Once those pregnancy cravings kick in, there’s not much you can do to control them. From the moment you wake up till the one you finally go to bed, there’s probably this one thing you’re thinking about – ice cream. But as you’re now concerned about everything you eat, you’re worried about ice cream in pregnancy. Does it get a green light?
You know that you should pay attention to your diet now that you’re carrying a baby inside your body. But you can’t help yourself. All you think about is creamy, indulgent, tasty ice cream. And it feels like the more you try to ignore your cravings the worse they get.
Before you got pregnant, you thought that women were overreacting and that cravings were not a huge deal. We all have an appetite for certain foods, right? What could be an issue with that? We’re humans and we can control ourselves.
Yeah, right. You now realize that things aren’t as easy as you thought. Pregnancy cravings are something you can’t describe to someone who hasn’t experienced them. You understand that now. But you also want to figure out why you’re obsessed with ice cream and don’t want to stop eating it.
Why are you craving ice cream during pregnancy?
Most of your pregnancy cravings are caused by the change in hormones. Now that you’re growing a tiny human inside of you, your body is going through all these physical, emotional, and hormonal changes.
Your belly is growing, your mood is changing rapidly and you’re experiencing weird food cravings. Besides that, you also develop food aversion to certain meals and ingredients you once loved. Now, you can’t even imagine eating them.
For some reason, your body keeps sending you signals that you want to eat some ice cream. But spoon after spoon, you realize this craving isn’t going anywhere.
Now, you’re worried about the consequences. How much ice cream is too much? Are you even allowed to eat it during pregnancy? You’re panicking and want to find out the answers right now. So, let’s get into more detail before you lose your mind.
Are you allowed to eat ice cream during pregnancy?
Unfortunately, the answer isn’t a simple yes or no. Things are a bit more complicated and the reason for that is its two main ingredients: milk and eggs. As long as they’re pasteurized, you’re good to go. Other times, it’ll be best to skip this indulgent, cold treat.
Overall, store-bought ice cream is fine since it’s usually made with pasteurized ingredients. If you want to be extra sure, you can always check the ingredients list on the box. It should say that the milk is pasteurized and that’s when you know that you can enjoy your favorite craving safely.
Soft ice cream should be fine but it’s best to check with the person who works there if the milk has been pasteurized. Also, pay attention to the cleanliness of the machine since these things can be filled with bacteria if they’re not cleaned regularly.
Homemade ice cream is okay as long as it doesn’t contain any raw eggs in it. If you’re making it on your own, just make sure you’re following a recipe that doesn’t require eggs at all.
However, if you’re eating it at someone’s house or a local restaurant, first check what it’s made of. If there are any uncooked eggs in it, make sure to skip it since it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Also, when you’re going to the store to grab some ice cream, pay attention to the flavors you’re choosing. Coffee, matcha, and green tea-flavored ice creams are something you should avoid because they contain caffeine.
This may become an issue if you’re consuming coffee during your pregnancy since you can cross your daily caffeine intake. So, consider getting some other flavors that will make you equally happy and satisfy your cravings.
Things to keep in mind when you’re pregnant and craving ice cream
Now that you’re pregnant, I’m sure you’re worried about your baby’s health more than yours, to be honest. Your maternal instincts are already kicking in and you’re doing everything you can to keep that tiny beam of joy in good shape and provide her with all the nutrients she needs.
That doesn’t mean that you should ignore your cravings and torment yourself by completely avoiding the food that’s making you happy. Of course, there are some ingredients you should skip but other than that, the most important thing is to have a well-balanced diet.
So, the fact that you’re craving ice cream doesn’t make you a bad mom and you shouldn’t pretend like you wouldn’t enjoy that scoop of your favorite dessert. Still, there are some things you should keep in mind since they’re going to help you keep your meals balanced and your cravings under control.
1. Eating for two doesn’t mean eating as much as you want
Many women have this opinion that now they’re pregnant, they can eat two times more than they used to. This is a myth and if you follow this advice, you’ll only gain unnecessary weight.
In reality, during your first trimester, you shouldn’t change your daily intake of calories. Once you get to the second trimester, you should consume an additional 200 to 400 calories, depending on your activity levels. During the third trimester, that number reaches around 450 additional calories per day.
So, even though you should be eating more during the second and third trimester, it still doesn’t mean that you should be eating two times more.
Once you sit down on your sofa with a container full of ice cream, don’t try to sugarcoat it and persuade yourself that you can eat as much as you want since you’re eating for two. Your baby needs nutritious food and ice cream won’t offer her that.
Keep your portions under control and enjoy a scoop or two of this cold dessert. Indulge in every bit of it and take your time to finish it. This way, you’ll satisfy your cravings but at the same time, you’ll keep your calorie intake under control.
Read also: The Real Reason Why You’re Craving Cheese During Pregnancy
2. There’s always a risk of gestational diabetes
You should know that unhealthy, sugary food always carries a risk of gestational diabetes. This is a condition that can develop during pregnancy even if you haven’t had diabetes before.
Gestational diabetes can lead to pre-term delivery and high blood pressure. Also, it puts your baby at risk of low blood sugar and even developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
This is why it’s so important to take care of your food intake and to keep your meals healthy and balanced. Giving in and letting your cravings win from time to time isn’t terrible as long as you know that your diet is nutritious for both you and your baby.
I’m not telling you any of these things to make you panic. I just want to remind you how much impact you have on the health of the child growing inside of you.
She relies on you and for that reason, you have to provide her with everything necessary for her development. From protein, veggies, fruits, fiber, and carbohydrates – you have to include all of these nutrients into your diet because that’s the best way to ensure a good start for your tiny baby.
Read also: Craving Salt In Pregnancy: 5 Reasons Why You’re Salty
Healthier alternatives to ice cream in pregnancy
Even though it’s okay to eat ice cream during pregnancy as long as you’re paying attention to the ingredients, it’s also important to know that this is a high-calorie food. So, if you can’t stop yourself from eating the whole box in one sitting, then you should try to explore different healthier alternatives.
Here are some good, guilt-free options that will still satisfy your cravings.
1. Frozen yogurt
This is a great option when you’re looking for something cold and refreshing. Frozen yogurt is delicious and it will easily satisfy your intense appetite for ice cream.
You can get it from the store and choose among many flavors it comes in or you can make it home if that’s what you prefer. The great thing about it is that it doesn’t have as many calories as ice cream which is good to know when you’re trying to keep your weight gain under control.
2. Frozen fruit
Another great alternative that you can make at home is blended frozen fruit. This is a great way to make your ice cream from scratch by using healthy ingredients. And what’s even better is that you can customize the flavor to your liking.
You can easily make a healthy chocolate ice cream by blending frozen bananas and adding cocoa powder into the mixture. If you’re into fruity flavors, then mix your favorite frozen fruits and berries and enjoy the fresh taste of it.
The best thing about these healthy alternatives is that they don’t require any added sugar. Since fruits are naturally sweet, you don’t need anything to make them taste better. They’re already delicious on their own.
