11 Weeks Pregnant & Developed an Aversion to Meat?!

Updated on August 24, 2011
C.W. asks from Oviedo, FL
28 answers

This is by far the strangest thing so far. Im on my second pregnancy (my daughter is 5) and this has been quite different from the first one in many ways. Im tired all the time where I had a lot of energy with my 1st. My cravings are coming on a lot faster and Im showing faster too. But for the last couple of weeks, and this has been coming on slowly; I have a strange aversion to meat! It started with ground beef, moved to steaks, and now chicken & fish. Oddly enough, I cant get enough of eggs, any style. I was in Publix earlier shopping & just looking into the meat counter gave me waves a nausea. I was on a low key form of Atkins for about a year and lost a lot of weight so Im acclimated to meat and always loved a good steak. Its kind of disheartening b/c Ive always been a protein eater and Im not really a pasta person but every once in awhile.Has anyone else experienced this? And does anyone have any meat-free recipes they might want to share? Thanks!

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So What Happened?

Thanks for your stories mammas!! Im hoping this is just a phase and I can eat a steakhouse style cheeseburger once again! You all are so great-and I will pass it on to my hubby that many suggest this may mean we are having a boy-should make him happy lol.

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R.S.

answers from Tampa on

Actually had the same problem. I didn't want to eat steak while I was pregnant, then I didn't want to eat chicken for several months after I had my daughter, and then it back back to normal :) It was hard, but finding different recipes helps. Good Luck!

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L.B.

answers from Fort Walton Beach on

Looks like you've already gotten a lot of reesponses but i've had serious meat aversions with both my pregnancies (both girls). It lessons after the first trimester sickness and then comes & goes, but went away totally after the first pregnancy so i'm thinking it'll go away again once this one is born.
Mine also seems to get worse when i'm feeling that extreme tiredness/exhaustion of pregnancy (also worse at the first for me). It helps a lot if I have someone else cook the meat, then sometimes once it is cooked & I haven't handled it I can eat a small portion just to keep up iron & protein levels. Other than that I load up on eggs, peanut butter & spinach for iron & protein. Good Luck!!

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V.B.

answers from Miami on

I had an aversion to chicken when I was pregnant with my first. I tried to overcome it (just kept telling myself it was mind over matter), but just COULD NOT eat grilled chicken. I have no idea what causes it and I didn't have it with my second pregnancy, but once I delivered, it went away. Good luck and congratulations!

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S.B.

answers from Houston on

Both of mine were chicken! Couldn't be around it smell it cook it nothing. WIth #2, I couldn't get enough steak! I would have had it raw! But no chicken. My husband said we haven't eaten so well since #2 in the steak department. At the end, snickers with #1 was yummy and tootsie rolls with #2. Yummy! Funny how your taste buds change during pregnancy!!

1 mom found this helpful

A.G.

answers from Houston on

Thats a good thing! Meat is awful garbage nobody needs...imo. As far as recipes are concerned check out the book "Vegan with a vengeance"

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S.S.

answers from Miami on

I would check this out with a NAET provider. Your body is rejecting things because of emotional reasons. That is why people develop allergies to foods. Your baby will be allergic to the things you crave (eggs) and might not like the texture of meats. There is always emotional baggage carried to the baby through the mother's experiences. Take care of it now while you can balance it out safely. If not, the baby can have sensory issues centered around speech and eating. Once Mama gets balanced=Baby balanced.

C.A.

answers from New York on

My sister in law was that way with her daughter. She just didn't want anything to do with meat. It turned her stomach. During that time she turned to veggie burgers. In the beginning of this pregancy (I am 33 weeks now), the smell of hamburger made me sick to my stomach. But that passed. I know that they say not to eat hotdogs unless they are steaming, but with my daughter they made me really sick. Not only to eat them but to smell them. And the funny part is my daughter LOVES hotdogs. Also with this pregnancy I had morning sickness so bad that I just didn't eat. I could eat a few crackers and I felt like I ate a 12 course meal. It was horrible. I ended up loosing 20 lbs so far. The dr is not worried about the weight loss cause I am over weight as it is. The baby is developing fine.
Every pregnancy is different. As I found out the hard way. My first was so easy other then the severe heartburn. I ate tums like they were C.. I have heartburn this time but not as bad. But everything else was different and alot more difficult. I really don't know of any meatless recipes since I never had any problems eating meat. Wishing you lots of luck and congrats on your little one.

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

I was like that when I was pregnant.
All I wanted was junk. I thought our son was going to be born with a Snickers bar in O. hand and a Code Blue Slurrpee in the other.
More than cravings, I had food aversions. Meat. and LARGE quantities of food--big portions or buffets.....

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L.L.

answers from Topeka on

You might be having a BOY...All these symptoms came on suddenly when I was prego with my son he was the worst I was sick for an entire 7 months before things starting to get better.I ate lots of fresh fruit & veggies to my licking salads with tossed almonds & however you like them carvings oh my began to show early with him & was huge till delivery,I was always tired no matter what during pregnancy the energy part was never there.I did eat lots of cereal all kinds,hot oat meal,had gum,jolly ranchers,mints,lemon drops to suck on all the time now there are Preggo Pops an all natural releif from the upset stomach & nausea.What my OB told me eat & drink what you like enjoy being pregnant at the times where you only crave french fries & coke then make sure you eat better next time.Being pregnant we want to eat right nourish our bodies to the fullest somethimes that doesn't go so well.

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L.C.

answers from Tampa on

This happened to me with my most recent pregnancy (and my only girl). I had an extreme aversion to chicken and couldn't tolerate anything like that either (pork, turkey, or any big hunks of meat). Everyone told me it would go away after delivery but it hasn't! She's 9 months old and I don't think I'll ever be able to eat chicken again.

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R.C.

answers from Sarasota on

I was adverse to chicken. I can still remember how bad it smelled/looked to me! (I had a girl that pregnancy, btw.) I did what a lot of other suggested--eggs, yogurt, beans and also high protein cereal (GoLean is good) and veggie burgers. Also, hiding it in stuff worked okay.

Hope it goes away for you soon!

J.S.

answers from Chicago on

Yup. Totally normal. With my second pregnancy, I could not eat eggs or chicken. I couldn't even look at them - especially raw. Made me sick!

As they say, this too shall pass....you'll be back to eating meat in no time!

A.G.

answers from Pocatello on

yeah that happened to me with my first pregnancy. I couldn't even go into the grocery store without gagging at the smell of all the raw meat. It lasted my whole pregnancy. I would try to eat meat but it would just make me vomit so I didn't eat any for the rest of my pregnancy. After I gave birth I was able to start eating it again slowly. I can't really remember what I ate instead. i did like eggs so I ate them, salads, pasta, potatoes, cereal, beans. Like bean and cheese burritos etc.

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K.U.

answers from Detroit on

I really couldn't stand meat at all for the first 5 months of my pregnancy, and I love a good steak too. I was okay with chicken, if it was diced up in a sauce (like Chinese food) but the idea of eating steak or a hamburger or a pork chop just made me ill. When I broke the news to my cousin that I was pregnant, one of the bits of advice that she told me was that whatever food I couldn't stand right now, I would some day like again - and she was right!

Maybe meat won't bother you as much if it's something that is sort of hidden in something saucy, like ground beef or turkey in pasta sauce. You could always try tofu as well. At least the eggs are a good source of protein so you could always just stick with those instead!

BTW, I had a girl. So I don't know if meat aversion means you are having a boy or not! Good luck! :)

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D.N.

answers from Chicago on

Oh yeah. I have very little appetite during pregnancy. My last one and now this one, you can keep the meat. I normally am not a big bread person but like last time, you can keep the bread thanks. Sweets even taste weird, chocolate does not taste right.
And it is really hard to cook for a family when all types of meat, even fish, do not seem good to you. We had fish last night and I was done with it after a bite.

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R.A.

answers from Boca Raton on

I don't consider this strange, I would consider this a good thing, your body is creating a life right now, think about it. So while creating a life, your body is rejecting the idea of eating death which so obviously is what eating flesh is: cow, chicken and fish all die to be on the plate, not by choice either.

This is a perfect time to read up on healthy things to eat. I know you mention protein but the protein myth was created by the meat industry. Unless you're a big bodybuilder, you do not need as much protein as you are lead to believe. That being said, I know several vegan body builders Robert Cheeke being one. Not to mention, did you know that Mike Tyson has become vegan and Bill Clinton has adopted a plant based diet? Protein needs can easily be met through grains, veggies, nuts, seeds, legumes, etc.

Calcium needs are much better met through sesame seeds, green leafy veggies (which you should also eat to produce good nourishing milk for your baby once born) and seaweeds. Wakame, nori (used for sushi) are rich in many minerals: iron, iodine, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, b vitamins etc. Sushi is easily made at home with brown rice and whatever veggies you'd like.
Have you tried tempeh? It's a fermented soy which is much healthier than tofu and it's got b12 in it. Miso is another great thing to add to your diet. Rich is all sorts of nutrients you need, keeps your blood sugar levels even and tastes great. There are many types too, also helps with nausea and sickness.

Also, stay away from sugars as they rob the body of essential nutrients.
Weight loss is created by altering diet to a healthier balance. Take away processed foods, flours and switch to whole grains, no dairy as it makes you fat (dairy is a source of growth, females create this to nourish their offspring, cow milk for calves, human for our babies, elephant for calves, etc) and sugar makes you fat too.
Eat a diet filled with fresh whole grains, lovely different veggies, nuts, seeds, beans, and some fruit and you will be happy, healthy and trim.
What type of recipes are you interested in? What flavors do you like? The Physician's Committee For Responsible Medicine has some great resources. Here are their recipes:
http://www.nutritionmd.org/recipes/advanced_search.html

http://www.vrg.org/nutrition/pregnancy.htm

http://www.vegfamily.com/vegan-pregnancy/index.htm

good luck and pm me if you'd like for info, I'll gladly help out!

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K.R.

answers from Spokane on

UGH, chicken made my stomach turn during my first pregnancy, and that was the only thing I knew how to cook well! :(
I couldn't eat it, smell it, look at it, and as the pregnancy progressed even think about it!
I also craved junk, the smell of hot dogs made my mouth water but I was super strictly following the "food" rules to avoid another miscarriage.
Unfortunately, I don't have any meat free recipes for you except for pasta dishes! Sorry

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C.D.

answers from Chicago on

I know several people who developed an aversion to meat when they were pregnant, and almost all of them had boys! Not making a prediction, just an observation! ;)

There are tons of vegi recipes out there, just google your favorite vegi and tons will pop up! Maybe a bean/vegi chili or vegi fajitas with guacamole...mmmm Im a hungry prego over here too!

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D.B.

answers from Madison on

I'm 32 weeks pregnant and still can't tolerate meat very well. I feel much better when I try to get 70 grams of protein a day. I use cliff bars, eggs, protein shakes, soy yogurt (sometime I make a smoothie with yogurt/soy milk, protein powder and frozen strawberries) and soy milk to to get my protein. I'm dairy free, hence all the soy - but soy milk does have a ton protein and it's good. I also eat shirtaki tofu noodles - let me know if you want more information on how to cook them.

J.X.

answers from Los Angeles on

very common. I'm not a big meat eater to begin with and didn't like it while pregnant. My mid western SIL eats it most meals and could not tolerate it while pregnant. Just keep in mind that the notion of eating meat for protein is really old school. There is protein in rice, bread, vegetables, beans, not to mention dairy. Just eat healthy, there's enough protein in vegetarian food to supply yours and babies needs.

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A.C.

answers from Detroit on

I hated beef of all forms when I was pregnant. It made me feel really naseous. A friend gave me humus at her house during that time, and I loved it! So I ate a lot of humus while I was pregnant. (I'm pretty sure humus is good protein).

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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

It is normal. I couldn't eat beef, whole eggs, coffee, bananas, tomato products and dill pickles. My menu consisted of Miracle Whip (no yolk), tomato sauce with a vinegary taste (could eat ketchup), bananas and coffee had to wait until she was born. It has been in the last five years that I have been able to eat pickles and recently the dill pickles (she is 34 years old).

So you are not alone with the meat thing. When I was little my mom used to tell me that when I got pregnant I would not be able to eat eggs. I don't know the reasoning behind the comment as she passed early on in my life.

My cravings were for watermelon and Taylor Ham porkroll (an east coast thing). The problem was that I was in Quebec in the winter and no watermelon and I wasn't going to pay customs on a food product which probably would not be allowed into the country. I did make homemade apple pies and tried to eat the whole thing at a sitting (lasted about three weeks) which had its own ramifications. Oh, then when I went in to have her I wanted a Whataburger with the works. Go figure that one.

You are not alone.

The other S.

T.C.

answers from Dallas on

This is very common. it's happened with each of my pregnancies. I do get my desire for meat back further on. And, in the first trimester, while meat wants to make me puke - I never eat chicken (I WILL puke with that), but if I force myself to eat a hamburger, it'll give me a ton of protein...and it doesn't actually make me feel better, but if I don't eat the meat, and I eat something else (especially if it's very carby), I will feel AWFUL. So, I make myself eat meat in the first trimester. I don't typically eat out, but in the first trimester, that's the only type of beef i can keep down.

As I go further in my pregnancies, my taste for meat comes back. It's totally normal. Most women I know have an aversion, actually! It sounds like it was your first pregnancy that was abnormal;-) If you eat pasta instead, you might find that you feel even worse. Protein is very important in pregnancy...which is why I forced what I could, even if it was fast food protein! Now at 33 weeks prego, I'm back to completely homemade meals (and have been for a while). But it was worth it at the beginning.

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S.F.

answers from Utica on

I am currently 14 weeks pregnant and this is also my 2nd. I had and still have so many food aversions that I didnt have with my first. I actually had a difficult time eating anything for the first few weeks but thankfully I have my appetite back again. But I do feel you on the aversions. It sucks when you want to "want" to eat something that you normally like and your body is saying no way
Hang in there it should get better soon
Good Luck and Congrats

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J.K.

answers from Dallas on

When I was pg with my 1st anytime I even said the word "Meatloaf" I would dry heave...and I LOVE meatloaf. Same thing as Ranch Dressing and broccoli with my 2nd pregnancy. I love Ranch and broccoli, but, it just tasted disgusting when I was pregnant. HOWEVER, with my 2nd I craved DIRT! I never ate it, even though a big bowl of potting soil sounded so appetizing.

Those darn pregnancy hormones!

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R.F.

answers from Dallas on

How are you with meat alternatives like soy and tofu? You can make a protein packed chili with crumbled soy meat, or soy tacos. Tofu stir fry...
Eggs for dinner - make omlettes or a frittata with lots of veggies (especially spinach for iron). My mom used to make scrambled eggs with Kosher salami (not quite as 'meaty' as steak and whatnot).

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M.P.

answers from Raleigh on

I never had a meat aversion, but I couldn't smell or drink coffee for the first 6-7 months, and that was really hard because I am a coffee junkie!

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C.N.

answers from Baton Rouge on

When I was pregnant, I couldn't stand to be in the same room as a piece of meat. I lived on fruit and vegetables.
For protein, I ate peanut butter, cheese, eggs, beans.

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