Keeping both you and your baby healthy while breastfeeding requires a proper meal plan and some guidance. If you would like a step-by-step program to help you lose weight safely, check out all our courses, programs, challenges, & recipe book.

Breastfeeding mamas are HUNGRY and have to eat…but they also want to lose the baby weight. It is a predicament that can leave many mamas HANGRIER than their newborn baby. But, truth be told, if you look at what your appetite means, you can totally control your appetite, lose the baby, and maintain a healthy milk supply.

Okay, now let’s get into the breastfeeding appetite and how to control it:

First, you need to understand if you are HUNGRY or in need of NUTRIENTS:

There is a HUGE difference between needing energy because your body used all the calories you ate and needing vitamins and minerals. Most breastfeeding mamas experience immense hungry not because they need calories but because they need nutrients. There are a couple of ways to try and figure out what your body is telling you at the moment, but I wouldn’t suggest that. If you are already hungry, the feeling will distort your thoughts and lead you to the cookie jar against your will.

What you can do to control your hunger is give your body nutrient-dense foods! One of my highest recommended products is a quality, milk-boosting protein powder. Protein shakes will pump your body with nutrients, especially if you make one of these lactation shake recipes.

By starting your day with a nutrient-dense meal, like a protein shake, which is fast and easy, you can ensure your body is getting the nutrients it needs to support breastfeeding. Many mamas experience hunger because their bodies are trying to signal for more nutrients. Many of those nutrients, like Folate, Vitamin B12, Potassium, Chromium, Protein, and more, are found in colorful fruits and vegetables. The protein powder I recommend, Milk Dust, has all of these essential nutrients and superfoods packed into it, plus milk-boosting herbs like fenugreek, fennel seed, milk thistle, and red raspberry leaf. This will help you switch to a healthier diet without losing your milk supply.

Focusing on a super clean diet will naturally put nutrient-dense foods into your body. There are lots of wonderful, healthy foods that promote your milk supply but also keep you from gaining weight. These are oatmeal, apples, eggs, sweet potatoes, carrots, salmon, and many more. I highly recommend my course if you are in need of help keeping your milk supply up while losing the baby’s weight. It is such a delicate process.

Second, make sure you are eating fiber: 

Fiber is your best friend. It fills your stomach while making you eat foods high in vitamins, phytonutrients, antioxidants, and more. Try eating a huge batch of steamed vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower. Maybe take some beano or digestive enzymes to ensure it doesn’t cause discomfort, and you will be stuffed, especially if you drink a lot of water with it. These foods are so high in fiber your body just can’t take that much, as well as superfoods regarding nutrients. Fruit is also a wonderful source of fiber because of all the water content and fiber. Both fill your stomach and provide your body with energy and vitamins while keeping you full.

If you find high-fiber goods cause gas in yourself or your baby, go for higher water-content foods. These foods include ice burg lettuce, cucumbers, grapefruit, oranges, and melons. The water plus nutrients help fill your stomach while also giving you a lot of nutrients. By feeling more full, you can help curb that insatiable hunger.

Third, drink extra water:

I left this one for last because everyone says it, but it is so true. Producing breast milk also requires more liquid, so staying on top of your drinking is a huge help. Drink as much as you can tolerate, and just endure going to the bathroom all the time. The water is also going to help you shed the water weight that is stored during pregnancy. Water and fat are stored during pregnancy to make breast milk. Your body should let go of fat and water to make milk. Super simple, but it can’t do that if you don’t give it enough water and nutrients to function properly.

If you aren’t nourishing your body, it can’t function properly, and it will keep signaling to you that you are “hungry” when it really wants water, fiber, and vitamins or minerals. If you are eating clean, lots of fruits and veggies, lean, healthy protein….and you feel hungry…you probably are. If you think you are having a hard time consuming enough vitamins or eating clean enough, you can check out some of these supplements to help you boost your vitamin intake, specifically for breast milk.

Those are the basics of managing your hunger, and in my little program, I go over everything in more detail, with meal plans, healing foods, milk-boosting supplements, recipes, shopping lists, and much more. I walk you through healing your core,  strengthening your pelvic floor, and much more.  If you are looking for a more in-depth plan to heal postpartum, properly nourishing your body for milk supply, a meal plan, and recipes and workouts to lose the baby weight, please check out my new program, The Postpartum Cure. So many mamas have tons of success with just a little help and knowledge! I highly encourage you to check it out now because I add more content monthly and increase the price as more information, videos, and details are added! Here’s what one mama said in an email to me just a week after using the program (these are her real emojis!), “I absolutely love the program! I just got finished workout 4, and I’m dying I can only do these 2x thru, and my second round is pretty funny to see, I’m sure! I will work up to 3x:-) By the way, your little boy angel in the videos is too precious and makes me smile! My boys have been doing these with me as well🏼!

The information and the eating plan are both fantastic. I was so happy to hear that great way of calorie counting when nursing! I have gotten my 3-day average and will reduce it by 100 calories today! Thanks so much!!

I haven’t had a chance to recommend to postpartum moms yet but I will soon!! “