Hollywood actor Michelle Monaghan hated fruits, but after conceiving, she has turned into a fruit addict. Cravings are a bizarre part of pregnancy. iTALK uncodes the mystery for you

The recently pregnant Michelle Monaghan of Mission: Impossible III fame is experiencing a craving for fruits. "I swear I never ate fruit. But now, I can't get enough of it," says the actor, who loves pineapples and kiwis.
Michelle is not alone.

Most women experience unusual food cravings, when pregnant. Once the baby is born, these cravings usually turn into aversions. Many women also believe they need to eat for two. The fact is that while on an average, a woman requires 1,800-2,000 calories a day, when pregnant, she requires just 300 extra calories to stay healthy and help her child grow.

Here's a crash course on how to eat healthy while you are preggers.

"I used to go crazy craving for Peanut Chikki. And that was strange, because I had no fondness for this chikki before I got pregnant with Aarav."
-Twinkle khanna, Interior designer

What do the cravings mean?
Hormonal changes during pregnancy may alter a woman's sense of taste and smell, making her crave for certain foods. A craving for pickles could indicate low sodium levels in the blood, while craving chocolate may be triggered by a vitamin B deficiency. A craving for red meat may indicate a need for protein, while cravings for peaches might be a result of low beta carotene levels. Sugars found in sweet foods, as well as in breads, pasta and rice, which produce serotonin, make a woman feel good.

How do I deal with them?
To satisfy pregnancy cravings, you should choose healthy options, that can substitute unhealthy foods you crave.
uInstead of ice cream, opt for non-fat frozen yogurt, which will meet your calcium needs without the added calories.
Chocolate can be substituted with non-fat chocolate syrup drizzled on top of fresh fruit.
Candy and sweets may be substituted by dried fruits like apricots, or fresh tropical fruit like mango and pineapple.
Instead of salty snacks, opt for popcorn sprinkled with herb blends or sesame breadsticks with spicy mustard dip.
Instead of sour snacks, squeeze some lemon on your fish.

A recent study on Babycentre .com found:
40% pregnant women list "something sweet", like ice cream, as their No. 1 pregnancy food craving.
33% chose salty food, like cheese snacks.
17% Chose spicy food, like pickles.
Sour or tart foods, such as green apples and lemons, came in fourth with 10%.

Eat frequent meals, avoid salt
Dr Ashwini Bhalerao Gandhi, Consultant gynaecologist, PD Hinduja Hospital
Pregnancy cravings may be due to hormonal changes. Some women crave and eat strange foods like chalk, mud/sand etc. This may be the body's attempt to battle deficiency of calcium and iron. Pregnancy and lactation demand more calories, protein, and increased calcium and iron.
Women should eat frequent, small meals.
They must eat fruit, iron-rich green leafy vegetables, jaggery and dates.
They should drink milk, eat sprouts and fish.
They must avoid excessive salt and oil.

Pregnancy myths vs facts
Myth: Having sex will hurt our baby.
Fact: If you have a low-risk pregnancy, there is no need for abstinence.

Myth: I took some Paracetamol the other day, and I am worried it will affect my baby.
Fact: Most physicians says it's okay to take an occasional analgesic for severe aches.

Myth: My mom says I must not lift anything.
Fact: The right way to lift something is bend your knees, and carry it close to your body.

Myth: I shouldn't exercise when pregnant.
Fact: Feel free to exercise, as long as it does not tire you out.

Eat this >>
Eat raw fruits, vegetables, prunes and whole grains.
Increase your intake of fruits to at least three servings a day. Avoid fruits like papaya, pineapple and grapes.
Increase your intake of raw vegetables like cucumber, carrots and lettuce leaves.
Avoid eating raw sprouts that can leave you gassy.
Drink at least one to two litres of fluid.

Avoid these >>
Avoid greasy, spicy foods as these alleviate acidity.
Try not to eat foods with strong smells, like garlic, onions, to  avoid nausea.
Avoid processed foods like pickles, papads, ketchups, jams, jellies, chocolates, chips and farsan.
Don't lie down immediately after a meal; go for a moderately paced walk.
Don't have too much caffeine.

What did you crave?
Banana milkshakes
Pooja Bedi, Actor
When I was pregnant with Omar, I had an carzy craving for chilled Banana Milkshake. I would gulp down as many as six glasses and still want more.
Misal Pav
Maria Goretti, Former VJ
Sometimes, I craved for a huge buffet breakfast, other days, it was Misal Pav. I also had a weird craving for Idlis from Elco Market in Bandra.