Can I Eat Pizza While Breastfeeding? (The Truth About Eating Junk Foods While Nursing)

Moms are constantly being told that they need to eat healthy while breastfeeding in order to provide the best possible nutrition for their baby.

But what about those times when you just really want a piece of pizza?

Can you indulge every once in a while, or are you going to damage your milk supply?

The answer is yes! You can absolutely eat pizza while breastfeeding. In fact, there are a few reasons why eating pizza might even be a good idea in moderation!

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Can I eat Domino’s Pizza while breastfeeding?

It’s perfectly fine for nursing moms to enjoy the occasional slice of pizza, but there are some things to keep in mind when eating this food.

Pizza is a relatively healthy food that can be enjoyed as long as your baby isn’t allergic or sensitive to dairy products.

In general, lactating women should avoid foods with high levels of saturated fats such as cheese and fatty meats toppings.

One slice of pepperoni pizza has over half your daily recommended amount of saturated fat at 6g per serving (1 slice). This makes up around 33% of your total calories from fat in one meal!

To reduce the amount of saturated fats eaten on any given day, stick with vegetables and lean meats like chicken or turkey rather than red meat toppings.

You may also want to try a whole-wheat crust for your pizza.

Can I eat Papa John’s Pizza while breastfeeding?

Again, the answer is yes! But again, there are some things to keep in mind.

Papa John’s pizza is a bit higher in unhealthy saturated fats than Domino’s pizza.

One slice of their cheese pizza has around 11 grams of fat, including nearly six grams of saturated fat.

That’s about a third of your daily recommended intake for saturated fat.

Like Domino’s, Papa John’s also offers healthier alternatives like their veggie pizza which has no cheese and is lower in unhealthy fats.

Can I eat delivery pizza while breastfeeding?

Again, the answer is yes.

Delivery pizzas can be high in unhealthy fats, salt, and sugar.

One slice of delivery pizza can have up to 20 grams of fat, including eight grams of saturated fat. That’s more than half your daily recommended intake for saturated fat.

They can also be high in sodium, with one slice containing up to 800 mg of salt.

This is more than a third of your daily recommended intake for sodium. And most delivery pizzas are loaded with sugar, with some containing up to 30 grams per slice.

You need to produce nutritious breast milk and whilst everyone loves pizza, it’s not a great source of the vital nutrients your baby needs.

What about other junk foods? Can I eat those while breastfeeding too?

You can certainly indulge in these junk foods every once in a while, but you need to be mindful of your diet if you want to produce enough breast milk for your baby.

The answer to this question depends on the type of junk food in question.

Some unhealthy foods, like candy bars and potato chips, are high in fat and sodium and should be avoided by nursing moms.

Other unhealthy foods, like French fries and cake, are high in sugar and should also be avoided.

We’ve looked into some popular foods like can you eat Chinese when nursing or should you eat ice cream when breastfeeding for more detailed guidance on what to look for and what to avoid.

If you’re looking for an occasional snack that’s not too unhealthy, try some grapes, fruit or baby carrots.

These healthy snacks will give you the energy you need without filling you up with unhealthy fats and sugars and should not affect your baby.

Does pizza cause gas in breastfed babies?

Pizza dough is made with flour, which can induce flatulence in newborns.

Aside from gluten, the dough may also contain salt, sugar, and a lot of oil.

The oil contains fat that the enzymes in your baby’s digestive system cannot handle efficiently. The combination of gluten and oil can also induce bloating and gas in adults.

However, all babies are different and some may be more sensitive to certain foods than others.

If your baby seems to be gassy after you’ve eaten pizza, try avoiding this food for a while and see if it makes a difference.

If it does seem to make baby gassy, then you may want to avoid eating pizza while breastfeeding.

Pizza also contains dairy products and tomato sauce, both of which can be a source of intolerance or allergies in babies. It’s always useful to keep a food diary of the food a breastfeeding mother eats.

A baby’s digestion process is still developing, so it’s important to be mindful of what you’re feeding them. You don’t want their first food experiences to be filled with discomfort and pain.

Does pizza increase breast milk supply?

There is no evidence that suggests eating pizza increases breast milk supply.

In fact, if you’re eating Papa John’s or Domino’s pizza often, you could be consuming too much unhealthy saturated fat which could have negative consequences for both you and your baby.

If you are looking for foods to help you produce more milk then consider drinking coconut water which helps produce more milk. If you are not keen on coconut water then try oat milk for increased milk supply.

Whilst nursing mothers can afford to have more calories than an average adult, it needs to come from a balanced diet.

A nursing mom needs to consume plenty of leafy green vegetables and other healthy foods to ensure she is getting enough nutrients in her breastfeeding diet.

If you need help producing more milk or are having breastfeeding problems speak to a medical professional or a lactation consultant for advice, or have some lactation brownies or lactation teas to help increase your milk.

Low Down on Eating Pizza When a Breastfeeding Mother

Eating pizza when you are breastfeeding is something that all mothers have to evaluate.

If your baby seems to be gassy after eating pizza, try avoiding this food for a while and see if it makes a difference.

If it does seem to make baby gassy, then you may want to avoid eating pizza while breastfeeding.

Your breast milk composition will not be negatively affected by eating pizza, but do try to avoid overeating and making it a regular habit.

Breastfeeding mothers need plenty of leafy green vegetables and other healthy foods in order to ensure she is getting enough nutrients in her diet – so consider cutting down on the junk food!