“You’re growing a baby, you can eat for two now!”

“Just eat whatever you’re craving, the baby is telling you what it needs!”

Well, what if the baby is suddenly caving a bowl of ice cream? Pregnancy is a new experience in a woman’s life and is likely to come with all sorts of food cravings and aversions; however, it’s also a critical time to pay attention to new nutritional needs for mom and the little one growing inside. Sugary cravings are common, but many women indulge in them by eating highly processed products made from questionable ingredients that put nutrition on the back burner.

To be clear, nutrition can be messy business during pregnancy. You’re constantly pulled between thinking you need to eat what is “right” and listening to your physical and emotional needs- let’s face it, food is founded in health but it’s emotional too! Plus, if you happen to be pregnant during a global pandemic (I’m with you, moms!), you can bet that food choices might be a bit…different right now.

For this reason, to help satisfy a sweet craving in a way that’s balanced with health- which I am certainly experiencing right now in my late second trimester- I am so thankful that products like Beckon Ice Cream are available!

Beckon is a premium ice cream that connects delicious taste with nutritional benefits. Yep, you heard that right! Let me tell you a bit more about why I approve of Beckon ice cream for mama’s to be.

•  Real dairy– Beckon is made with real milk and cream from rBST- hormone free cows. Dairy is a food group that I am constantly chatting about with my pregnant clients because it is a great source of protein, fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E, K), and calcium, all of which are crucial for fetal development. Importantly, full-fat dairy contains high levels of vitamin K2, which is crucial for bone development (hello, you’re creating a whole new skeleton!) and may also increase insulin sensitivity, which is helpful for those at an increased risk of gestational diabetes.

• Lactose-free– proudly displayed on the pint and lid, Beckon is a dairy full, lactose free ice cream. This means that it’s still made with whole, real milk, but has the addition of the lactase enzyme to break down lactose (the naturally occurirng milk sugar). For those with lactose intolerance, Beckon is a great choice, but truthfully lactase is an enzyme that can make digestion easier overall for anyone. While many women who were previously lactose-intolerant often find they can tolerate dairy in pregnancy, that’s not true for everyone, so Beckon is a great solution for those mamas still wanting to enjoy a scoop.

• Sugar content– I’m definitely not going to say that unlimited scoops of ice cream in pregnancy is my dietitian recommendation, but I absolutely do appreciate that Beckon uses clean ingredients, like non-GMO cane sugar and isn’t off the charts in the sweet department. Their vanilla, espresso, and chocolate flavors only have 15 grams of added sugars per ½ cup serving, which is about 3.5 teaspoons, and so can be enjoyed as an occasional treat and still fall within the recommendation to limit added sugars to 6 teaspoons daily for women. I believe that even my mamas with gestational diabetes can enjoy a serving of Beckon mindfully.

As with anything, your health is individual and pregnancy is a time when nutrition counts, but as a dietitian I never expect perfection. Sweets, and ice cream, may be something you enjoyed before and still want to enjoy from time to time during the nine months before your little one arrives. So, I think it’s helpful to recognize that there are ways to mindfully include these foods into your diet, and Beckon Ice Cream can be a great way to do so.

Interested in trying Beckon? You can find them nationally at Whole Foods Markets and Sprouts, as well as in the freezer section of other retailers near you- use their handy store locator to check for the nearest outlet! If you prefer to stay home and let the ice cream come to you, hop over to their website to order pints that will be packed and shipped, arriving on your doorstep ready to be scooped.