Here is what I have come to refer to as the four food group "types" of HGers:
SALTYS AND CRUNCHYS
SWEETS AND DOUGH-YS
SOURS AND TARTS (LOL!)
BLANDS AND STARCHYS
There are of course some overlaps, such as sweet and crispy (fruit cravers - I know you're all out there), and bland and dough-y. These are the groups I've honed-in on in three seperate HG pregnancies, two of them very severe, one "live-able", and also through talking with other women with either severe morning sickness or "official" HG. Then, of course, there are some of us poor HGers who do find ourselves in pregnancies where absolutely nothing is tolerated or craved, and we can only pray for the torment to end. You are in my prayers, severe HGers... IV fluids and anti-emetic treatment are the recipe of choice in those situations, and ice chips to merely keep the mouth from totally drying out... I am sorry there is no group for those of us who've been thorugh such horrors...it's the "trying to survive, quite literally group". God bless and care for any of you who are in that boat, were in that boat, or are finally coming out of it. I didn't want you ladies to be left out of the picture...
For the rest of you HGers, below I have listed foods - little groups of them - that I have heard repeatedly, which fit into these 4 categories. Some women find that "figuring out" which little category/group they fall into helps them rule out and rule in possibilities... Good luck to all of you suffering with this dilemma of getting nutrients into your bodies... You're all in my prayers.
PS - I have to mention the "apple group" as well. A totally separate category - all in its own - I have spoken with QUITE A FEW women, outside of even this forum, who have had the "apple craving" thing. My older sister, a 2x HGer had the "apple cravings" as well.... I'd be vey interested to find out what it is with those apples that makes some HGers crave them so badly. Interesting research...
Anyway, here goes:
SALTY AND CRUNCHY
(This was me during my milder HG pregnancy - I wanted potatos with some sort of salt, crispy and fried, at every chance, once I hit that 6th month!)
*potato chips
*crackers - usually like Cheez-its, etc...something with a flavor of cheese or some extra salt-type flavor, etc... (yes, there are actually cracker HGers out there, believe it or not! I swear to you all!) Sometimes even with PB on them, or the pre-packaged type. Seems the more chemicals and preservatives (go figure?), the better!
*really well-done, or oven-baked french fries - extra crunchy type with not a lot of grease on them
*baked potatoes with lots of salt
*mashed potatoes with lots of salt
*tortilla chips
*fritos
*pretzels
*chex mix
*salted peanuts/nuts
*chinese noodles (the dry tube-like La Choy types, and the flat fried and dried type as well)
*celery sticks
*hard-boiled eggs with salt
*egg salad, minus onions!!
*brothy, salty soups
*mineral water
*ice chips
*lemonade
*club soda
*flavored seltzers - lime and lemon, plain seltzer
***IMORTANT NOTE TO YOU "SALTIES"****
BE SURE you are watching your blood pressure! Salt intake can bring on high blood pressure, something none of us wants! Be sure your cravings are based on your body's needing the salt to naturally raise LOW blood pressure to where it should be, not a craving that's going to cause a high blood pressure situation, or worsen one! I had to cover this! thanks!
SWEET & DOUGH-Y
(this was me @ month 6 in my first wicked-bad HG pregnancy)
*cake,minus the icing
*PB & J sandwiches on fluffy white bread
*hard candies, jolly ranchers, lollies, etc...
*fruit, fruit and more fruit!
*sweet veggies - carrot sticks, etc...
*fruited yogurt
*yogurt smoothies
*graham crackers
*orange juice
*pancakes
*french toast
*plain doughnuts
*cinnamon buns - sweet cinnamon flavored things of any type
*puddings (especially rice pudding)
*raisins and dried fruit
*jello
*lightly buttered egg noodles
*lo mein noodles, other ginger-imbibed Chinese food that is starchy
*white sticky rice
*sweetened brewed iced/hot tea
*sprite
*club soda with cherries
*mineral water
*flavored seltzers - sweet flavors
*some ice cream floats/sodas
*rootbeer/cherry coke/dr. pepper/etc...
*coca cola
*chocolate, strawberry or flavored vanilla milk
*Boost, Carnation Instant Breakfasts, Ovaltine,etc...
SOUR AND TART
*ginger-imbibed Asian anything (Chinese food - lo mein, etc...)
*apples
*lemons and limes - flavors of lemons and limes
*hard candies such as sour apple, lemon, sour grape, etc...
*grapefruit
*oranges
*sometimes fast foods such as cheeseburgers, hot dogs, sausage sandwiches - with pickles on...be careful with these cravings though...
*hot peppers and other spicy hot foods
*mild peppers as well
*tortilla chips
*fritos
*pretzels
*pickles out of the jar - yep! (Probably where that stupid old stereotype came from, actually)
*vinegar on chips/fries/etc...
*grapefruit juice
*cranberry juice
*mineral water
*club soda with fresh lemon/lime
*flavored seltzers - lemon and lime
*lemonade - very tart home-made type
*brewed iced/hot tea with LOTS of fresh lemon
BLANDS AND STARCHES
*pancakes - no syrup, little butter
*toast - just have someone make the stuff outside! LOL!
*crackers (yep - but this time the sweet type like wheat thins, wheatables, etc... NOT saltines, people!)
*pretzels
*soft pretzels
*plain baked potatotes, little butter
*mushy fries from the oven - little grease, no salt
*mashed potatoes
*plain breads
*vanilla wafer cookies
*bland non-buttery popcorn
*plain lightly buttered egg noodles
*white, sticky rice
*some fruits - bananas, pears, peaches, melons
*ice chips
*flavored or plain seltzers
*mineral water
*club soda
*some fruit juices/nectar consistencies
I hope my little "Four food groups" helps some of you. Print it out and keep it handy - for ideas of what MIGHT work with you. Finding your "niche", if and when, you can is so important in this battle. If you find only ONE source of fluid that works for a little while, it can make the "turning point" come sooner rather than later. (The "turning point" being that miraculous moment you can hold down more than sips and tiny bites, and actually feel better after you're done, rather than worse. In two of my HG pregnancies, those moments DID eventually come.)
Take care, everyone!
MANY HUGS!
-Christine b