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Published on: 4/7/2025

Are There Specific Food Cravings When Pregnant with a Boy?

There is no strong evidence that pregnant women have specific food cravings solely because they are carrying a boy. Food cravings during pregnancy seem to be more about individual taste, hormonal changes, and personal experiences.

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Explanation

Research shows that while many women report unusual food cravings during pregnancy, these cravings do not seem to follow a clear pattern based on whether you are carrying a boy or a girl. Studies have looked at women’s experiences and found that cravings are mainly influenced by changes in hormones and individual taste preferences. For example, cravings for sweets, salty snacks, or even unusual food combinations are common and can be very personal. Some studies suggest that the way a woman experiences food cravings is more linked to her overall mood, culture, and the body's nutritional needs rather than the sex of the baby. Focus group studies have noted that many parents experience shifts in eating behaviors during the transition to parenthood, stemming from many different factors and not necessarily the baby’s gender. So if you’re having food cravings while pregnant, it’s likely your body’s natural response to the hormonal and emotional changes of pregnancy, rather than a specific signal that you’re carrying a boy.

(References)

  • Blau LE, Lipsky LM, Dempster KW, Eisenberg Colman MH, Siega-Riz AM, Faith MS, Nansel TR. Women's Experience and Understanding of Food Cravings in Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study in Women Receiving Prenatal Care at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. J Acad Nutr Diet. 2020 May;120(5):815-824. doi: 10.1016/j.jand.2019.09.020. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31813756; PMCID: PMC7186144.

  • Versele V, Stok FM, Aerenhouts D, Deforche B, Bogaerts A, Devlieger R, Clarys P, Deliens T. Determinants of changes in women's and men's eating behavior across the transition to parenthood: a focus group study. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2021 Jul 12;18(1):95. doi: 10.1186/s12966-021-01137-4. PMID: 34253197; PMCID: PMC8276457.

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