Yes, you can eat Nutella while breastfeeding as long as you are mindful of the quantity you consume. Nutella contains sugar and palm oil, which should be limited while breastfeeding due to potential issues like weight gain and GI problems in infants. It’s advised to control your portions and enjoy Nutella in moderation to avoid any negative effects on you or your baby. Additionally, making your own nut butter is a healthier alternative to Nutella as long as you control your portions for Nutella, you should be fine. On the other hand, lecithin found in Nutella has been proven to decrease the human milk fat loss during intermittent pumping. So, you may want to have it in moderation.
Key takeaway
- Nutella is tempting but high in sugar.
- Control portions to avoid negative effects.
- Palm oil in Nutella can be problematic.
- Lecithin in Nutella can benefit milk fat.
- Excessive Nutella consumption may lead to weight gain.
- Nutella can be part of a healthy snack.
- Moderation is key while breastfeeding.
Nutella contains palm oil, so does baby formula. So what’s the problem?
The claim that baby formula contains palm oil like Nutella is not entirely accurate. While some baby formulas may contain palm oil, it’s essential to note that not all formulas include this ingredient. It’s crucial to check the specific ingredients of the formula you choose for your baby to ensure it aligns with your preferences and needs
Though palm and palm olein (PO) oils may have similar fatty acid profiles to human breast milk, they have been shown to decrease the absorption of calcium and fat, so some breastfed infants may become deficient in these important nutrients.
Nutella contains palm oil, which is something that should be avoided while breastfeeding or consumed in moderation while breastfeeding.
Nutella contains hazelnuts. Can I take hazlenuts while breastfeeding?
Yes, you can take hazelnuts while breastfeeding. Nutella contains hazelnuts which are among the best nuts in the world. They contain vitamins, minerals, protein, fiber and antioxidants. These nuts are filling and packed with nutrients which makes them suitable for women who want to lose weight while breastfeeding. However, if you have nut allergies you should avoid hazelnuts or food containing hazlenuts like Nutella , completely while breastfeeding.
Will I gain weight if I eat too much Nutella while breastfeeding?
Since nutella is creamy and sugary, you may find it difficult to control yourself to one or two servings. If you continue to eat it everyday , it will surely make you gain weight. So better to avoid it all together if you’re trying to lose weight while breastfeeding.
Nutella contains chocolate. Can I have chocolate while breastfeeding?
Yes, you can have chocolate while breastfeeding. Though the amount of chocolate is much less than the amount of sugar and palm oil in Nutella, you can continue to eat a small piece of chocolate per day as long as you don’t overdo it. The main benefit is that it gives your breast milk a flavour that babies seem to love. This should help increase the milk for your baby, and decrease your cravings for human foods which are usually high fat and sugary by nature (i.e. cookies or cakes).
Is it safe to eat more than two servings of Nutella while breastfeeding?
No, you should not eat more than two servings of Nutella while breastfeeding because of the palm oil and sugar content. Infants are not able to process a lot of sugar at once, so when you feed them Nutella, it will be processed in your body and your supply of breast milk reduces due to the low supply of fat.
How can I stop Nutella addiction while breastfeeding?
Don’t keep it at hand in the house so that you have to reach for it all the time. Cut it out of your diet and stock up on nut butters or other healthy alternatives. Also, make sure to drink a lot of water and/or have a healthy option such as cereal or fruits to keep you going until Nutella is gone forever.
You can try making peanut butter or almond butter at home and thus reducing your urge to eat Nutella.
You could try to throw out Nutella from your supermarket and switch to organic, vegan or other non-nutritious chocolate spread substitute. It won’t be as convenient as Nutella, but it will be healthier and cheaper.
Lastly, if you don’t mind a little bit of extra work on your part, you could try one of these recipes . Just be sure to have some nutritionally rich snacks at hand for when you get cravings. Here’s a recipe to try:
Nutella sandwich
For the filling:
1 tbsp of Nutella (or whatever chocolate spread you prefer). Mix in 1/4 cup of yogurt, and a good amount of your favorite toppings such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, etc. Serve it on a toasted whole-wheat or multi-grain english muffin.
The above recipe will be healthy enough for you to eat even while breastfeeding. You just have to control yourself and only make it once in a while so that you don’t gain too much weight.
Also, you can make some nut butter. Try marinating the nuts in your homemade nut butter for a few days, and then have it as a spread on toast or crackers. This will act as a substitute to Nutella whilst you are fresh out of Nutella.
If Nutella is very hard to get rid of, you can switch to other kinds of chocolate spreads and use them instead until you don’t need Nutella anymore.
In conclusion, as long as you are mindful about the quantity you eat while breastfeeding, you can enjoy nutella. Alternatively, making your own nut butter is a healthier choice.
