Those who know me, know I have always been a fairly hefty eater…”dieting” is not really my thing. I exercise a lot and eat healthy most of the day however if I want a sweet or some chips, I will have them and not stress about it. Moderation is the key to happy tummies in our house. If I know we have special dinner plans where dessert or drinks will be served, then I will just eat a salad or lighter lunch so I don’t go overboard with my daily calorie intake. I would rather plan a bit to enjoy my meals instead of restricting myself at every turn or feel so guilty about my actions that I toss in the “daily towel” and throw back another handful of m&m’s to make myself feel better….that can be a vicious cycle.
So I was completely at a loss when after having my son, I literally was annihilating everything in sight. There were days when I just was eating and eating and eating ALL DAY LONG! Like not leaving the couch sort of days. As I was exclusively breastfeeding, most of my time was spent either laying in bed or sitting on my butt with my little love. I loved this time and was focused on nourishing my body in the most wholesome way possible so my milk supply would be maximized. My amazing husband would bring me omelets, pancakes, oatmeal, bowls of pasta, burgers and even went so far as to have healthy snacks prepared for me in the fridge so when I did make it to the kitchen, I didn’t have to do much. Here are some of my favorites…
Many new mamas get fixated on lowering their daily calorie intake and/or also increasing their workout regemin tremendously so as to begin to lose the baby weight. If your plan is to breastfeed, it is imperative to stay within the range of 1800-2200 daily calories, more even if you are exercising or you may see a dwindling of your supply. This may even mean to consume 500 additional calories per day which can see a bit counterintuitive but vital. If you were like me, this really won’t be much of a challenge as you literally won’t stop eating. But that doesn’t mean to grab the fast-food, savory snacks and desserts whenever you can. You want to fill that extra allotment with nutrient dense food that will fill you up, give you energy and stimulate lactation stores. The best way to do that is to eat a variety of foods including lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, a prenatal vitamin and most importantly stay hydrated. Too much sugar, fat or salt in a diet could make your baby prone to obesity later in life. A 2007 study suggests that eating too many empty calories can impair a baby’s ability to control it’s appetite by overstimulating reward centers of the brain which promote junk food cravings as it matures. Let alone what the potential outcomes could be to your baby, eating processed or unhealthy foods are not good for a body that is recovering from such a stressful time. So mamas let go of the idea that we need to immediately get back into our pre baby jeans and enjoy being allowed to have some guiltless indulgence.