Giving Up Gluten for Breastfeeding Moms

Written by Stacy Spensley

The last thing you want to hear as a breastfeeding mom is that you can't eat something. You probably want to eat everything! You're legitimately eating for two right now.

But if your baby is showing symptoms of a reaction to something in your diet, you're also probably willing to do anything to make it better. Dietary changes are tough, especially on top of being a new mom, but here are some tips that can help make the process easier.

While there are several common foods that can prompt an elimination diet, today we'll start with gluten. It's a bit of a buzzword nowadays, but it's more than a weight loss trend. Gluten can be tough on your baby's tummy.

WHAT IS GLUTEN?

Gluten is simply the protein found in wheat and other grains than can cause inflammation. Note that the root of gluten is "glue," and that's no accident. Gluten is what makes bread dough stretchy and elastic.

When moms eliminate gluten from their diets, many see results in a week or two, but some may take longer. Eating "limited" gluten won't make a difference - if it is affecting your baby’s digestive system, it really has to be all cut out to make sure.

WHAT CONTAINS GLUTEN?

The big one is wheat - all varieties. In addition, wheatberries, durum, emmer, spelt, semolina, farina, farro, graham, Kamut, einkorn, rye, barley, triticale, malt, and brewer's yeast. Cross-contamination can also be an issue, especially with oats. It's recommended to avoid bulk bins in case of cross-contamination and to look for certified, tested gluten-free products.

The major categories of gluten-containing foods are bread, pastry, pasta, crackers, baked goods, breading/batter for frying, roux-based soups, sauces and gravies, flour tortillas, and beer. Other less obvious foods are soy sauce and sushi, pre-seasoned meat, salad dressings and marinades (often wheat is used as a thickener), seasoned potato chips, granola or energy bars, and some candy.

The Celiac Disease Foundation has a more in-depth list and a longer explanation of cross-contamination if you're interested.

Does that sound like every food ever? I promise it isn't.

SO WHAT CAN I EAT?

Fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, beans, legumes, and nuts, and other grains are all naturally gluten-free. If you buy prepared versions you should check labels, but the plain versions are safe.

Which grains and flours specifically are OK? Rice, cassava, corn, soy, potato, tapioca, beans, sorghum, quinoa, millet, buckwheat (also called kasha), arrowroot, amaranth, teff, flax, chia, yucca, nut flours, and gluten-free oats.

Again, here are more details from the Celiac Disease Foundation.

The safest bet is usually cooking from whole ingredients. But you also have a newborn, and you're hungry. The upside to the gluten-free trend is that there are also tons of gluten-free products on the shelves, and many restaurants actually have a gluten-free menu, or note gluten-free dishes to make it easier for you.

HOW DO I GET STARTED?

First, make a list of all the things you already eat that are gluten-free.  Then you have a foundation for some familiar meals to cycle through.

Next, check your cupboards to see what you can't eat. Some people find it easier for their whole family to go gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination (think toast crumbs in the butter, or dipping crackers straight into the hummus). Read labels carefully.

Many people find it less overwhelming to start with substitutes. Switch to gluten-free pasta, gluten-free cereal, gluten-free pizza crust, gluten-free sandwich bread, there are even gluten-free bagels. The downside is that they do cost more, but sometimes mama needs a (gluten-free) cookie. It's a tradeoff.

Another approach is just to avoid dishes that are normally wheat-based. If you normally have cereal for breakfast, have eggs or a smoothie. Instead of a sandwich for lunch, have soup and a salad (no croutons!). Try polenta instead of pasta.

For most people, something in the middle works well. If you really want pizza, splurge on gluten-free crust and feel like a relatively normal person. Most GF sandwich bread isn't great, so finding an alternative may be better than feeling disappointed (especially at $7 a loaf). Most gluten-free flour blends also contain binders like xanthan and guar gums which aren't inherently bad, but can upset some people's stomachs.

WHAT ARE SOME COMMON MISTAKES?

At home, make sure you have a gluten-free prep area. Toasters are a major source of cross-contamination. It's not like it will kill you, but you don't know how much contamination it takes to affect your baby.  If the rest of your family still eats gluten, you can't share a jar of peanut butter. Either scoop out a portion before spreading on anything, or get your own jars and label them clearly.

At restaurants, don't be afraid to ask about gluten-free options from the start. There can be hidden ingredients in many sauces and marinades that you don't expect. Or seek out restaurants that advertise GF options to make it easier on yourself.

Don't give up too soon. Like I mentioned above, it can take several weeks for the gluten to completely clear your system, but that doesn't mean it's not making a difference.

BUT HOW DO I MAKE IT THROUGH A WHOLE WEEK?

Again, Celiac Disease Foundation to the rescue with a 7-day gluten-free meal plan.

I highly recommend meal planning. You can download a weekly menu planning template here. For recipes, Pinterest is an amazing resource, and the app is easy to use on your phone while you're nursing. I have several boards full of gluten-free recipe ideas.

Just having a roster of recipes can make a difference. Then you have a gluten-free menu to choose from when planning your meals. I even make a list of snacks so if I get hungry I don't even have to think. Stocking your pantry and fridge with foods you can actually eat makes the experience much easier.

A FEW MEAL IDEAS

Here are some basics for each meal to give you some ideas.

Breakfast: scrambled eggs or an omelet, green smoothies, GF oatmeal, breakfast hash, chia pudding parfait

Lunch: soup and salad, tacos (corn tortillas), GF pasta, lettuce wraps, quinoa salad

Dinner: "Paleo-style" burgers (no bun, just wrapped in lettuce) with fries, stir-fry with gluten-free soy sauce, burrito bowls, polenta with roasted veggies, grilled chicken or fish with veggies and rice

Snacks: trail mix, fresh fruit, carrots and GF crackers with hummus, hard boiled eggs, yogurt with fruit

It's a big change, but it IS possible! I hope this helps make the transition easier for you and your baby.

Stacy Spensley is a healthy life coach and semi-crunchy mama. She works with new moms and dads through classes and coaching to normalize the parenting experience so they feel more confident making parenting decisions and maintain their sanity while keeping everyone alive. She also helps families create meal plans when they have to incorporate an elimination diet.  Her friends would tell you she's bossy in the best way. Folding laundry is her least favorite activity. If you're a semi-crunchy mama, click here join the club and learn more.

Help a Mama Out: Foods that Support Your Milk Supply

We know it can be difficult to eat those 1800-2000 (or more if you are exercising) calories a day to keep up a robust milk supply while breastfeeding, so here are some fantastic tips for delicious, easy, nutritious snacks!  Remember: Think healthy fats, complete proteins, and green veggies!

Here are some of the most effective milk production-supporting foods out there:

• Vegetables: green leafy vegetables, onion, garlic, asparagus, carrots, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, mushrooms, and seaweed
• Fruits: figs, dates, apricots, green papaya
• Nuts and Seeds: raw almonds and cashews, sesame seeds, flaxseed
• Oils: Extra virgin olive oil, organic butter, sesame seed oil, coconut oil, essential fatty acids (EFA)
• Grains and Legumes: quinoa, amaranth, pinto beans, chickpeas, whole brown rice
• Extras: brewer’s yeast, nutritional yeast, green drinks (spirulina, barley wheat grass, alfalfa leaf, oat straw, kelp), ginger

Here are some of our readers’ favorite tips for quick, healthy, easy to-go snacks:

Gina: Trail mix, muffins with veggies/flax/oatmeal, kale, green smoothies

Kate: I like Housepoet’s Famous Lactation Cookies

Stacey: Oatmeal with almonds.  I also keep a large jar of dried fruits and nuts on the counter so I can grab them when I’m on the go.

Kelli: I’ll have something like this (Moroccan Quinoa Pilaf) left over from dinner and add some avocado.  I drink a green smoothie almost everyday, too. 

Monifa: I make oatmeal with cranberries, apples, and raisins in bulk so there’s always some available.  I also love carrot sticks with guacamole, fruit smoothies w/ protein added and granola w/ toasted coconut.  Also I drink a ton of water.

Shannon: We love soups in this house! Caldo de pollo (chicken soup), white bean and ham, white chicken chili or turkey chili.  Soups are easy, you just prep and let them cook on the stove or in a crockpot, and they keep your body nice and warm to support milk production.  Snacks – I like Trader Joe’s Omega Rich Trail Mix or Justin’s Almond butter packs. 

Danielle: Carrots and hummus

Jennifer: Avocado, nut/trail mix

Abby: I love these Raw Energy Bites!

Here are a few of my favorite milk production-supporting snacks: Green smoothies with chia seeds, granola, and nut butter; hummus and veggies, crackers, or whole wheat pita; apples and almond butter; greek yogurt with granola and berries; avocado on EVERYTHING!; homemade trail mix (raw almonds, raw cashews, dried cranberries, dried coconut, dark chocolate, pumpkin seeds); cottage cheese with fruit; hard-boiled eggs.

My friend, Leigh Anne Webster, of 52 Healthy Weeks, recommends: Cut up fresh veggies with hummus or pesto; corn tortilla with lentils and a little bit of cheese; lowfat natural granola with blueberries and almond milk; organic tomato soup; and cheese and crackers with some fruit.

Lastly, here are a few of my favorite websites with highly-nutritious meals that support your milk supply:

Nourishing Meals 

Simple Green Smoothies

Dan Morris’s Pinterest Board

Clean Eating

How To Lose Weight While Breastfeeding Without Losing Your Milk Supply

Last week, Tracy Anderson made some pretty provocative comments about women using pregnancy as an ‘excuse’ to gain weight, to eat whatever they want, and keep on the weight after having a baby.  Tracy, having given birth just 3 months ago, has already lost all of her pregnancy weight, yet remember ladies….. this is not a normal expectation for us regular moms out there.   While most of us in the real world cannot spend hours a day, or thousands of dollars, working to lose weight and tone our bodies after our babies are born, her body and exercise program is what she is KNOWN for.

Tracy Anderson Ups Ante For Losing Baby Weight (ABC News) 

What I did appreciate was that Tracy mentioned that when you are losing weight while breastfeeding, you can’t forgo the nutritional aspect of the foods you eat and the calories you need to maintain your breastfeeding relationship.  I’ve seen Tracy talk about her daily nutrition and this woman eats more than her fair share of nutrient dense foods, healthy fats, and protein, which are all going to keep up your milk supply while you exercise and gently shed those pounds after birth.

Now, here is the deal…. we ALL want to lose our pregnancy weight after we have our babies.  Yet it is really important to make sure you are losing weight healthily so that your milk supply doesn’t end up slowly sinking away.  Excessive dieting CAN reduce your milk supply.  So here are a few tips to keep in mind.

Tips to Losing Pregnancy Weight While Maintaining Your Milk Supply:

1. On average, a breastfeeding mom needs an extra 300-500 calories per day than was needed to maintain her pre-pregnancy weight to keep a sturdy milk supply. (Kellymom)
2. A healthy, well-nourished breastfeeding mom can safely lose up to 1 pound per week. (Lauwers, Counseling the Nursing Mom)
3. After your baby is 2 months old, exercising moderately can help you burn more fat while building muscle mass, therefore helping you shed those extra pounds. (Kellymom)

I also interviewed Leigh-Ann Webster, owner of 52 Healthy Weeks, who is a Licensed Wellcoach, a Certified Personal Trainer and a Nutrition for Fitness Coach.  Here’s what she had to say about eating a healthy postpartum diet while trying to lose the pregnancy weight.

"Every woman wants to return to her pre-pregnancy weight as quickly as possible. But, if you’re breastfeeding, it’s really important to focus on foods that are nutrient dense so you have the energy to care for your baby, to put towards all of your other responsibilities, and to exercise. Remember that producing milk takes a lot of your body’s resources and energy!"

The following foods will help you feel good so you have the energy to get through your day with flying colors. Well, maybe not quite flying colors due to the lack of sleep that comes with having an infant, but you will certainly feel better than you would with a low calorie and nutrient-deprived diet.

Aim to eat foods that contain high amounts of Omega 3’s. These include walnuts, eggs that have been fortified with Omega 3’s, low sugar breakfast cereals that have been fortified with Omega 3’s, salmon, basil and spinach.

Eat consistently throughout the day.  By doing this you will accomplish 3 things. First, your metabolism will stay revved up because you are constantly fueling it. Second, your body will not become depleted of vital nutrients  needed to make breastmilk. Third, your energy will remain more consistent throughout the day.

Eat lots of iron-rich foods.  Focus on foods like lean cuts of beef, spinach, lentils, black beans and leafy green vegetables.

Eat a diet that rich in complex carbohydrates.  Focus on whole grain or whole wheat products and avoid empty calories from “white” products. Eat whole grain English muffins, bran muffins, brown rice, wheat pasta, sweet potatoes and lots of vegetables.

Eat a diet that is rich in calcium and protein.  Snack on foods like yogurt, string cheese, smoothies made with milk or almond milk and a banana.

Aim to eat the color of the rainbow each day when you are choosing fruits and vegetables.

In addition, some research indicates that high-intensity exercise can lead to a build-up of lactic acid which will result in sour tasting breast milk, although perfectly fine to feed the baby. This 1992 study was fairly inconclusive.  Yet if you find that your baby begins rejecting your milk, and you have been doing intense intervals (where your heart rate would be very high), then cut back a bit and see if that helps.  Also, make sure you take a shower, as salty sweat could also change the flavor of your milk!

What tips do you have to maintain your milk supply while losing pregnancy weight?

What are your favorite foods to keep up your energy level while working out?