A nurse is completing a prenatal assessment for a 30-year-old client at 26 weeks gestation. The client reports frequently craving and eating small amounts of laundry starch. Which of the following additional findings would most strongly support a diagnosis of Pica?

A. While a history of disordered eating can influence dietary behaviors, avoidance of dairy does not indicate Pica. Pica specifically involves consuming non-food substances, not simply avoiding certain foods. B. Craving spicy or specific flavored foods is common in pregnancy due to hormonal changes and altered taste perception. This behavior does not meet the diagnostic criteria for Pica, as no non-nutritive substances are consumed. C. Persistent ingestion of non-food items such as starch and dirt defines Pica. The compulsive and repetitive nature of these cravings supports the diagnosis, which is often associated with nutritional deficiencies like iron or zinc deficiency. D. Food preferences and aversions are typical in pregnancy and reflect normal changes in appetite. A preference for high-carbohydrate foods is not indicative of Pica since it involves normal, nutritive items.