Every morning you wake up, and you already know what you’re going to eat for breakfast (and lunch, and dinner). Of course, it’s eggs. Now that you’re growing a baby inside you, it seems like you can’t get enough of this protein. Why are you craving eggs during pregnancy, though?
Even if you never heard anyone talk about it, eggs are actually one of the most common pregnancy cravings among women. Besides sweet and salty food, a huge percentage of moms-to-be experience this sudden need to consume eggs. And now, you’re one of them as well.
You assume that eggs are good for you, so you probably don’t feel guilty having them day in and day out. However, you’re worried that something’s wrong with you when you can’t stop eating them.
Balance is the key, right? But why can’t you get enough of eggs? Why do you keep on thinking about them from the moment you get up until you finally go to bed in the evening?
Let’s go through the answers you’re looking for.
Why are you craving eggs during pregnancy?
Even though cravings are a normal part of a pregnancy, you’re still worried if everything’s okay. Is your body sending you a signal that you’re missing something? Is that why you want to eat eggs all the time?
Craving eggs during pregnancy could stem from the fact that your body is asking for more protein. Since there’s a baby inside of you, you need way more nutrients to keep both of you healthy. This means that you also need that additional protein which is going to provide you with the necessary energy.
Guess what? Eggs are full of protein! They are a high-calorie food that’s going to keep you full for way longer than some other ingredients which is amazing. This means that after you eat your breakfast, you’re going to feel full and at the same time, your body is going to get all the necessary nutrients to keep functioning properly.
Another reason why you keep craving eggs could be a lack of vitamin B12. This vitamin is responsible for energy production, brain production, and DNA and protein production. Thankfully, there’s a lot of it in eggs.
So, you shouldn’t feel bad about craving them since they’re healthy sources of protein, vitamins, and even minerals for your body. Besides vitamin B12, they also contain vitamins A, D, and E. Additionally, they’re a great source of minerals such as folate, selenium, lutein, zeaxanthin, choline, and riboflavin.
How to make sure you’re eating eggs safely?
Now, pregnancy is a time in your life when you become way more cautious about the things you do and the food you eat. For each ingredient that finds its way into your fridge, you first check if you’re allowed to eat it at all.
Since you already know that eggs are good for you and your baby, you’re not worried about their consumption. But you’re concerned about the way you should prepare them and the amount that you’re allowed to eat.
Let’s go over certain guidelines that you should follow if you want to make sure you’re eating eggs safely.
1. Make sure your eggs are thoroughly cooked
Eggs can present a risk of salmonella when they’re not cooked properly. So, the best thing you can do to be sure you’re eating them right is to cook them thoroughly. If you’re a huge fan of sunny side up eggs, it will be better to avoid them until you’ve given birth.
Whenever you’re preparing your eggs, make sure that both egg white and egg yolk are cooked well. Runny eggs are a no-go since they could cause food poisoning. And even if the chances for that are really low, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
So, don’t rush your cooking process, and let those scrambled eggs fry up nicely. Once you see that there’s no runny yolk, you can indulge in them and satisfy your cravings.
2. Avoid poached or soft-boiled eggs
If you’re dreaming about a poached egg on top of an avocado toast, then I’ll have to disappoint you. This meal isn’t the best choice for pregnant women out there and you should wait to eat it after you give birth.
The reason for that is the fact that poached egg is never thoroughly cooked. Its inside always remains runny and as you know by now, that’s something you need to avoid. The same goes for soft-boiled eggs. Even though some of you may be obsessed with them, pregnancy isn’t the right period to eat them.
If you’re craving some boiled eggs, ensure they’re cooked all the way and there are no signs of runny yolk or egg white. That way, you can enjoy your eggs without worrying.
3. Avoid any type of products with raw eggs
In the same way, you want to avoid half-cooked eggs, but you also want to skip the raw eggs. Anything that’s made out of uncooked eggs is a no-go since it presents a risk of food poisoning. And that’s the last thing you want to be dealing with right now.
Mousse or homemade ice cream could contain raw eggs, so before you indulge in these treats, you better check what’s inside them. If you’re making a dessert on your own and the recipe calls for raw eggs, you should look for something else.
There are plenty of treats that contain eggs that are going to be cooked in the process. So, make sure you opt for any of those options rather than something that uses only raw ingredients.
4. Make sure you’re not eating only eggs
Pregnancy cravings are tough to deal with and sometimes, you feel this uncontrollable need to eat one type of food all the time. Even though your appetite for eggs is stronger than ever, you should make sure that you keep your meals healthy and balanced.
Eggs are healthy, nutrient-rich, and calorie-dense; but they definitely can’t be the only thing you eat. At that point, they actually become bad for you.
It’s recommended to eat 2 to 3 eggs a day since they’re high in cholesterol. Eating way too many of them can cause heart problems as well as bloating, gas, or even abdominal pain. So, no matter how much you’re craving eggs during pregnancy, you should make sure not to cross the line, especially now.
Your diet can’t consist of only proteins since you also need veggies, carbohydrates, fruits, and fiber to ensure you’re getting all the necessary nutrients into your body.
Remember that you’re eating for two, but that doesn’t mean that you should eat two times more than you used to. Instead, it means that you should eat food that’s good for you and your baby at the same time. So, two times more nutritious.
Should you ignore your pregnancy cravings?
Some women figure out they’re pregnant due to a sudden change in their cravings. That’s how strong these urges for certain foods can get.
Now, when you start craving something, the chances are that you’ll immediately get worried about it. Due to the change in hormones and increased concern about the health of your baby, you reconsider every little difference you notice about yourself.
So, the first thing you should know is that cravings are normal during pregnancy. At the same time, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong if you’re not experiencing them. Each body is different and reacts differently to the same situation.
These urges to eat certain foods can be signals that your body is sending you. They can signify that you lack certain nutrients. At the same time, they can be the results of hormonal changes that affect your taste buds. So, you may be craving to eat something simply because your body thinks you’re going to like it.
No matter what, you shouldn’t ignore your pregnancy cravings as long as they’re not harmful to you and your baby. The most important thing is to keep your meals healthy and balanced. If you know how to do that, then giving in to certain cravings won’t affect you negatively.
Of course, if your cravings become the only thing you eat then you’ll have to do something about it.
All in all, listening to your body is important, but at the same time, you have to be reasonable about your diet. Once you realize that you’re overeating on something, make sure to hit the brakes and reconsider your choices.
Balance is key and now that this little beam of joy is growing inside of you, don’t forget that you’re responsible for their health the same way you’re responsible for yours. Don’t think that you’re a bad person for giving in to your cravings but at the same time, make sure you’re not overdoing it.
Dear mama, I know that this period can be hard since you’re going through all of these changes all alone. Even though you have people around you who support you, pregnancy can make you feel isolated and lonely. But I just want you to know that you’re doing the best you can for your baby.
And the fact that you can’t control your cravings doesn’t make you a bad person. It only makes you more human.
