How to Eat Healthy After Having a Baby

Diet is always a tricky subject. There are so many diet plans and conflicting information on the internet about what food is good for you and what food is bad for you. Some foods work well for people and others not so much. Then you add breastfeeding into the mix and it becomes a huge gray area. I am going to try to keep this as simple as possible! This is what works for me and what I do.

• I Follow a Paleo Type Diet.  I eat low-carb and high protein.  I stick to eating whole foods and I limit the amount of dairy, legumes, grain, and sugar that I consume. 

• Cutting out Grains- I have been eating gluten-free for 14 years! I also eat a very limited amount of grains. Grains break down into sugar which is then stored as fat in your body. However I do eat gluten-free oatmeal on occasion and I love my rice...but in moderation!  It can be overwhelming switching over to a grain-free lifestyle here are some great ideas to substitute grains: spaghetti squash, cauliflower rice, sweet potatoes, and zucchini noodles. 

• Foods Packed with Healthy Fat and Omegas- I eat eggs every morning for breakfast. They are packed with healthy fats/protein/amino acids/and a great source of choline which is important in breaking down fat into energy. I could write a whole blog post about the benefits of choline! Wild caught fish is a great source of fat and omegas as well, my favorite is salmon. Other foods that I recommend that are high in healthy fat are: avocados, nuts, coconut oil, chia seeds, and full-fat yogurt. 

• Protein- Most of my meals are protein based. I do a lot of chicken, turkey, pork, and beef. I stay away from processed meat though! I only do grass-fed beef and if I am doing dairy I make sure it comes from cows that are grass-fed. I LOVE my protein shakes.  I make one every morning alongside my eggs.  I also use a whey protein powder from grass-fed cows. 

• Greens and Berries- I hate vegetables it is probably where my healthy lifestyle lacks the most. I still work on getting them into every meal. My go-to vegetables are broccoli, brussel sprouts, leafy greens, asparagus, and I love bell peppers. I usually put fresh organic berries in my protein smoothies. My favorites that are packed with antioxidants are blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.

• Snacking-This is where most people go wrong. It is so easy to reach for that unhealthy snack which is why it is so important to have healthy alternatives easily available. Some of my favorite snacks are: Beef jerky, smoked salmon, handful of nuts, hard-boiled egg, salami, and even bacon (as long as it is not super processed).

• Breastfeeding and Diet- I get asked all the time how to lose weight while breastfeeding and what diet to follow. These are the guidelines I follow. It is not so much diet as it is living a healthy lifestyle.  While breastfeeding I do allow myself to splurge on gluten-free oatmeal and I add organic heavy cream to my scrambled eggs. I do try to eat a healthy snack before a feeding as well as a glass of water. For me it is also important that I get my protein shake in, especially because I exercise regularly.  Ultimately it is all about reducing sugar intake, eliminating refined grains, and choosing protein-rich foods. 

It can be very challenges transitioning to clean eating. Food is addictive. The first 30 days of any type of lifestyle change can be tough! Be strong! Stick to it and stay committed.

What foods do you struggle with? What other diet related questions do you have?