How do we acquire food cravings?

Our desire for high-caloric nutrition and our food cravings begin in the womb. During the second trimester, a fetus develops the sense of smell and taste.

A fetus can distinguish between different flavors that are passed within aminiotic fluid.

Babies also are born with a preference for sweet tastes, which can follow people and often turns up in adults when food cravings occur.

Hints of the mother's diet can also show up in her breast milk. Experiments done on babies to test their tasting capabilities showed that -- when mothers had recently consumed garlic -- babies drinking breast milk drank it over longer periods of time, as if they were trying to figure out what that garlic was.

The mother's diet can also influence the child's food preferences. The more adventurous a mother is in choosing foods, the more likely the child will have an open mind.

As we grow older, the focus is on the sensory memories we have in relationship to certain foods. Our cravings after all, are only for foods we have had before. If you think your mom made the best meatloaf in the world, a good portion of your bias probably stems from positive feelings you associate with eating that meatloaf with your family.

Psychotherapist Dr. Mike Dow discusses how we acquire food cravings. Watch Dr. Mike Dow's video for information on addiction, food disorders and relationships.