the Frij things) seem to have a magnetic attraction for me, and I have just downed pasty and chips for lunch, after a bacon sandwich. But, I eat a fair amount of fruit and veg, pasta etc. Well, inbetween the chocolate, Chelsea buns and ginger biscuits (I just like them, not for the anti-nausea) :0

I do wonder if is because we undereat things like salt generally, and our bodies need to up level of those too, but food has so little of them in it, that we're actually compensating for the lack - french fries have salt on, don't they? If you've gone off meat, then compensating by eating buttery things - you do actually need some cholesterol, and may not be getting it otherwise.

We do forget in amongst the nanny-style admonitions not to eat many things, that our bodies actually do need them in small amounts, and perhaps we just need more of them when pregnant.

That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it! As long as the other veg/fruit etc get a look in, you'll be fine.

Pass the cake!!! (but not carrot cake: hate that!) :o :o

Original poster

LDNmummy · 05/05/2011 16:08

Fluter I love love love your logic on this!

I may even show your comment to my DP as he can be the worst over what I eat at times (although I love how much he cares about our sprog even if it is a bit OTT )

And after reading your post I am now really hungry and want a bacon sandwich. I might go for a walk down to the shops for some bacon and brown sauce in a bit [mmmmmmm.....]

OP posts:

figgygal · 05/05/2011 18:22

Funny isn't it I'm desperate for mcdonalds cheese burgers or any burgers really. I used to eat yoghurts every day can't even think about trying to eat one at the moment bleurgh.

I am struggling with my five a day and am sure with the amount of bread I'm eating ill be mega constipated so need to get more veg in me but it is hard

coastgirl · 05/05/2011 18:51

I've been a McDonald's maniac since I got pg! I can't get enough of it. And I love sweets - proper chewy sweets or Starburst.

My theory is that it's about quick, "easy" energy for your body - processed carbs, fat, salt - and we don't tend to eat things like that normally. I'm not too worried (a lot of veg tastes bitter and nasty to me at the moment anyway so I've just tried to get plenty of fruit and salad too).

ButterflySally · 05/05/2011 18:57

Thank god it's not just me!!! Have been feeling guilty about my eating habits during this pregnancy. Prior to pregnancy, I didn't really have a sweet tooth and ate quite a healthy, well-balanced diet. However I have found since being pregnant, I can't enough of the sugary stuff! Doughnuts is my big thing at the moment. I crave doughnuts, especially the ones with the icing. And chocolate bars.

They say you don't need that many more calories than usual during pregnancy but I just find my pre-pregnancy diet insufficient now. I'd be murderously hungry by the end of the day if I only ate what I used to eat.

I try to ensure I eat my daily diet includes 5-a-day, protein, wholegrains, and calcium. I figure as long as the baby gets that, he'll be fine.

I just hope that once the baby is born my eating habits revert back to what they used to be like other-wise that's my figure gone forever! :(

ButterflySally · 05/05/2011 19:02

Sorry.... "I try to ensure my daily diet includes" - I didn't take the 'I eat' bit out when editing.

muffins · 05/05/2011 19:09

Well I have just had leftover Chinese with some chips bought from chip shop on way home for tea. Oh and half a bread roll a can of shandy and half a can of full fat coke!

Plus am looking forward to my orange aero later....after a banana and kiwi so I feel less guilty

MarathonMama · 07/05/2011 10:12

I just read on my Snickers (yes I know it's only 9.30am) that it's free from artificial colours, preservatives, flavours and is suitable for vegetarians. Practically fruit then...

Cattleprod · 07/05/2011 10:19

It's almost impossible to fight cravings, but I think as long as you try to balance it with some healthy stuff too, you should be fine.

A word of warning though - when I was preg with DS I really craved sherbet fountains. I could eat 3 or 4 tubes in a day. I'm pregnant again now and my current midwife said that all the sugar possibly contributed to DS weighing well over 10lb, and this time I've been flagged up as needing a gestational diabetes test.

theonlyhb2 · 07/05/2011 10:24

junk food is the only thing that stays down, even when my HG was at its worst. KFC is currently my downfall even though I get the worst heartburn, i had McD for breakfast yesterday, lunch the day before.

I normally eat lots of veg and fruit, but veg makes me feel sick now (this week has been the first week I have eaten it without puking) and fruit can be too acidic on my stomach, yoghurt now makes me puke but can have milk in tea and on cereal which I haven't for years (because it made me feel sick!)

I figure, if I want it, I will eat it, and hope it stays down. My bank statements are pretty shocking reading, its all fast food and bakeries!

nannyl · 07/05/2011 11:05

before being pg i had a super healthy diet....

felt lazy for eating shop bought bread (eg hovis) or a jar of pasta sauce... i home -made pretty much everything, and loved it.

then i got pg..... the 1st couple of weeks ie weeks 3 & 4 were ok, the sickness kicked in which soon turned to HG and i was in hospital. In 10 weeks i did not cook a single meal at all, almost everything made me sick.
some days the ONLY drink i could tolerate was full fat coke, or other aspartance containing drinks. (had not consumes aspartane at all for months and have actively avoided it for years, and would never drink coke, i dont normally like it!)

I would have gone several weeks without eating a single bit of fruit / veg in any form at all.
I could not tolerate my bread machine smell so we only had shop bread for 4 months.

the past month or 2 has been much better, and im back to enjoying cooking from scratch for a bit...

but for about 3 months, if i could eat, i ONLY ate junk... things i would never normally eat, including burgers / chips (loads of chips) and loads of highly processed stuff chocolate bars / crisps, anything bad really.... and NOTHING at all even slightly good!

i really hope it hasnt mattered to baby, but i very much doubt it has... some people eat rubbish always for their whole lives and seem to be fit and healthy

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