We've all heard the classic chocolate craving before a period, or the pickles and ice-cream pregnancy stereotype, but cravings are much more personal than that. For me, one of the strongest signs that my period is approaching is a craving for meat, while for others it can be cheese and crackers or a block of chocolate. 

It made me curious: why do some women crave chocolate while others crave steak? Why do we long for different textures and flavours, and why do these desires shift throughout our lives?

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Before Your Period

Many women are familiar with the feeling of their period approaching, and suddenly food cravings become impossible to ignore. For some it's chocolate, for others it might be chips, bread, pasta, cheese or a comforting meal (for some like me, I crave meat).

The days before menstruation (the luteal phase) bring significant hormonal changes. Estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, influencing appetite, mood, cravings and the way we experience hunger. 

Research suggests that many women experience changes in appetite and food preferences during this phase. Some might find themselves wanting foods that provide comfort, pleasure or a feeling of satisfaction. This is why pre-period cravings aren't always about the food itself. Sometimes it's about what the food provides. 

○ Chocolate: you might be seeking comfort 🍫
○ Carbohydrates: maybe your body needs some quick energy 🥐
○ Meat/Protein rich meals: maybe your body want something filling and grounding 🥩

It's worth remembering that cravings don't always have a simple explanation. A desire for a particular food doesn't necessarily mean your body is lacking specific nutrients.

Humans more complicated than that. But paying attention to patterns can still be useful.

 

Pregnancy: When Your Body Starts Asking For The Unexpected

We've all heard the stories: pickles and ice cream, midnight snack requests or suddenly needing one very specific food. But pregnancy cravings are much more varies than the stereotypes suggest. 

During pregnancy, hormones influence taste, smell and appetite. 

Foods that once seemed ordinary can suddenly become intoxicating and can crave things like:

 → Sour foods like citrus or pickles 🍋
→ Salty foods 
→ Cold foods like fruit or ice-cream 🍦
→ Textures like extra crunchy or creamy 
→ Comfort foods 🥞
→ New foods that you rarely ate or didn't like at all

At the same time, many women experience food aversions to the point where the smell of it can be completely unbearable (sometimes including foods you normally love). 

Pregnancy cravings aren't just about flavour. They're also about texture and comfort during a time when the body is changing every single day. 

 

Breastfeeding: When Hunger Becomes A Whole New Experience

Many new mums are surprised by how hungry they become while breastfeeding. After pregnancy, birth and recovery, the body produces milk to help nourish your baby, and this uses a tremendous amount of energy. 

Craving during this stage are often less about one particular food and more about simply needing fuel.

You might find yourself craving:

👉 Quick, accessible snacks
👉 Hearty meals
👉 Protein-rich foods
👉 Sweet foods for a quick energy boost
👉 Increased fluids

While breastfeeding doesn't appear to create specific cravings, increased hunger and thirst are universal experiences among breastfeeding women. 

 

Perimenopause: When Patterns Start To Change

One of the most surprising things about perimenopause is that many women feel like their relationship with food suddenly changes. 

You might find yourself thinking "Why do I suddenly want to eat this? I've hated it my entire life".

During perimenopause, significant hormonal changes happen, affecting mood, sleep, appetite and how satisfied we feel after eating.

Many women notice:

→ Stronger evening cravings
→ More desire for carbohydrates or sweet foods
→ A preference for comfort foods
→ Changes in appetite that feel unfamiliar

It's so easy to blame yourself and think "I have no willpower anymore". But cravings aren't just about discipline. This stage of life comes with many changes at once. Sleep patterns change, stress levels fluctuate and your metabolism evolves. 

Rather than seeing this as a battle to win, it can be more helpful to see it as information. You can ask yourself "Am I eating enough protein?", "Am I getting enough fibre", "Am I sleeping well?" etc.

Sometimes the answer isn't more restriction, it's more nourishment and care. 

 

Does A Craving Mean Your Body Is Missing Something?

It's tempting to believe that every craving has a hidden message. That wanting chocolate means you need more magnesium or wanting steak means you need more iron and b12. 

While our cravings can occasionally overlap with our nutritional needs, it's rarely that straightforward. Cravings are influenced by a complex web of hormones, energy requirements, stress, emotions, sleep, memories, habits and what we regularly eat. 

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From chocolate before your period and pickles during pregnancy, to the hunger of breastfeeding and the shifts of perimenopause, our relationship with food changes because we change.  

Our bodies are constantly adapting, and the goal isn't to eliminate our cravings, but to understand them and be more compassionate towards them and ourselves. 

Sometimes a craving is just a craving, and other times it's a reminder for us to slow down, listen and take better care of ourselves. 

🩷🩷🩷