Pregnancy Cravings and Ice Cream

It’s no secret that pregnancy is often coupled with intense cravings. While some women embrace and enjoy this symptom, others can feel guilty or concerned about eating certain foods that they crave during pregnancy. Even though doctors and scientists don’t know exactly what causes pregnancy cravings, it’s important to acknowledge that they are completely normal, extremely common (an estimated 50-90% of American women experience cravings during pregnancy!) and are nothing to feel ashamed of. 

However, it's also common knowledge that pregnancy cravings aren’t usually associated with the healthiest of foods. Research shows that the most common food cravings in pregnancy include sweets like chocolate, candy and ice cream, and savory carbohydrates like chips and pizza. Since it is well known that a healthy and balanced diet is essential during pregnancy to promote proper fetal development and protect the mother’s health, such pregnancy cravings can potentially interfere with this. 

The good news is that there are always ways to both satisfy pregnancy cravings while still promoting overall health for both you and your baby. Since ice cream is among the most popular craving during pregnancy, we’ll highlight why that is and give tips on how to indulge with less guilt while also promoting overall better health. 

Why Pregnant Women Love Ice Cream

Who doesn’t love ice cream? Pregnancy and non-pregnancy alike, ice cream is among the most popular desserts by far. Many people are drawn to its rich, creamy texture that is sweet and satisfying. Pregnant women specifically tend to be drawn to the fact that it's cold, which is ideal given the fact that a pregnant woman’s body tends to feel warmer due to all the extra blood flowing through it and the increased work it is doing to grow another human! Ice cream is also rich in calcium, which is also hypothesized to be a reason for its craving since some women may have a harder time getting enough of this mineral in their diets. 

How to Satisfy Your Ice Cream Craving in a Healthier Way

The American Pregnancy Association formally recommends Nightfood as its “Official Ice Cream”.  

Nightfood was formulated by sleep and nutrition experts as a better, healthier, more sleep-friendly nighttime snack. To accomplish this, each pint contains less sugar, less fat and fewer calories, and is higher in prebiotic fiber, protein, calcium, magnesium, zinc, and more. Nightfood recognizes that cravings are largely inevitable, and believes that rather than trying to avoid them or indulge in less healthy options, you should be able to satisfy them in a way that you can feel great about!  

If you’re wondering what makes Nightfood different, here’s a quick bullet list of how it compares to other, more traditional ice cream’s.

• Significantly lower in calories, fat, and sugar to allow for guilt-free indulgences without sacrificing flavor 
• Contains added protein, glycine (an amino acid), and prebiotic fiber which help promote satiety and support better digestion (and help avoid that unwanted heartburn!)
• Specially formulated to promote better quality sleep while acknowledging that cravings often occur in the evening. 
• Contains added minerals including calcium, magnesium, and zinc, to help meet nutrient needs 
• Contains no artificial sweeteners or erythritol 
• Has a rich, creamy texture that is exactly the way ice cream should be, not gritty like other “diet” ice creams can be

Nightfood ice cream has been awarded the Official Ice Cream of the American Pregnancy Association, and has also been voted “best new ice cream” and won 2019 Product of the Year in a Kantar survey of over 40,000 consumers.

While Nightfood can be enjoyed by anyone, pregnant women will love that they can try it FREE locally, and get free shipping if it’s not yet available near you.

Nightfood is a delicious, well balanced treat that has the health of you and your baby in mind. When my clients have ice cream cravings, I recommend Nightfood. 

Joanna Foley, RDN, CLT
REGISTERED DIETITIAN
CERTIFIED LEAP THERAPIST
 
Joanna is the author of The Gestational Diabetes Cookbook and Meal Plan, released in 2019. In her private practice, she focuses on nutrition and lifestyle counseling, helping clients find food freedom, and developing a healthier relationship with food.

Due in August, 2020, Joanna recently made Nightfood ice cream part of her own pregnancy journey, and is helping us educate women about the benefits of simple, yet effective, diet and lifestyle tweaks.