Pregnancy Food Aversions: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions

One minute you're craving ice cream for breakfast, the next the mere thought of your favorite pre-pregnancy meal has you running for the hills. 🤢

Sound familiar? Don't worry, you're not alone!

We’re talking about pregnancy food aversions — from the helpful ones like coffee and booze to less-handy aversions like chocolate and veggies.

But why do food aversions happen in pregnancy?

What do you do when you don’t want to eat anything?

How long do food aversions stick around?

Grab a snack (that doesn’t make you gag) and your notepad, mama-to-be — we’re gonna answer all your questions.

In this article: 📝

What are food aversions in pregnancy?

Ugh. Pregnancy food aversions are one of the worst pregnancy symptoms.

When that juicy burger you used to devour now smells like gym socks, and the mere thought of your grandma's famous lasagna makes you want to hide under the covers — at a time when you especially need to get your nutrients in.

Thanks, irony. 🙃

Food aversions are basically your body's strong dislike for certain foods during pregnancy. [1]

They can range from a mild "meh" to a full-on "NOPE, not happening!"

And let's be honest, sometimes those "nopes" can feel pretty extreme.

What are food aversions like in early pregnancy?

Here's the thing: these food aversions can be all over the place.

One minute you might be grossed out by the thought of your favorite takeout, and the next, it's the gentle scent of your partner's cologne that makes you want to gag.

It can feel subtle, like finding your comfort food a little smellier than usual, to full-on aversion — even up to vomiting when you’re in the same room as certain foods.

There are lots of degrees of food aversion in pregnancy, but the good news is that they’re usually temporary, and should go away after the first trimester.

🍫 Fancy a bite? The Ultimate Pregnancy Cravings List: 73 Real Cravings

Why am I hungry but disgusted by food during pregnancy?

You could have a whole buffet of every type of food in front of you, but not want a single bite.

Your body's basically screaming, "I need fuel!" but your taste buds are throwing a major tantrum at anything you try to feed them.

And then you get hangry. 😡

So what’s the cause of food aversions in pregnancy?

Well, here's the thing, science doesn't have a definitive answer yet, but there are a few strong suspects:

• Hormones: Pretty much the answer to any ‘why’ question throughout pregnancy. Pregnancy is basically a hormone rollercoaster, and those fluctuations (hCG, AKA human chorionic gonadotropin) might mess with your sense of taste and smell [2].
• Protecting baby: Some researchers think food aversions might be your body's way of steering you clear of potentially harmful foods during pregnancy. If you’re suddenly feeling food aversions to blue cheeses, alcohol, or coffee, this might be the reason! [3]

Can food aversion indicate baby’s gender?

You might have heard some friend-of-a-friend stories about food aversions predicting your baby's gender, but here's the truth: there's very little scientific evidence to link any specific food cravings or aversions in pregnancy to baby’s gender. [4,5]

There is one study that could suggest a link between “disgust sensitivity” and gender — although admittedly very small, involving only 92 pregnant women. [6]

The study found that feeling “relatively high disgust sensitivity” during the first and second trimester was more prevalent in moms-to-be carrying boys.

Why? Well, potentially because male fetuses can be more sensitive themselves, and take more energy to develop: “[this] can be explained by the necessity to protect for a longer time, a more ecologically sensitive fetus, and also herself when bearing a more energetically costly sex”.

But honestly, this was a very small study, and we haven’t found any others that back it up just yet.

As for aversions to specific foods, like meat aversions in pregnancy and whether they could indicate a boy or girl, the only ‘proof’ we have are anecdotes, not medical studies.

Some of our Peanut mamas have heard that meat aversions to chicken mean you’re expecting a girl, and meat aversions to beef mean you’re having a boy.

Others say that aversions to any or all meats could indicate a baby boy on the way.

While we can’t say these are scientifically proven, here are some food aversions and baby genders from our Peanut moms-to-be:

• “Coffee. Boy.” — Sarah
• “Tomatoes and oranges — girl.” — Liv
• “Onions and the onion family — girl.” — Nicole
• “The smell of ranch — girl.” — Tessa
• “Meat. All meat. Couldn’t stand the smell or texture. 🤢 I had a girl.” — Ashleigh
• “Eggs/Girl.” — MJ
• “Chocolate and eggs. Boy.” — Patrice
• “Meat with both of my girls.” — Emily
• “Red peppers and chocolate. Boy.” — Abbie
• “Chocolate and coffee! Anything sweet. Confirmed girl.” — Leaby
• “Some days it was everything except water. Had a boy.” — Victoria
• “Sausages — boy.” — Gemma
• “Meat and anything fried — 3 boys. Coffee, chocolate, and sweets — 1 girl.” — Dionne
• “Coffee and it’s a boy!” — Natali
• “I had an aversion to meat and I had a girl.” — Paris
• “Had a boy and couldn't eat anything greasy or fatty such as bacon or fried chicken.” — Layna
• “Peanut butter — even the smell made me throw up. I could smell it from the other room or if my husband had eaten some during the day. Had a girl.” — Kath
• “Meat and eggs — boy.” — Melody

💙💗 Can cravings predict gender? Boy or girl?

How soon do food aversions start in pregnancy?

Food aversion in early pregnancy can start anywhere from 5-6 weeks pregnant.

That's right, even before your first missed period, your body might be giving you subtle hints that you’re growing a tiny babe.

But not every mama-to-be experiences food aversions or a loss of appetite early on. [7]

Some sail through the first trimester with their usual love for food intact.

But if you're feeling like skipping meals or certain foods suddenly seem like your worst enemy, you're not alone!

It’s pretty normal to get food aversions in your first trimester, though — usually peaking between 6 weeks and 14 weeks pregnant.

Can you have food aversions at 2 weeks pregnant?

No, it’s not possible to have food aversions at 2 weeks pregnant.

That’s because at 2 weeks, you might not have even conceived yet.

Confused? Don’t worry, we’ll break it down.

Pregnancy weeks are calculated from the first day of your last menstrual period (LMP), so you could well be ovulating or ‘doing the deed’ at 2 weeks pregnant.

So your pregnancy hormones won’t have kicked in yet — they can start anywhere from about 5-6 weeks pregnant, or a couple of weeks after conception.

That’s your egg of the month has a bit of a journey before your pregnancy hormones start to skyrocket — it has to get released (ovulation), get fertilized (by sperm), get to your uterus, then implant in your uterine lining.

All of that takes about 10-16 days, then your pregnancy hormone levels have to get high enough to start triggering symptoms, like food aversion.

So food aversions at 2 weeks pregnant aren’t really possible just yet.

Can you have food aversions before a positive pregnancy test?

Yes, it is possible to get food aversions as an early sign of pregnancy before your BFP (big fat positive). [8]

But food aversions and a general loss of appetite can be early signs of pregnancy, but they can also happen for other reasons.

So, while that sudden aversion to your favorite takeout might get your pregnancy radar pinging, it's not a guaranteed positive test just yet.

Pregnancy symptoms like food aversions and loss of appetite typically show up around the time of a missed period, which is usually around 6 weeks into pregnancy.

So a negative test right now wouldn't necessarily rule out the possibility of a bun in the oven (but a doctor's visit can definitely give you a clearer picture!).

There are lots of reasons you might be feeling a bit off your food lately, like stress, a new medication, or even just a plain old stomach bug.

If the food aversions and loss of appetite are accompanied by other pregnancy symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or frequent urination, then a pregnancy test might be a good idea. [9]

If you're experiencing unusual changes in your appetite or suspect you might be pregnant, the best thing to do is schedule an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider.

They can help you figure out what's going on and give you the personalized advice you need.

🤔 Not sure? Check out other Early Signs of Pregnancy Before Missed Period

How long does food aversion last in pregnancy?

Good news, mama-to-be! Food aversions in pregnancy are temporary, and for most mamas, they tend to take a hike after the first trimester — hallelujah!

That means by the time you hit the second trimester (around week 13), your tastebuds should be back to their pre-pregnancy selves!

Of course, every mama is different, and some might experience these aversions for a bit longer — even well after pregnancy.

But even if they linger a little past the first trimester, they'll likely become less intense.

What is the most common food aversion during pregnancy?

There's no single "winner" when it comes to the most common food aversion during pregnancy, because every mama's taste buds are unique (and unpredictable!).

But there are some usual suspects among our Peanut moms-to-be:

• Meats, like chicken, beef, and pork
• Water
• Coffee
• Sweets, like chocolate, or even just sugar
• Strong-smelling foods, like garlic or onions
• Eggs
• Vegetables
• Milk and other dairy products, like cheeses
• Tomatoes
• Soda
• Tea
• And some unlucky mamas have an aversion to all food during pregnancy

Here’s what our Peanut Community had to say:

• “I couldn’t even look at chicken the entire pregnancy! 🤣 At almost 7 weeks postpartum, I was able to eat chicken again!” — Rema
• “I couldn’t do beef when I was pregnant.” — Kiyanna
• “I was vegan and then any ‘meat replacements’ made me feel completely sick and I craved meat! 😩” — Carly
• “Couldn’t eat a hamburger for the entire pregnancy. I have some meat aversions normally but during pregnancy I practically became vegetarian.” — Martina
• “I craved it like crazy (chicken, steak, hamburgers, really any kinda meat) but would get sick as soon as I smelled/ate it. 🥴” — Kay
• “Banana. 🙃” — Jordyn
• “I couldn’t look at meat at all! Like steak or chicken breast. Everything had to be chopped up or made from minced meat. 😂” — Jana
• “With my son: chicken the entire pregnancy. With my daughter: chocolate and green vegetables, but only in the 1st trimester.” — Lauren
• “I’ve been completely off meat since about 5 weeks. 18 weeks and no signs wanting meat still, feel like it’s going to last the whole time. 🙄” — Sophie
• “I couldn’t stomach coffee or veggies — anything healthy, really. All I wanted was junk food — hence the 40lbs weight gain.😅😂” — Michelle
• “I barely ate meat before pregnancy, except the rare cheeseburger or chicken. During pregnancy all I wanted was meat and fresh fruit.” — Courtney
• “I had aversions to meat if I smelt it raw or cooking... Couldn't eat it then, but if I only smelt it. Once cooked, I was fine. 🤣” — Billie
• “The Lidl bakery, the smell of it almost killed me this morning.” — Erin
• “Coffee, onions, and maraschino cherries. Really wasn't expecting the cherry one and confidently popped one in my mouth and immediately gagged and spit it out. 🥴” — Allison
• “Just looking at the word chicken just made me nauseous! 🤣🤢” — Abi
• “I couldn’t really eat anything my first trimester, especially anything hot. I survived off of cold food, fruits, veggies. Pickles and lemons were my go to.” — Jasmine
• “When I was pregnant with my first, I had an aversion to mozzarella sticks and mac ‘n’ cheese. Ironically enough, mac ‘n’ cheese is his favorite food!” — Katie
• “Anything milky/creamy. 🤢” — Kajal
• “Before pregnancy, I ate tons of mushrooms and avocados. During pregnancy, I couldn’t dare eat them cause the texture made me want to 🤢🤮” — Mars
• “I had food aversions to pretty much everything in the 1st trimester, the only safe foods were toast and fruit.” — Daisy
• “I had about 5 months where I could only eat bland brown carbs. Anything that resembled a vegetable was an absolute no go for me, and food I usually adore like spag bol just tasted totally wrong.” — Charlotte
• “I couldn't drink tea. 😭 The smell of peanut butter turned my stomach too.“ — Lucie
• “Chicken, mint, lemon. The smell of cooking food made me sick, too.” — Jade
• “Pork…. But, like, specifically Asian style prepared pork. My husband’s side of the family is Vietnamese, and most of their dishes have pork in them, and I just cannot handle it. But I can eat bacon. 😭” — Jay
• “The smell of toast toasting, corn nuts, and I loved eating watermelon, but baby made me throw it back up every time!” — Korissa
• “Everything until like 20 weeks.
• 🤢” — Lara

What are common smell aversions during pregnancy?

We can’t talk about common food aversions without mentioning smell aversions in pregnancy, too — usually caused by hyperosmia (heightened sense of smell). [10]

These are things you can’t eat, but the smell of them might make you gag when you’re pregnant:

• Toothpaste
• Laundry detergent
• Perfume or cologne
• Pets and pet food
• Freshly-cut grass
• Garbage
• Body odor
• Nail polish
• Household cleaners
• Gasoline

What helps with food aversion during pregnancy?

Now for our tried-and-tested tips on how to overcome food aversion during pregnancy.

We’ve even got tricks from moms-to-be with extreme food aversion in pregnancy, so you’re sure to find something that works for you:

• Identify your food triggers. Is it the smell, the texture, or just the thought of a certain ingredient? Once you know, you can start to find a workaround.
• Get creative in the kitchen: Maybe you can't stomach a whole chicken, but what about shredded chicken in a stir-fry with stronger-flavored veggies to hide the taste? Leafy greens making you heave? Try them in a smoothie instead to cover the taste and textures.
• Smaller snacks throughout the day: Feeling overwhelmed by the thought of a full meal? Opt for frequent, smaller meals and snacks throughout the day. This can help keep your energy levels up and prevent nausea.
• Don’t skip meals: Again, even if bigger meals are feeling like too much, go for more frequent snacks instead.
• Try different foods: If your favorites are grossing you out right now, try something similar. Or completely different! You might just find a new fave that’s nutritious and delicious.
• Spice it up (or tone it down): Play around with flavors! Adding spices or herbs you tolerate might make a previously offensive dish more palatable. On the other hand, if strong flavors are the issue, stick with blander options.
• Hydration is key: Dehydration can worsen nausea and make food aversions seem even more intense. Aim to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, even if it's just small sips at a time. If water is one of your aversions (hey, it can happen), find a drink you enjoy and stay hydrated.
• Listen to your body: This is your golden rule! If a certain food makes you want to run for the hills, ditch it. There are plenty of other healthy options out there that won't trigger your aversion.
• Talk to your doctor: They can help you create a pregnancy diet that works for you and your baby, even with food aversions.
• Connect with other mamas: There are amazing online communities where you can swap stories and tips with other moms-to-be facing food aversions. You're not alone!

🤰 Try these tasty treats: Pregnancy Snacks: Healthy Hacks for Pregnancy Cravings

Remember, food aversions in pregnancy are temporary and there are ways to keep your diet healthy and your taste buds happy (or at least, not actively revolting) during this wild pregnancy ride.

Don't be afraid to get creative in the kitchen, listen to your body's cravings (and avoidances!), and connect with other mamas who get it — you've got this!

And hey, if all else fails, there's a whole second trimester waiting for you on the other side, hopefully filled with delicious pre-pregnancy food reunions.

After more food aversion tips? Join us on Peanut — our Community of moms-to-be are always swapping tips and tricks. 🫶