A Prego Talks About Food

I have now been pregnant for a total of 26 months of my life. I have learned many things about pregnancy, including but not limited to, food consumption. Because of the importance of food in my life over the past 4 months, I'd like to dedicate this post to KFC, Iced Tea, and grapefruit.

There are two different types of cravings during my pregnancies: first trimester cravings and 2nd/3rd trimester cravings. Let's start with the former.

First trimester cravings are the type that you simply CANNOT ignore. Non-pregnant people don't understand them and husbands can only hope to have the compassion and understanding to work through these cravings. It's a matter of fulfilling the immediate and urgent need ASAP. The longer it goes unresolved, the worse it becomes. Nothing besides the EXACT desire of the pregnant woman will satisfy the need. It's the kind of craving that the husband may kindly say, "I know how badly you'd like Cheez-its, but we don't have any. How about some Goldfish crackers?" The wife responds with a look, expressing the thankfulness of her loving husband but also the disbelief that Goldfish could be anywhere near the same thing as Cheez-its. Let me give you a couple of examples from my first 3 months of this pregnancy.

Gabe, the kids, and I drove to Rowland Heights to see the beautiful view after a long rainstorm. After seeing the sights, we began driving home. We happened to pass a KFC, and I mumbled something about, "Wow. Fried chicken from KFC sure does sound good." Gabe asked me if I wanted to stop for some and I told him thanks, but I would be fine with something from home. As we neared home (10 minutes later), my stomach started to twist and turn at the thought of any of the food in our house. I found myself daydreaming of KFC chicken, mashed potatoes, buttery corn, and a biscuit. (Keep in mind, I've eaten there a total of maybe 4-5 times in my life.) My mouth watered. Then, I tried to refocus. A sandwich? No. Some fruit? No. Crackers? NO! Salad? Are you serious?! My stomach began to to get upset with me. I was past the point of nausea. I was lightheaded and most likely green in the face. Gabe, aware of what was going through my head, was suggesting other healthier places to get something from (being I was trying to stay away from unhealthy foods, like say... KFC.) Finally, he said that we were going to KFC. I told him that I could handle this. I didn't need gross food. He said he knew the drill and anything else would make me sick. Gabe parked the car. I jumped out, ran inside, and said to the woman behind the counter, "I don't know how this place works, but I need a piece of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, and a biscuit!" She calmly told me they had a meal with those exact items, and I was happy to give her my money. I got back in the car with food in hand, buckled my seat belt, and began to eat. My nausea went away. I was no longer lightheaded. Nothing else in the world mattered. I had my food. Ahhhhhh... Even reminiscing it now, I can remember the relief that KFC brought to me that fine day.

A story of desperation: I needed Ritz crackers. That fateful Friday evening, as I sat at home with the kids in bed and Gabe at work, I pondered the beauty of a Ritz cracker... the saltiness, the butteriness, mmmmmmm... And that's when it happened. I remembered we were out of them. We buy them at Costco in a large pack and the day before I had finished off the last of them. I couldn't run to the store to get them. What was I to do? As best as I can remember it, these are the thoughts that went through my desperate mind. "We don't have anymore. What can I replace it with? Who am I kidding? I need Ritz crackers. I remember throwing the wrapper away yesterday, but maybe there are more sleeves of crackers somewhere. Maybe the box is still in the cabinet. No, I remember throwing that out when I got out the last package. I know! Perhaps one sleeve slipped out as I took the box out. No that's ridiculous... but maybe it's true this time. It's never happened before, but perhaps a sleeve is lost in the cabinet right now! or maybe tucked away in the overflow food cabinet! Yes! Yes! That's where it is!" Needless to say, there were no more Ritz crackers and the day ended on a very sour note involving nausea and general ickiness.

Now that you understand my first trimester cravings, allow me to move on to the final 6 months. Oftentimes, people will say that when your body craves something during pregnancy, it's because it's something that your body is lacking in. I have a hard time believing that my body was lacking in KFC two months ago, but during the last six months of pregnancy, I find that more plausible. These are the kind of cravings that I may not feel sick about, but it just sounds SO good. I may not even recognize it as a craving until I say something a little absurd such as, "Iced Tea is the new water" or I start to realize that I eat the same thing at the same time every day and if I don't have it, I don't really know what to do, as in the case of grapefruit at 10am every morning or 2 eggs for lunch each day. (Note to self: We're out of grapefruit. Please purchase more before tomorrow at 10am.) I actually really enjoy 2nd/3rd trimester cravings because they're typically healthy and simple and I eat so much anyway, I can eat those things, plus whatever's on the menu for the family.

In conclusion, pregnancy food cravings control the pregnant woman (and, at times, the husband) more than any of us like to admit. Eating during the first 3 months of pregnancy can be difficult and impossible at times, but the last 6 months makes up for it with the joy that food can bring and the amount of food required, and therefore, the amount of joy, that one has.

Now, if you'll excuse me, it's snack time.