‘The Pioneer Woman’ Ree Drummond Binged on McDonald’s During Her First Pregnancy

The Pioneer Woman star Ree Drummond gave birth to her first child, Alex Drummond, in 1997. The Food Network cook says she had many cravings during her pregnancy. One restaurant she just couldn’t stay away from was McDonald’s.

Ree Drummond says she tried her best to look ‘sexy’ during her pregnancy

Drummond says she wanted to look “sexy” during her pregnancy because she didn’t want to fulfill the stereotype of a “barefoot and pregnant” country wife. The Accidental Country girl admits she became obsessed with her looks.

“As my girth increased, so did my vanity level, no doubt because I felt the need to overcompensate for the dreaded Frumpy-Barefoot-Pregnant stereotype that had somehow taken root in my mind,” wrote Drummond. “I spent more time primping, scrubbing, and polishing, all in an attempt to look sexy and vibrant at home.”

McDonald’s was all Ree Drummond could think about

Drummond says she tried to stay within the suggested weight guidelines. She became addicted to her doctor’s approval, and she relished the feeling she got every time she went to the doctor’s office and met her goal weight. Drummond would skip breakfast before appointments so that she wouldn’t ruin her streak. Then, once the appointment was over, she would binge on a McDonald’s meal.

“[The doctor’s approval] was like lifeblood being pumped into my veins and satisfied my ever-shallow ambition to be the Hot Pregnant Wife of the Century,” wrote Drummond. “And frankly, it gave me a goal to strive for until the following month’s appointment. Plus, it meant that immediately following my monthly checkups, I got to splurge at McDonald’s.”

Drummond would make sure to schedule her appointments first thing in the morning so that she could reward herself with McDonald’s right after her appointment and eat as much as she wanted. “By the time I made the hour-long drive to the doctor’s office in my hometown and endured the thirty-minute appointment, I was ravenous,” wrote Drummond. “Violently hungry. McDonald’s was the only thing that could satisfy.”

Ree Drummond had an embarrassing run-in with her ex-boyfriend’s mother

The Pioneer Woman says she would rush to McDonald’s as soon as her appointment was over. She would order two breakfast burritos, a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, hash browns, and a large Dr Pepper. “I couldn’t even wait till I exited the parking lot,” wrote Drummond. “Seconds after I’d pull away from the drive-thru, I’d rip into the first burrito and finish it off before even making it to the highway,” wrote Drummond.

Drummond says she would get so hungry that she would stuff the food as far into her mouth as possible and eat quickly. A few weeks later, she was invited to a bridal shower. She happened to bump into her ex-boyfriend’s mother. Drummond says she was dressed very nicely, so she was happy to bump into his mother. She was hoping that word would get back that she looked nice and was doing well. However, his mother mentioned she saw Drummond one day, wolfing down a McDonald’s meal in her car.

“My insides suddenly shriveled, imagining myself violently shoving breakfast burritos into my mouth,” wrote Drummond. “‘McDonald’s? Really?’ I said, trying my best to play dumb. ‘Yes,’ my ex’s mother replied, smiling. ‘You looked a little… hungry!’ ‘Hmmm,’ I said. ‘I don’t think that was me.’ I skulked away to the bathroom, vowing to eat granola for the rest of my pregnancy.”

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