Nutrition for Nursing Moms

Knowing that every bite you take makes its way to your baby’s body is a lot of pressure for breastfeeding moms to contend with. According to Nicole Penton, a registered dietitian from St. John’s, Nfld. it’s common for nursing moms to focus on nutrition. She says many fret about the foods they eat, their nutritional quality, and if they’re doing all they can for their child’s health. But the good news is that a breastfeeding mom’s diet doesn’t have to be perfect. Indulging in a small amount of junk food is fine, but it’s important to remember those foods are high in sugar, fat and salt and lack nutritional value. “Moms need to focus on adequate intakes of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins and fluids first. From there, including some essential and often overlooked foods will only work to improve their diet,” Penton says. Here are her recommendations for what may be lacking in yours.