When you’re a new mom, it can be hard to know what’s okay to eat and what’s not. You want to make sure that you’re taking care of yourself and your baby, but you don’t want to deprive yourself either. Can you eat fast food while breastfeeding? In this blog post, we will answer all of your questions about eating unhealthy foods while nursing!
Is Fast Food Considered Junk Food?
The answer to this question is a little bit complicated. In general, fast food can be considered junk food because it’s not very healthy. However, there are some exceptions.
Nowadays, many fast-food restaurants offer nutritious menu items that can benefit breastfeeding moms.
The main idea is to choose healthy menu items that won’t sacrifice your or your baby’s nutrition. For example, a grilled chicken sandwich with a side of vegetables is probably a better choice than fried chicken and french fries.
What Is the Nutritional Benefit of Fast Food for a Breastfeeding Mother?
There are a few key nutrients that can be found in these foods that can benefit pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. These nutrients include:
Protein
Protein is important for building and repairing tissues for women and babies, and it can also help boost energy levels. You can usually order a variety of protein options, such as burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries.
Iron
Iron is important for transporting oxygen throughout the body of women and children. It can also help boost your energy levels. It is a good source of iron, especially if you order items that are made with red meat or poultry.
Zinc
Zinc is important for boosting the immune system of the body and repairing the tissues of your children. It can be a good source of zinc.
Calcium
Calcium is important for building strong bones and teeth in the body of a baby.
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is important for boosting your immune system and repairing the tissues of a baby.
What Are the Concerns With Fast Foods While Breastfeeding?
As we mentioned before, fast foods are generally not very healthy. However, there are some concerns that are specific to breastfeeding mothers.
One of the biggest concerns is that fast foods can lead to weight gain. This is because most of them are high in unhealthy fats, saturated fats and calories. If you’re eating them regularly, you may find it difficult to lose weight.
Another concern is that they can affect your nutritious milk supply. This is because some of the ingredients can decrease milk production. If you’re eating fast food regularly, you may find that your milk supply decreases over time.
Finally, they can also affect a breastfed baby. Because the ingredients of this particular food can pass into your milk. If you’re eating fast food regularly, your breastfeeding baby may be at risk for obesity, heart disease, and other health problems.
Eating too many fast foods in a mother’s diet can lead to a poor diet and can affect your baby. A breastfeeding diet should consist of healthy choices instead.
How Often Can a Breastfeeding Mother Eat Fast Foods?
So, how often can pregnant and nursing mothers eat fast foods? The answer to this question depends on a few factors.
If you’re eating them occasionally, it’s probably not a big deal. However, if you’re eating fast food regularly, you may want to consider cutting back, especially for your baby.
This is because frequent consumption of fast food which has a lot of fat and calories in them can lead to weight gain, decreased milk production, and other problems. So you can eat the odd long john silvers when breastfeeding, or even deep fried calamari when nursing. Even the cup of noodles when nursing is ok in moderation, and a sloppy joes while breastfeeding. Whilst it’s better to swap these out, even in moderation these are fine.
Does Fast Food Affect Breast Milk Supply?
There is some evidence that suggests fast food can quality of your milk. It doesn’t give more milk but some of their ingredients can pass into a mother’s milk and has a higher risk of negatively impacting the health of a nursing baby.
If you’re worried about the effects of these foods on your nutritious breast milk, it’s best to avoid eating this type of food in your diet altogether.
Take Away on Fast Food for Nursing Mothers
Eating fast foods while breast feeding milk can have a number of negative consequences for both the mother and child. And eating too much of them can lead to a poor diet.
Nursing moms should practice healthy eating habits and have a well-balanced diet. The perfect diet that can help in maintaining milk supply should consist of little junk food and more normal foods such as fruits and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and nutrition. They have less fat and are low in calories.
While there are some nutrients in fast food that can be beneficial, they are generally outweighed by the unhealthy ingredients. If you want the reduced risk or if you’re concerned about the effects of fast foods on the quality of your milk, the best advice you can get is to avoid eating this type of food altogether.
This article was written by Sandra Baker – full time writer and the mother of four amazing kids (including twins!)
She’s also a breastfeeding counselor and has spent years helping new parents learn how to care for their children. When she’s not writing or caring for her children, Sandra likes to spend time reading and taking walks with her husband.
