Daily Times

While science seems divided on pinpointing an exact reason between pregnancy and food cravings, there is literally no harm in devouring a tonne of food and not thinking twice about it.

Frankly speaking, that is probably the best thing about being pregnant. Don’t judge me, you guys. Of course, the very thought of seeing my own sweet little pea sends butterflies down my stomach. Every mom-to-be spends this special time weaving dreams of all the fun and all the excitement she is going to have with her adorable newborn.

Still, most of you would nod your head to how daunting of a path pregnancy can be. The emotional roller coaster brings along innumerable fights with nausea nightmare. As we soldier through our nerve-wracking episodes of bed rest, frantic phone call (or even visits) to our ob-gyns, a little chocolate indulgence ain’t hurting much!

May it sound profound or not, I am super-proud of wearing my snugly pyjamas as I stuff my face with triple-double Oreos. The mish-mash of a cookie top, vanilla crème filling, cookie middle, chocolate crème filling and cookie bottom tastes divine and actually makes me forget the monstrosity of ligament pains. While realising that the cookies are 100 calories a piece would have sent me scampering to the gym any other day, the fact that my pregnancy has sent me on a vacation sans any calorie-counter is cherry on the top.

Coming back to food cravings, which I’ve been having a lot. Now now, I know every pregnancy is different; every woman’s metabolism is different. But still, who wouldn’t want to gobble up some sour gummies and rocky road ice cream, if you were living with no fears of your outfits hugging you snugglier.

First on the list is a classic. KFC’s Zinger with tonnes of cheese and a special in-house spicy sauce (on my personal request). I have been craving that every single night, friends. Couple that with the nostalgia of tearing that waxy paper with the jazzed-up stereo in the background on our weekly runs to KFC’s drive-through. Ah! Cosy enough to sleep through my leg spasms.

May it sound profound or not, I am super-proud of wearing my snugly pyjamas as I stuff my face with triple-double Oreos. The mish-mash of a cookie top, vanilla crème filling, cookie middle, chocolate crème filling and cookie bottom tastes divine and actually makes me forget the monstrosity of ligament pains

I do not really crave pickles and chutneys as most women claim. Yet, I am always up for gulping down those crispy papri cups, overloaded with potato cubes and spicy chickpeas and drenched in that tangy tamarind magic. Yes, the ever-green gol gappas. Now, you all must have a favourite, but my go-to place is Nisbat Road Kai Gol Gappay, right next to Lakshmi Chowk. You pop one of these mouth-watering explosions in your mouth, and you wouldn’t be able to put down the rest.

Add P.F. Chang’s Dynamite Shrimp to the list, about which I have been raving since forever.

It’s very interesting how I crave more fluids than sweets or salty stuff. Call me crazy, but I love getting the burst of ginger in Hangover from Cosa Nostra or the tingling sensation on my tongue after taking a sip of Sumo’s Passion Fruit Lemonade. Heck, some nights, I even drive all the way to Anarkali for that standard bowl of extravagant creamy delight: Yousaf Faluda. The tinge of milky sweetness and that cooling effect of tukh malanga (basil seeds) makes for a divine concoction. Haiiii. I think I want some right now.

There is literally no rhyme or reason when it comes to food cravings in pregnancy. There are some who constantly scrutinise what you prefer to put in your mouth to predict the gender of your unborn child. Old wives’ tales suggest that sweet and fruity cravings mean one is having a girl while salty and sour cravings mean one is having a boy.

Many others lecture you to opt for power foods so that your baby can reap the most benefits of healthy eating.

No matter what your healthier-than-thou friends and Instagram celebrities may say, a balanced combination of wholesome nutrition and sweet tooth dreams would do wonders in doing the job of growing your baby.

Soldier on, girls! Only a small number of weeks left until we get to see our balls of love. If you want the power of chocolate meanwhile, what are you waiting for?