The following question was sent to us via the “Ask Ernie” link on the right. Below is the original question, followed by Ernie’s answer, and a follow-up email. This exchange was a big hit with everyone here at the Dairy, and many of the husbands and wives here can relate to our reader’s dilemma. Enjoy!
CHARLIE F. FROM WINSLOW, NJ WRITES: Ernie, My wife is currently pregnant with our first child, a boy, and everything is going great. Except, she craves ice cream morning, noon and night! The only things she’ll eat are Graham Slam, Chocolate Marshmallow, and Strawberries & Cream. I must buy at least a gallon of each a day, and sometimes I’m running to the grocery store at 11:00 at night to buy more – and there’s never any left for me! My wallet is running on empty and she refuses to eat anything else. What can I do to curb her sweet tooth? Is Turkey Hill hiring so I can afford to keep up with her habit? Is my son going to be born part ice cream? Help!
ERNIE WRITES:
That’s quite a dilemma you’ve got there, Charlie!
Food cravings during pregnancy are mysterious things. Several studies have been unable to explain exactly why women crave certain foods when they’re pregnant, though some suggest that women crave foods that help compensate for certain vitamins and nutrients their bodies are lacking. In this case, your wife might be yearning for calcium (and for you to prove your devotion to her by making late night ice cream runs).
As for curbing her sweet tooth, having been in this situation myself, I’d advise you not to try to intervene too much. An expectant mother who’s unable to satisfy her cravings can create all sorts of other problems and I won’t be able to help you with those.
To eliminate the late night ice cream trips, you might consider keeping a few “emergency” pints of Turkey Hill ice cream in the back of the freezer, just in case you run out halfway through the nightly news and you’re already in your pajamas.You may choose to hide or disguise the pints to preserve their “emergencies only” status, but if she finds out you’re hiding ice cream from her, I can’t be held responsible for the results.
To answer your question about potentially working at Turkey Hill, you’re in luck, because we are hiring at the moment. We’re looking for a 2nd Shift Freezer Team Leader and a 2nd Shift Lift Operator. If you’re interested, feel free to email your resume to careers@turkeyhill.com, though I suspect the commute to Lancaster County from Winslow, NJ might be troublesome for you.
In the meantime, I’ll send you some coupons for some free ice cream to help ease the financial burden until your son arrives. (What’s your address?) I only ask that you consider — just consider — naming him Ernie. It’s a good name if you give it a chance.
Finally, I can assure you, although I’m not a doctor, that your son will not be born part ice cream. However, he might be born with his mother’s intense craving for ice cream. This craving could follow him for the rest of his life, but I suppose there are worse things to be addicted to. Actually, I’m beginning to wonder how much ice cream my own mother ate when she was pregnant with me. That would explain a lot.
Hope this helps. Keep me posted and let me know how things turn out!
Best,
Ernie
CHARLIE’S RESPONSE: My wife found your e-mail first, because we share an account – but luckily she thought it was funny!
Tags: Ask Ernie, cravings, ice cream, pregnancy, turkey hill
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If you’ve got a technical question about the ice cream making process or some other inquiry about the nuances of America’s favorite treat, chances are Ernie has the answer. He might not be able to answer all questions, but he’ll try his best and some may be featured on the Ice Cream Journal.
lol, that’s such a cute e-mail!
Good advice Ernie!
Good luck with your ice cream baby Charlie.
I wish my husband would have brought me ice cream when I was pregnant!!
yum!
What’s the excuse if you not pregnant and you still crave all of that great TH Ice cream ?
this is such a cute story, I am sure that I speak for some of the others, we will all want to know when the baby arrives and what it’s favorite flavor will be.
Good luck Charlie! I know when I was pregnant I craved Peanut butter, ice cream and peanuts…yes, all together!
Aww, that was cute read. I’m a little worried though. What if when I’m carrying I crave seafood. Would I be fishy? Crabby? Hum… I hope I want ice cream….yum!
I always go with my cravings
How cute! Good luck to Charlie, his wife & their new baby.
That’s interesting that a calcium deficiency might reflect w/ a craving for ice cream!
Hahaha…what an adorable story!
I crave ice cream morning, noon and night, and I’m not preggs…:)
Ernie, you are a genius. No wonder you are such an important person at TH.
Good Luck to Charlie and his wife with their baby. She probably is in need of calcium, I know I crave ice cream when I need calcium.
What a great story and it is even more amazing that Turkey Hill stepped up to help the couple not only with free ice cream, but also a job consideration. Just a few more things to make me love Turkey Hill. I really hope they name the baby Ernie.
Too cute!
That just brighten my day reading that story Ernie you did good by me
I just love a story with a happy ending!
Ernie, you are a wealth of information.
i crave and i dont thing its pregnancy
If I get pregnant can I get some free coupons for some ice cream? Because I go through at least a half gallon every other day and if I get pregnant then I will be eating for two ( or 3 with twin or 4…or 5…) and I am already financially strained with undergrad and grad school loans. haha jk. Don’t worry. There are many things I would do to get some free ice cream but getting pregnant is not one! I have my sights set on getting my doctorate degree and then getting married before pregnant. And I can add more in my loans to support my love of ice cream until then!
I read on a website that a craving for ice cream might be your body’s way of telling you that you are low on calcium. Other research suggests that cravings during pregnancy may be hormone related, and that many women also have cravings during different stages of their monthly cycle. Also according to Waterhouse, the foods most frequently craved or preferred by men include hot dogs, eggs, and meat, which are all protein foods, while women reach for chocolate, ice cream, and bread.
That’s a very nice story. I always crave ice cream and I’m a guy.
I think my kids believe that ice cream is a daily dietary requirement.
Ernie that was such a nice thing to do, glad to see that the people at Turkey Hill, are as good and nice as the Ice Cream you make, no wonder it comes out so delicious, its made with Love.
I agree that a craving for ice cream during pregnancy may be the body’s way of dealing with a need for increased calcium. We know that calcium in vitamin form isn’t as well absorbed as from food. Anyway, ice cream always makes me feel more relaxed and happy. It’s a good thing to have during pregnancy, but morning, noon and night is overdoing it!
What a smart answer. I always knew cravings were a “lacking’ your body was tring to make up for but never put calcium with ice-cream. Did she have the baby yet? (Drum roll please ..the name is?)
At least my husband and i arent the only couple who eat ice cream, just ice cream, for dinner.
Ice cream is one of the major food groups in our house!!
I can remember those cravings. When I was expecting our third son the craving was strawberry milkshakes.
I love your ice cream!
we all know who screams for Ice Cream Everyone!!
I remember those cravings!! Mine was for watermelon sherbet! It was 25 years ago but seems like yesterday!
Had a big lunch out, so for dinner what did me and hubby eat?…vanilla bean and chocolate marshmellow ice cream…Turkey Hill, of course!
Looks like the family will enjoy Ice Cream(hopefully Turkey Hill)for years to come.Hope everyone has a great weekend,especially Sundae(ha,ha)!
Yes, great advice, Ernie…the New Era may contact you!!! Good luck to Charlie and his family!!
I have that problem without the pregnant part.
Great question, great answer. Let’s all spend the weekend increasing our calcium intake with Turkey Hill!
My mother said that when she was expecting me, she ate a half gallon of ice cream every night – which explains a lot! The clerk at the store asked if they had a lot of parties!
Don’t be alarmed. This is not aberrant behavior. Everyone craves ice cream in the morning, and all day long for that matter. Some even dream of ice cream all night long just so they can eat it in the morning.
Just pop it on top of a bowl of cereal, and dig in. Your baby-to-be will love it, too.
doesn’t everyone crave ice cream morning, noon and night?
What a considerate husband and of course Turkey Hill is right there to help out. That’s one of the reasons that TH will always be #1.
I ate chocolate ice cream almost every evening before my son was born—and now he loves chocolate ice cream! Go figure!
My brother who is 82 this month wants ice cream morning , noon and night. Yes 3 times a day. Told Dr. about it and he said give it to him, afterall that is what he enjoys and being in a wheelchair and having major problems(heart,Parkinson’s etc) he should have what makes him happy. The only problem is he is getting heavier to push around in the wheelchair LOL. We don’t know how much time we have left with him so I will give him Turkey Hill whenever he wants it. The coupons really are a Godsend, thanks for ramdomly picking my name for the 2 free coupons. So you see, it isn’t only pregnant ladies. Linda
I can no longer have kids but I do eat alot of turkey hill and I could use some of thoes coupons A REAL TURKEY HILL FAN send coupons
You go, girl!! Ice Cream is the “perfect” food, at least in my book!
My young son eats ice cream at least twice per day – he hits up his Nana for it and then me. If only I had his energy to burn it off:)
Ernie, this is Caroline’s hubby. We share this site. Your advice not to intervene during her pregnancy is excellent advice. It also good advice for later in the marriage with menopause. Wifey sometime between dinner and breakfast digs into her TH since I am the one to take out the garbage and almost always find an empty carton of TH in it.
And ice cream didn’t upset my stomach like the dill pickle craving I also struggled with when pregnant!
PREGNANT OR NOT, ICE CREAM ANYTIME IS GREAT!!
I ate chocolate ice cream and potato chips and I had a son who just loves ice cream. Good luck getting some ice cream for yourself,Charlie, you just might get a teaspoon or two !!!
very nice of Mr Ernie to do that–being on Ensure/ice cream shakes 6-8 times a day makes my calcium intake ok—thank you for your fine company–just wish we had more flavors in our area—
My mother craved for Chinese food and ice cream when she was pregnant with me.
I love both!
Love this posting.
I don’t remember if I ate more ice cream during my pregnancies. I know I continued with my nightly mug of ice cream and sorely missed having ice cream while in the hospital on the days the kids were born.
This guy better get ready because thats a sign of triplets on the way.Now he s really going to need alot mor ice cream.
Ernie, Good response.
Too funny
How adorable!!!!
Charlie! Don’t forget to follow up with some pictures of the little bundle when he/she arrives!
I, too have the cravings of Turkey Hill Ice cream, (any flavor) as I am have just entered my 2nd trimester. I even eat it for breakfast before my husband wakes up & protests
! I thought that because of the cravings it is a girl (I didn’t have there cravings with my son), but the e-mail write said that they are expecting a son, so there goes that theory.
Anyway, Ernie, What ever you do, don’t stop production! There are a lot of Pregnant women counting on it!
Ernie, you’re just too funny!!! Your blog is also great for networking icecreamaholics to help each other! I’m a volunteer with Make-A Wish, NJ and Special Olympics. I see that Linda Leffler wrote she has a son with special needs. I would like to grant her son a wish from the Make-A Wish Foundation. Please have her email me @ nnaar@hotmail.com. Thank you Ernie-Keep up the good work!!!
I enjoyed the post, chuckle for the day.
If I had a calcium deficiency I would do the same! (oops I already do!)
Thanks for the story!
I remember my pregnancy-32 years ago! I wish I would have craved ice cream! barbara
Cravings for T.H. ice cream….I get them all the time….and I’m not even pregnant!
)
During both my pregnancies I craved chocolate ice cream. It’s funny because my youngest is 40 and the only time I’ve had chocolate ice cream since then has been if someone served it to me. While I don’t dislike it, I would never buy a package or order a cone of chocolate when there are so many other delicious flavors to choose from.
Very funny – I liked the post! Ice cream is a great food to crave!
Woman after my own heart. There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with eating ice cream for breakfast!
When I was pregnant, all I wanted was chocolate ice cream! I even ate it with fresh peanut butter on top! Now, I just buy Turkey Hill’s chocolate and peanut butter ice cream. It’s the best of both worlds (and the peanut butter is sooo delicious!)
funny!
Never been pregnant but I crave ice cream all the time too! Imagine!
Ice cream is a great thing to crave during pregnancy!
You mean not everyone craves ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner?
Feed her
Ice cream morning, noon, and night what a craving. Try buying her some calcium pills too, maybe then she’d leave some ice cream for you too! Ha Ha not.
Never deny a pregnant woman ice cream!! It could turn ugly. Good answers, Ernie…keep up the good work.
Remember, if mama’s happy everyone is happy! Keep the Turkey Hill ice cream in stock and close at hand. Also, I would have safety stock available at all times for an emergency.
Huh! From the way I remember things each time when I was pregnant this is totally normal.
Totally normal!
I HAD to have vanilla milk shakes when I was preggers…so bizarre with all the great options TH has, and as I only eat vanilla as a complement to pie, brownies, etc, but vanilla it was!
Good advice Ernie…don’t mess with a pregnant woman’s cravings, just play along and everything will be fine, mess with it and you’re on your own!
Aint life SWEET
I remember craving strawberry ice cream in the final month of my first pregnancy 30 years ago, but I also craved Southern pecan pie.
And What is Wrong With That? I Do The Same/Am The Same!
I MUST HAVE MY TURKEY HILL ICE CREAM, MORNING, NOON, NITE, AND THAN SOME!!! 
God Bless Charlie and the baby. That’s a great story. I hope that ice cream is also keeping his wife cool from the summer heat.
I craved Strawberry Twizzlers. Of course, after my son was born I couldn’t look at them for months and months. Congrats to Charlie F. & wife from Winslow, N.J. on your blessed event. Hey Charlie F., Ernie can always be a middle name.
Glad to see so many people agree with Ernie on this one! He took his time answering it since it’s such an important topic!
I craved chocolate marshamallow ice cream before my son was born—24 years ago…and it is still my favorite flavor today…and I must say, I have been known to eat it for breakfasst..
Janet in Ohio
It was so nice of you to send them coupons!!!
I love ice cream. If i was pregnant I would pretend to crave just so I could have it more!
That is one of the most interesting stories of the summer. It was nice to read the response to Ernie’s suggestions.
My wife’s craving for pickles was much cheaper!!
I crave ice cream, but I’m not pregnant.
Give the lady whatever she wants whenever she wants it! She’s carrying a baby inside of her, for crying out loud!!
Really liked the e-mail. Enjoy all the ice cream you want. Having a baby is one of life’s greatest joys. Pamper yourself now because later on you will have to share everything, so sit back and keep on licking away. Good luck.
Thank you for sending them free coupons for Turkey Hill Ice Cream. It just goes to show that Turkey Hill cares about its customers.
Hi ernie,
I have a question to ask you. Have there ever been a ice cream name after a “President” and was it a hit. What was the flavor. What and how was it made?
I usually crave ice cream for my daily snack.
i’m not pregnant but still crave Ice Cream!
This sounds like the old “pickles and ice cream” craved by pregnant women. But I would stick to the ice cream only. I am sure Charlie could use those coupons in his situation. Turkey Hill does so much for so many people.
Calcium YUMMMMY what a good way to boost your level. Ernie you and TH are so good to people. Give Charlie, hie wife and their unborn child lots of free icecream! it is a good way to build your cutomer base from the womb on up!
Let them eat cake.
Good luck to all the pregnant women out there and enjoy your cravings and try to satisfy them to the best of your abilities. Of course Turkey Hill is ALWAYS the best
When I was pregnant I crave certain foods. I have one daughter who has iodine reactions, seafood craving.
Another one is lactose tolerance.So be carefull what you crave. It is as they say from lack of vitamins and minerals that we crave certain things.
But I do crave ice cream in the summer months.
What does it mean if I am not preggie and still get these late night , early morning, mid-day ice cream cravings ?
Very entertaining e-mails.
I’m glad that they were sent some coupons, way to go Turkey Hill!
I love your ice cream, its my favorite brand, especially chocolate mint chip.
I crave ice cream–hopefully not for the same reason. Hope everything turns out just perfect!
I CRAVED ICE CREAM ALSO.. WITH MY FIRST SON. AND HE CAME OUT WITH HUGE SHOULDERS, A NATURAL BORN FOOTBALL PLAYER. I THINK IT WAS ALL THE DAIRY.
What a great (and funny!) story. Best wishes to Charlie and his “Ice Cream Monsters!” :O
I love me some ice cream, no matter what season it is!!
i love your Strawberry ice cream!
Love all your ice cream with the fruit!
I loved when I was pregnant and could use that as an excuse for all the ice cream I consumed. Now I need new excuses!
My Mom always craves ice cream, but when she was pregnant with my youngest brother, she had a strong craving for ice cubes. She ate them by the trayful! And I mean chomping on them and chewing the solid ice pieces. Our freezer had trouble making the cubes fast enough! My brother, luckily, does not have a compulsion to chew ice, and after my Mom gave birth, she no longer craved it. Weird!
Enjoyed the story. My prayers are with you and your family at this special time. Let us know when the baby is born.
Ernie-
Our family just tried the Movie Night Ice Cream and simply loved it !!!!!!!! I
wonder, since you have all the genius’ working at Turkey Hill developing these terrific products, is that why our government is in such bad shape ????
do all women crave ice cream and pickles when tey are pregnant or am i the only one