cravings - go with them or try to eat as normal?

[foxessocks]

I'm about 7 weeks pregnant. I have been feeling really exhausted and sick (as expected) and in the last few days I've been unable to stomach certain meals. I couldn't eat my stir fry last night but ate all the beef. I couldn't eat my pasta tonight and have decided to do steak and chips instead which I really fancy (with loads of vinegar and Ketchup ). We had roast beef on Sunday so it seems like I'm craving red meat. I would usually be careful not to have red meat very often because I know it's not great for you too much. But as I'm pregnant...do I just go with it!?

I can't remember having cravings with my first I just lost my appetite altogether for 16 weeks and basically just ate crackers the whole time!

What does everyone else do to try and be healthy when you've gone off vegetables and other healthy things and just want meat and chips?!

Go with whatever you can keep down! Obviously try to eat as balanced a diet as you can, but honestly, they say that the baby takes what it needs from what you put in (within reason of course), so just do your best.
My baby was about 80% fuelled by broccoli for a while, as I had really visceral cravings for it. Now it's cake Swings and roundabouts!

Go with. There is evidence to suggest it's your body's way of getting nutrients it needs.

As long as they are somewhat nutritious go with them. My craving was for limeade which I decided to limit!

I'm your opposite - I've been off red meat for the last month or so (currently 13+6) but would normally wolf down a ribeye and chips. Last time DH had that I chose fish fingers instead! Otherwise, I'm craving avocados and veggie food which I guess is a good thing. Plus all things pickled and vinegar by the bucket full. I reckon as long as you're not only eating red meat or massively over eating, a few months of eating more meat than usual isn't going to harm you or your baby. Whatever gets you through the barfy stage!

Well I had my steak but couldn't eat it all! I had some baked beans and a couple of cherry tomatos too so that's something I suppose. The thought of pasta or Noodles makes me feel sick.

You've made me feel better about it thanks!

No idea what to do for dinner tomorrow though.

Steak was amongst my cravings in my last pregnancy too. I also think it's your body's way of telling you what it needs at any given time not sure how this works with the haagen daz and pick'n'mix cravings I also had, but I ran with them too. Go for it unless it's a non-food item (tarmac, bleach... you know, stuff that'll poison you ).
Also, as CityMole says, if you've otherwise been feeling sick and this is something you can keep down, you'd be daft not to!

Yup, I've pretty much eaten what I fancy or what I cam keep down have not managed a full meal, as they seem to overface me...

I've had cravings for veg (peas/broccoli/mange tout) and have eaten loads and loads of them, occasionally in lieu of actual meals...
Also, I've gone mad for Salt and Vinegar crisps (particularly Pringles, McCoy's and corn snack things)

Yes I'm struggling to eat a full meal and wondering how I'm going to explain that over the next 5 weeks or so if we go out with friends or to families house! I always finish my dinner!

I'm desperate for cheddar - don't really care if it's decebt stuff it not, I just can't get enough. I guess I must need the calcium or something.. Lady time I was obsessed by wotsits. Cannot begin to imagine what my body was craving - bright orange chemicals?!

I found my cravings changed anyway. I went through a red meat phase, then a fruit phase (frozen grapes, and pineapple), and spent the last 4 months craving ice cubes.

Just go with it.

I craved vinegar like there was no tomorrow so I ate food where I could smother it on.

like the others, just go with it. a little extra won't harm you :)

I've had cheese, pickles, stodgy carbs, ice pops, cold, fruit, spice, wagon wheels, digestives (a constant) steak, crackers. Am 22 weeks fickle or what! Go with it I say.

I was sick for about 29 weeks at the start, I could only keep ready salted crisps down! I was worried about all the fat and salt, but my midwife said my blood pressure was very low, so my body was probably craving salt to help raise my blood pressure....maybe your body wants something that's in red meat?
I would go with it there's lots of things much worse that you could be eating!

If you're craving red meat it could be a sign that your body needs iron - that's pretty normal in pregnancy and when the MW does your bloods they'll check. If you're not taking a pregnancy multivitamin it might be worth getting some.

I've generally just gone with my cravings/aversions - as long as they're not super-unhealthy, it's only for a short time after all!

My switch in food taste was what made me get a pregnancy test! Breakfast was usually a small steak, egg, spinach and avocado, lunch was chicken and veg, tea was usually chicken veg and sweet potato. Then suddenly woke up unable to stomach anything but toast...for lunch just wanted ham sandwich and ready salted crisps...same for tea...same the next day. Still can only face bland carbs, managing to get fruit in but anything with a weird texture or strong flavour just makes me heave. Feel so unhealthy at the moment but am doing my best. Hoping it will pass after the first trimester...

Go with - definitely. Also be careful what non cravy foods you decide to eat during periods of feeling nauseous because you can really put yourself off stuff for life! I have anyway. In both pregnancies!

I would go with it.

I knew I was preg each time as before my period was even late I went of tea, normally I can't function without a cup of tea to start the day but it makes me heave when pregnant.

I am 28wks and am currently craving celery, am eating a bunch s day.. It's the crunch, also raw carrots and pretzels. Earlier in the pregnancy I had to have pure orange juice.

I just go with it though I did try and limit the oj just because of the sugar.