Are you a tired, always on the go breastfeeding mama? Are you struggling to find healthy snacks during this crazy stage of life? We’ve been there, and we’re here to help! We’ve rounded up some of the most delicious and easy snacks in our quick snacks for breastfeeding guide!
Between running to the grocery store, taking one kid to soccer practice, another one to dance, catching up on laundry and everything else us moms do, we often end up making not-so-great nutritional decisions. Whether it’s reaching for a couple of chips to hold us over in between errands, or even worse, forgetting to eat at all. Breastfeeding takes a toll on the body and it is super important to keep fueling yourself for optimal physical and mental health.
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Did you know a breastfeeding mom can burn between 380-600 calories a day just from breastfeeding? We hear so much about a pregnancy diet, but what about a breastfeeding diet? A breastfeeding diet is a balanced diet. Even though our little one is no longer in our tummy, it’s still important to eat healthy since we are still providing nourishment for our little babe. Some of the best foods for breastfeeding include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and iron-rich foods.
Consuming at least three servings of fruits and vegetables a day is recommended for a breastfeeding mama. Fruits and vegetables harbor important vitamins that are necessary for healthy cell function and cell division to keep your little one grows. Cauliflower is one of our favorite vegetables because it’s so versatile (cauliflower pizza crust, cauliflower rice, etc) and it has its very own recipe in our healthy snacking guide.
Whole grains are a great food source during this period as well. Choosing complex carbohydrates (quinoa, brown rice, oats) rather than simple carbohydrates (white bread, pretzels, potato chips) will slow down digestion, yet still, provide you with energy to fuel your busy day.
You can’t go wrong with healthy fats either! Healthy fats like avocado, nuts and seeds, hummus, and olive oil keep you full. Healthy fats also contain antioxidants like vitamin E to keep you and baby healthy. Make sure to check out the avocado toast and chocolate avocado chia pudding recipes in our snack guide. It’s basically the chocolate pudding of your dreams!
Iron is one of the many important nutrients necessary during breastfeeding. Iron is needed to transport oxygen throughout the body and supports the immune system in fighting infection. Some yummy, iron-rich foods are spinach, garbanzo beans, quinoa, chicken, strawberries, dried fruit, and dark chocolate. Yes, dark chocolate!
A balanced diet is definitely achievable during this time period. Consuming fruits and vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and iron-rich foods will keep you and your babe going strong! A few healthy recipes, a grocery list, and a little prep can go a long way.
Putting together quick, yet healthy snacks can seem like a big struggle. It’s so easy to reach for the bag of chips when running out the door, but having a healthy snack prepped and ready to go will help you make better snacking choices. We know to find healthy recipes that are quick and support healthy lactation can be a headache which is why we created a guide full of quick and easy, healthy snacks for breastfeeding!
Don’t worry we’re equipping you with both savory and sweet snack ideas. Most of the snacks take less than 15 minutes to prepare and can be enjoyed by the whole family.
