What meal can I make for a breastfeeding mom?

Question

I'm supposed to make a meal to bring to a new mom who's breastfeeding. I've been instructed not to make anything "gassy" or anything with broccoli or garlic, or anything spicy? I'd like to make something that would be easy for her to reheat. What on earth can I make for her? Should I just get takeout, if so what (excluding pizza)? Thanks.

Answer 1

When i had baby #3 and breastfeeding my mom made me chicken noodle soup and bought lots of fresh fruit from the farmers market.I was very thankful for the convenience.Also another friend had sent me a gift basket full of snacks .I have 2 other children and they enjoyed some of the snacks too.

Answer 2

I am a nursing mom - my pediatrician told me that most of those things you have heard are old wives tales. She said the only things to avoid while breastfeeding are alcohol, drugs and caffeine. Everything else is fine. In fact, the new studies indicate that one of the advantages of breast milk is that it does change flavors based on what the mother eats - thus keeping the baby from having the same boring taste day after day, and also promoting better eating habits later on, since the child has already been exposed to variety.

I have heard of some cases where a baby is bothered by a specific food, but this is the exception. I do not limit my diet at all - including spicy foods - and my baby has never been bothered by it. He is healthy and happy - and prefers breast milk to anything else!

That being said, I think the others are right about casseroles - things that freeze well and are easy to reheat were winners in our house.

Answer 3

ANYTHING--no seriously, anything. Every baby is different. Make a lasagna, a casserole, anything. I recently just took over a meal I saw on Rachael Ray--Chicken pot pie w/ out the pie and apple pie ala mode w/out the pie. I made it w/ onions and garlic and it was just fine. Usually, it takes a little bit for a baby to have a sensitivity to certain foods. My kids never reacted to anything. I ate spicy food like hot wings and had onions and garlic all the time. Garlic actually makes babies nurse better. Onions can cause some probs w/ some babies. Make a tatertot casserole--ground beef w/ condensed cream of mushroom soup spread in bottom of casserole dish and top w/ tater tots and bake according to package directions until tater tots are done. That is super nummy. Ask the mom what she wants.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi there. It is really nice of you to be taking a meal over for a new mother. I will tell you that I breast fed all of my babies for over a year and I never ate anything special. I ate all of the things that I normally enjoyed and never had a problem.
Just to be on the safe side I would think that a nice chicken casserole, (one with nice fat noodles in it) would be great. She can warm it up and have it later also. You could fix that good old stand-by, a jello salad with some fruit in it and there you go, a meal.
I really think that too much is made over what a breastfeeding mother can eat and cannot eat. Babies get used to the fact that their mommy's milk does not always taste exactly the same. I think it is helpful to them when they eventually start solid food, they are used to the different flavors.
You could always just ask her what she would like. That would be the obvious way to find out!
Love and Blessings
Lady Trinity~

Answer 5

No take out... make her something super healthy. Pot roast, veggie lasagna, something with lots of veggies and a good balance of carbs and protein. Make a double batch so she can reheat maybe even freeze leftovers for later.

There are no really off limit foods, herbs or spices to a breastfeeding diet. Unless the baby has shown a sensitivity to something. Oddly enough, my daughter would get gas if I ate shredded wheat cereal - yet putting bulgar wheat with our meals, and eating nothing but whole grain bread did nothing to her.

Answer 6

If it isn't too much trouble and you have the time, why not pre-bake some potatoes and put together a little collection of toppings?
Soup is always good for reheating, pair it with some gourmet cold cuts and a loaf of fresh bread.
Tuna salad, egg salad, ham salad, all keep well and don't need reheating at all.
Can you tell I skipped lunch?

Answer 7

Make something that she can reheat later on or freeze for now if she wants to - something that her family can share. Bolognaise sauce, lasagna would be good. Some type of casserole containing meat, and vegies with maybe some rice or pasta would be fantastic. Don't get takeout - make something for her and she will really appreciate the effort you have gone to.

Answer 8

How about a meatloaf or a roast? I breastfeed and broccoli, garlic and spicy stuff doesn't affect my daughter at all. I guess every baby is different in that respect.

You could always do some kind of casserole or pigs in the blanket maybe.

Answer 9

Lasagna, tuna casserole, breakfast quiche.

Breastfeeding moms need to reduce eating some of the things you listed, but not totally avoid them. Make sure the mom has plenty of healthy snacks around. That might even be more beneficial. Fruit, trail mix, cheese sticks, peanuts, yogurt.

Stay away from takeout... its not usually healthy for you.

Answer 10

This is a toughie- can you call her husband/boyfriend or someone close to her to see what she likes? Everyone has personal preferences. A chicken and rice casserole could be nice....... with a mushroom soup type base- not too exotic, but not spicey either.