Experts claim there is no evidence that cravings for particular foods during pregnancy are related to nutritional deficiencies. In fact, some say they're all in your head. But if you've ever experienced those pregnancy cravings yourself, you know there's nothing imaginary about them! Hormonal changes are probably to blame. The question is, how do you handle these desires, especially when they're for foods you wouldn't normally eat?

The average woman may throw caution to the wind and indulge a little (or a lot!) when she's got a baby on board, but if you're craving a food that you would not normally eat for moral or spiritual reasons, it's a bit more complicated.

"People told me to eat meat analogs ... and they told me to eat meat (of course)," says Caity McCardell, a longtime vegan and mother of two. "One day I was at a restaurant for breakfast with my family. Everyone had huge plates piled high with dripping eggs, pancakes, ham, etc. I started to cry. I was so desperately pregnant and hungry and dying to eat that stuff!"

McCardell stood her ground, and like her, you may find that the cravings lessen as your pregnancy progresses. Surprisingly, her pets helped her through the roughest moments. "I petted my cats," she says. "They reminded me that I didn't need to eat meat."

If you're craving mostly protein foods, try focusing on concentrated vegetarian sources in between meals to take the edge off when you sit down at the table. "I ate a lot of nuts because I was trying to add more fiber," says vegetarian Carmen Curton. "I think they settled any protein cravings I might have had later in the pregnancy."

If you're concerned that a nutritional deficiency may be causing your cravings, don't hesitate to let your doctor know, especially if you feel an urge to eat non-food items.