Vegetarian craving meat!

[TheSarahChronicles]

Hi everyone!

I was just wondering if any other veggie or pesce ladies have been through this? I've been a vegetarian for two years now, but since week 11 of my pregnancy I've been craving meat like crazy - mainly steak - which is something I never enjoyed before becoming a veggie! I'm trying to stand up against the cravings but so worried I'll crave! I'm veggie because of moralistic choices and not wanting to cause suffering to animals - but it's always there! 😭 xxx

Get your iron levels checked, you could be anemic and it’s your body’s way of telling you to get some more iron in your diet ASAP.

Or it could just be one of those things!

I'm veggie and I haven't craved meat at all (I'm 26 weeks) - much to everyone's surprise! I'd say it's the most common question people have asked me about my pregnancy! Although it hasn't actually come up for me, I told myself at the beginning of pregnancy that if I wanted meat I'd have it - I'm also a vegetarian for moral reasons, but it's a short time and I think it's worth listening to your body. Have you had the results of your booking in bloods yet? It might be worth keeping an extra eye on your iron levels if you're really craving red meat. But I think in general, if the cravings are driving you mad then it really would be ok to let yourself give in (put a limit on it, if it makes you feel better - and buy the best quality, highest welfare meat you can, which will put you off buying a ton of it anyway!).

Oh my goodness that was me! Never really ate steak even before becoming vegetarian but craved it so badly for the first few months of pregnancy I actually thought I was going to have give in to it.
It eventually passed (without me succumbing!!) but I was badly anaemic so think this may have been the cause - get your iron levels checked!

Sadly I caved in I was gutted but the craving was so strong and tbh the burger I ate stayed down I couldn'tface any other food sorry notmuch help. My friend said she ate meat flavour crisps and that satisfied her

Me! All three pregnancies. First pregnancy I gave in and had a sausage sandwich but I've managed to not succumb since then! This time I've just eaten so many eggs, avocados and tuna sandwiches and that seems to have staved it off.

My mum had meat cravings with one of her pregnancies, she ate a small amount of meat then went back to being veggie.

I’m sure it’s Natalie Portman who is usually a vegan but stops when pregnant. Likewise Hilaria Baldwin is usually vegan but eats fish and dairy during pregnancy following doctors advice.

I have been a veggie since I was 12. It wasn’t really a moral decision for me then, I just hated the taste and thought of meat. During my first pregnancy I really craved chicken in the last trimester and yes, I gave in. I found food made me extremely hormonal tbh... if I specifically wanted a certain food and didn’t get it, I would cry sometimes! With my second I craved tuna at one stage and again, I gave into it. No guilt felt tbh, I just felt I needed it at the time and listened to my body.

I was the same in my first pregnancy, I really craved roast beef! My iron levels were above average throughout the whole pregnancy; I didn't actually give in but it was a close thing, as far as I recall the craving only lasted a few weeks and I have never had it since and am now vegan.

Thank you so much for letting me know I'm not the only one ladies! I've had my booking bloods back and all normal - so I'm guessing it's just one of those things - feel like it might even be psychological since everyone said I would crave it/ should eat it during pregnancy! My husband has made me feel super guilty about it, but he just doesn't understand how bizarre these cravings are! Still not caved anyway, and will definitely opt for the most ethical meat possible if I do have to give in (although I don't really believe any meat is or can really be ethical ). Fingers crossed it'll pass - but worst case scenario I'll just have to try not to beat myself up over it! Thank you again everyone! Xxxxx

I'm not a vegetarian but I think that in your shoes if I couldn't manage to not eat any then I would go for the highest welfare meat you can find. I would have make it worth while so if you're craving steak then have steak and not some diced beef.

Can I suggest you try things like spinach, pak choi, beetroot leaves etc first? I am pregnant and have been massively craving steak (iron levels checked and all fine), but a bit tight for money this month and actually found that the above really was a good substitute. I think I'm actually craving iron even though my iron isn't low.

Vegetarian in my third pregnancy and have never craved meat, but I am very careful about keeping my iron up. Spatone is good, it's a drink which is meant to be more easily absorbed than tablets. You can get it with vitamin c added, it tastes like rusty apple juice but seems to do the job

I’m the opposite - I’m not vegetarian but even the thought of eating meat is enough to have me vomiting.

Not vegetarian but DH is, we don't cook meat at home and I rarely eat it out- I'd say I normally have meat once or twice a month.

I have definitely been craving it more (I had a really specific dream about a McDonald's hamburger the other day!) but also struggling to get the levels of protein I need. I read I should be having 70g a day; I know I normally struggle to get the usual 40-odd from using MyFitnessPal. So I've been eating meat about three or four times a week so far in pregnancy to try and address that.

I'd look at your protein intake rather than your iron. It is absolutely possible to do it on a veggie diet, but to be honest I really struggle, despite usually eating lentils/tofu etc because the quantities required are just so high. There are 7g in an egg, that would mean 10 eggs to meet the daily requirement.

My veggie husband is encouraging me to eat meat if I feel I need to, and even saying I can prepare it at home which I think is a step too far. I definitely wouldn't feel bad about giving in if you feel you need to, but I'd also start tracking your protein as it might be something fairly simple that could go away if you start incorporating a few extra handfuls of nuts after meals.

I’m a confirmed carnivore but have gone right off meat this pregnancy - so if you do decide to have some we will probably cancel each other out

Was vegetarian for more than 10 years. Got such a craving for grilled chicken when pregnant with DC1 there was simply no way to fight it. So I didn't.

I'll agree with everyone else who said get your iron levels checked.

Have you tried those Limda McCartney quarter pounder burgers? They are so meaty that they freak me out and I won't eat them. But they might be good if you miss meat.

Im veggie and was fine through the first pregnancy but now on my second I am craving red meat. Also been told I have low iron levels which may explain why!!
Ive had a few burgers when ive been out for dinner in this pregnancy. Its not ideal and I feel terrible but hopefully Ill go back to normal after ive had the baby.

I craved inedible things in my previous pregnancies! It's ok not to give in to cravings and they do change throughout the pregnancy... distractions help!

I'm very sceptical of the way nhs assess blood tests for this type of thing. Your iron may be "in the normal range" but it might be lower than normal for you.

It may also be certain vitamins and minerals you're craving.

Are you taking vitamins?

@kalalaka in my previous pregnancy all I wanted to eat more than anything was a lightbulb. Safe to say I didn’t give in 😂

I've been a vegetarian for 5 years (also for ethical reasons) and I was a pescatarian for 15 years before that & I was really afraid I would crave meat during pregnancy

I have had moments where I have craved it (mainly McDonalds cheeseburgers and filet-o-fish) but I haven't given in. For me personally, I would feel in the long term that I'd let myself and animals down and that has outweighed my cravings

I've eaten more Quorn than usual for extra protein and my iron levels are fine so I think it is just psychological for me anyway

Just do what phoebe and joey on friends do

It's ok not to give in to cravings - unless you crave actual lightbulbs, it's fine to give in to cravings.