Food Cravings & Aversions
Strong desires for specific foods and repulsion to others, even foods you previously loved. Very common in first trimester.
Medically reviewed by healthcare professionals | Last reviewed: March 2026
📅 When It Occurs
Usually begins around week 6, peaks in first trimester, often resolves by second trimester
📊 How Common
Affects 50-90% of pregnant women
Overview
Food aversions and cravings are among the most peculiar pregnancy symptoms. You might suddenly find yourself disgusted by coffee, unable to stomach chicken, or craving odd food combinations.
Aversions are often stronger and more disruptive than cravings. The smell or thought of certain foods can trigger immediate nausea. Common aversions include meat, coffee, fish, eggs, and spicy foods.
While exact causes aren't fully understood, food aversions may be an evolutionary protective mechanism, steering you away from potentially harmful foods during the vulnerable first trimester.
📆 By Trimester
First Trimester
Most intense, often related to morning sickness
Second Trimester
Usually improve significantly as nausea subsides
Third Trimester
Most aversions resolve, though some women develop new ones
🔍 What Causes It?
- •Heightened sense of smell (hyperosmia) making odors overwhelming
- •Hormonal changes affecting taste and smell receptors
- •hCG hormone levels correlating with intensity of aversions
- •Possible evolutionary protection against harmful foods
- •Morning sickness making certain foods unappealing
- •Changes in how brain processes food signals
💡 Relief Strategies
- ✓Honor your aversions - don't force yourself to eat triggering foods
- ✓Find alternative food sources for key nutrients
- ✓Eat cold or room-temperature foods which have less odor
- ✓Have someone else cook if cooking smells trigger nausea
- ✓Ventilate kitchen well when cooking
- ✓Focus on foods that sound good or are "safe" for you
- ✓Don't worry about balanced diet in first trimester - eat what you can
- ✓Try new foods you haven't had pregnancy associations with
- ✓Keep a variety of snacks available for when hunger hits
- ✓For cravings: indulge in moderation, but don't let them replace nutritious foods
- ✓If craving non-food items (pica), tell your doctor immediately
⚠️ When to Call Your Doctor
Contact your healthcare provider if you experience:
- ⚠Unable to eat adequate amounts of any food
- ⚠Craving non-food substances like dirt, clay, or laundry starch (pica)
- ⚠Losing weight due to food aversions
- ⚠Signs of nutritional deficiencies
- ⚠Aversions so severe they're preventing prenatal vitamin intake
- ⚠Dehydration from inability to keep foods or fluids down
📅 Explore by Trimester
Learn how this symptom and others change throughout your pregnancy journey: