The old notion about pregnant people and pickles, especially pickles with ice cream, isn't just an old wives' tale. The influx of hormones that occur in pregnancy can cause intense pregnancy food cravings, as well as heightened food aversions (via Northwestern Medicine).
In early pregnancy, there is a rapid increase in estrogen and progesterone, and that's what causes nausea and vomiting. As you ease in your second trimester, your body gets used to the added hormones and the morning sickness usually goes away. That's typically when the cravings begin and some think that it's the body's natural way of replenishing nutrients lost during the first trimester.
There's another theory that since your taste changes, you may simply just not be tasting food correctly. According to Healthline, during pregnancy, 76% of pregnant women report strange tastes and 26% feel as though they have a lower ability to taste salt the way they did before they got pregnant. Consequently, during pregnancy, the foods we crave most are those that have strong flavors. So things that are salty, sweet, or even bitter can be desired.
