Tag: nutritious

Breastfeeding and Calories

Lydia | October 30, 2012

Waitrose Fairtrade Organic Bananas

One of the great advantages of breastfeeding is that it burns calories.

Breastfeeding Mums will burn up to 500 calories a day just from providing their babies with the best start in life.

Breastfeeding and eating a diet rich in nutritious foods have been the best things for my post pregnancy weight loss.

When you’re breastfeeding you spend a lot of time sitting, hopefully with your feet up, so it’s important to get outside everyday for your mental health and enjoy a leisurely walk with baby.

I was quite often ravenous when I was breastfeeding. I breastfed on demand so it was essential I ate small snacks and meals throughout the day to keep my energy levels up, to ensure optimal amounts of breast milk production and to maintain my blood sugar levels.

Because you’re burning so many calories when you breastfeed you’ll need to consume around 300 to 500 more calories per day when you’re breastfeeding to ensure proper milk production and to keep up with the demands of your body.

Whatever you eat as a breastfeeding Mum will pass directly into your breast milk and into baby who consumes your breast milk so avoiding additives, contaminants and highly processed foods is essential.

For the health of Mum and Baby, I always recommend you eat organic foods.

Breastfeeding Mums should eat healthy and nutritious foods that will provide you with sustained energy release to keep you going and regulate your blood sugar levels. This also helps to maintain your mood as blood sugar spikes and lows can leave you feeling up and down.

Some of my favourite foods to eat for energy when breastfeeding:

Organic Semi Wholewheat Pasta – takes a few minutes to cook and makes a healthy and quick meal. Grate a little cheese on top or add an Organic Tomato Pasta Sauce.

Organic Bananas – rich in potassium and low in sodium, a quick and healthy snack with calming properties.

Organic Apples make a perfect snack. Highly nutritious and a good source of vitamins A and B1 as well as being rich in minerals. High in fibre to help cleanse your system and to keep you regular. It’s best to eat only Organic Apples here’s why.

Organic Free Range Eggs Scrambled on toasted Rye Bread – a quick and healthy way to eat protein. Eggs are low in fat and provide balanced nutrition, being rich in B vitamins and many minerals.

What are your favourite foods for energy when breastfeeding?

Riverford Veg Box Chooser

Lydia | August 29, 2012

If you’re like most parents, time is something you simply don’t have enough of. And feeding your family with the best, most nutritious foods will be a priority for their health and wellbeing.

Instead of spending your time shopping at the supermarket with babies and toddlers in tow, you can quickly order your weekly Fruit, Veg, Dairy and Meat online from Riverford and have it delivered to your door.

Quickly choose the right sized organic veg box for your family with the new Riverford Veg Box Chooser. Just select your answers to these easy questions ‘how many people you are feeding’ and ‘how many times a week you cook’ and the right Veg Box will be conveniently chosen for you.

You can include delicious, fresh and organic Fruit and organic Meat in your Riverford order. There are also Dairy Products and everything else you need for healthy and tasty meals in the Riverford Shop.

Find out how much we enjoyed our Riverford Veg Box.

Riverford Veg Box

Leek and Potato Soup

Lydia | February 23, 2012

This is such an easy recipe for a really nutritious meal. I make this soup using all organic vegetables, they’re free from chemicals so better for your family and the soup will taste delicious.

This Leek and Potato Soup recipe can be prepared in 10 minutes and within 30 minutes you’ll be sitting down and enjoying ladles of hearty, warm and filling soup.

Serve with some crusty bread on the side for lunch and the family will be full until dinner time.

Leek and Potato Soup

Serves 4

Preparation Time 10 minutes

Cooking Time 30 minutes

Ingredients
50g (2 oz) butter
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
3 large leeks, chopped
3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
900ml vegetable stock
Small handful chopped fresh parsley
Salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste