⚠️This fact has been debunked
Research shows that sweets (especially ice cream and chocolate) are the most commonly craved foods during pregnancy, with 40% of expectant mothers craving sweets. Nachos are not mentioned in pregnancy craving statistics as a top craved food. Studies consistently show the top cravings are: ice cream, chocolate, fruits, dairy products, and salty snacks like chips.
Nachos is the food most craved by pregnant women.
Is Nachos Really the Top Pregnancy Craving?
If you've heard that nachos are the ultimate pregnancy craving, you've been fed a cheesy myth. While pregnant women might occasionally dream of that perfect combination of tortilla chips, melted cheese, and jalapeños, nachos don't even crack the top five most-craved foods during pregnancy.
What Pregnant Women Actually Crave
Research consistently shows that sweets reign supreme when it comes to pregnancy cravings. Nearly 40% of expectant mothers report craving sweet foods, with ice cream and chocolate leading the pack. In fact, ice cream holds the crown as the single most commonly craved food during pregnancy.
The runner-up? More sweet stuff—candy, cookies, and sugary treats. After sweets, pregnant women tend to crave:
- Fruits (especially non-citrus varieties)
- Dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt)
- Salty snacks like chips and pretzels
- Starchy carbohydrates (pizza, bread, pasta)
- Fast food
Notice what's missing? Nachos.
When the Cravings Hit
The timing of cravings tells an interesting story. Savory and salty cravings typically strike hardest during the first trimester—which is when nachos, if craved, would most likely make their appearance. But by the second trimester, sweet cravings peak, explaining ice cream's dominance in the craving hierarchy.
Studies tracking pregnancy cravings show that 50-90% of American women experience specific food cravings during pregnancy. That's a lot of midnight snack runs, but very few of them are nacho-related.
The Nacho Myth's Origin
So where did this nacho narrative come from? It's likely a case of memorable anecdote trumping boring statistics. A pregnant woman desperately wanting nachos at 2 AM makes for a better story than "she ate another pint of vanilla ice cream."
Nachos also hit multiple craving categories—they're salty, crunchy, fatty, and often spicy. They satisfy several urges at once, making them a logical choice when cravings strike. But logical doesn't mean most common.
Culture Shapes Cravings
Here's where it gets fascinating: pregnancy cravings vary dramatically by culture. While American women overwhelmingly crave chocolate, pregnant women in Egypt rarely report chocolate cravings at all. Japanese women are more likely to crave rice. Cravings reflect what we're culturally conditioned to desire, not just biological needs.
In cultures where nachos are less common, pregnant women don't suddenly start craving them. This cultural specificity further proves that nachos aren't some universal pregnancy superfood.
The bottom line? If you're pregnant and craving nachos, you're perfectly normal—but you're in the minority. Most expectant mothers are reaching for a spoon and an ice cream container, not tortilla chips and queso. And that's just as valid, even if it's less Instagram-worthy.