The news of the delivery of a newborn is often met with joy and jubilation with many new mothers being advised to eat foods that help increase breast milk. Mums are advised to concentrate on foods that offer maximum value and transfer important nutrients to the growing baby each time they breastfeed.
Foods that help mothers produce enough milk are quite diverse making it important to choose those that are nutritious while avoiding those that only contribute to weight gain. Whereas it is true that exclusive breastfeeding controls weight gain, certain foods when eaten excessively will contribute to weight gain – even though mum is breastfeeding exclusively. We would like to highlight some of these foods. They are commonly consumed apart from the main meals as snacks and will contribute to weight gain if eaten in excess. Mums, remember that the weight piled on may not be easy to lose when the baby stops breastfeeding:
- Pastries – Popular Kenyan junk foods can be placed in this category because of the large amounts of sugar and wheat flour used in their preparation and cooking. Some of these foods include pizza, doughnuts, mandazi among others which are often eaten by breastfeeding mums as part of their regular diet. Although some of these foods can be eaten by new mothers it is important that it is done in moderation.
- Fried foods – Majority of foods that are fried are high in calories which are turned into fat by the body resulting in weight gain. When the oil used in cooking is not in check, it adds on to the existing carbohydrates that are found in a variety of foods. It is therefore advisable to grill or bake foods when breastfeeding to avoid unnecessary weight gain.
- Sugary drinks – It is common to find mothers taking a soda or processed juices to keep hunger at bay when at work or attending events. Most soft drinks sold in the Kenyan market have a lot of sugar, making their regular consumption a contributor to weight gain. To reduce the amount of weight gained from sugary drinks, new mums are advised to take drinking water which is a healthier alternative.
