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I'm b/f and pretty sure I'm not eating enough. Give me some examples of how to get 2500 calories a day please?

57 replies

gaelicsheep · 20/10/2010 22:28

By way of example, before dinner this evening I had eaten, since dinner last night:

two rounds of white toast and honey
half a banana
the crusts off DS's teatime slice of bread
a few raisins
some crumbs of flapjack
two mouthfuls of DS's omelette

I'm sure this is pretty normal amongst mums, but I'm getting really tired with the b/f and I suspect this could be why. So please, food gurus, what can I eat throughout the day that is quick and easy to keep my energy up?

OP posts:
Bonsoir · 23/10/2010 10:55

You will feel very tired if you snack on things like this.

When breastfeeding you need to eat three balanced, nutritious meals a day and, if you are still hungry, a slice of cake with a cup of tea in the morning and afternoon.

Sariska · 23/10/2010 18:39

What did your toddler have for breakfast and lunch? Could you not have had the same?

I feel for you, I do, because I was a bit like this after my first DC but, as other posters have said, you're not going to feel well unless you eat properly. I also know it's not always easy: I've just spent a day being run ragged by my DC and have drunk more tea and eaten more biscuits than are good for me but it's better than not eating - and I did eat breakfast and lunch with them.

Anyway, tomorrow is another day.

gaelicsheep · 23/10/2010 20:56

Thanks everyone for the advice and understanding.

Sariska - DS had cereal for breakfast (and I did have ReadyBrek) and a tuna wrap for lunch (when I just couldn't face food). I had some cheese on toast with DS and DH in the evening, and then ended up absolutely starving hungry again last night but unable to eat. So DD finally got off to sleep at 1.30 am and I was still awake at 4. I finally ended up forcing myself to eat toast and then brought raisins and biscuits to bed! Then I was able to sleep, but DD woke up for the rest of the night!!

Anyhow, it's been better again today. I missed breakfast cos DH let me lie in Smile, but I cooked rissoles for all of us for lunch and I'm eating pasta pesto just now. So long as I can keep eating something I'm sure I'll feel better. I know I have to keep trying for all our sakes!

OP posts:
PumpkinsandPotPourri · 23/10/2010 21:08

Good lass - you're getting there.

I'll say it again, eat what your DS does. He's a growing boy and you are a milk machine - you both need the best balanced, regular fuel going.

Wishing you lots of sleep!

gaelicsheep · 23/10/2010 21:10

If I can face it Pumpkins, then I promise I'll try! Smile

OP posts:
Horton · 23/10/2010 21:36

Poor gaelicsheep, this sounds just like me when DD was very small. I only have one (so no wonder you are struggling with two) but you must look after yourself - I ended up terribly anaemic through just not eating properly. I was pretty skinny pre-pregnancy and ended up stupidly skinny within a few weeks of giving birth, not because I didn't want to eat but somehow I just couldn't find the time. And DD didn't get on with slings until she could sit up independently so I know how difficult that can be.

My recommendations are:

Cheese. Babybels are easy and I bet your DS likes them too, and three or four of those while doing a feed is a good hefty injection of calcium and protein and calories that will be slowly released (rather than something like toast or a biscuit which is quickly released as energy and will prob leave you feeling a bit crap half an hour later). But Babybels are expensive if convenient so could your DH chop you up some slices or sticks of cheese to leave in the fridge for the day? Just grab a few whenever you pass. I know that your milk will be fine whatever you eat, but all the calcium that goes into it will be coming out of your body - bones and teeth - so it's an important one to keep up.

In the same vein, drinking yoghurt is fab, ditto chocolate milk or hot chocolate made with full fat milk and Nesquik or similar.

Sainsburys do really nice full fat yoghurts in lovely flavours (rhubarb, plum, honey and ginger etc) which are beautifully calorific at 200 cals per tub compared to the low-fat kind. They're on special offer at the moment - 4 for £2 or something, can't remember exact details.

Slices of (nice) ham or other cooked meat. Buy several packs when you go shopping and have one slice when you pass the fridge. Just roll it up and eat it like a biscuit. You're probably looking at 200+ calories per slice (just checked on a packet in the fridge) if you get it thick cut. And you need the iron in meat. Three slices of ham and two yoghurts (breakfast and whenever) take you to a thousand calories a day.

Pasta salad with lots of mayo.

Toast with peanut butter (if no allergy worries) and jam. You could get cashew butter if you have worries about peanuts.

Porridge with full fat milk and a handful of chopped fruit or raisins plus golden syrup/honey/brown sugar for breakfast - you can make it in the microwave so although you have to have a hand free to eat it and stir it before you put it in, it's really fairly low-maintenance.

Avocadoes - full of iron and really easy - just cut in half, add salad dressing and scoop. Or peel and chop and add salad dressing if that's easier, it probably is.

I don't know what DS eats but I'm betting it's better than toast and crusts so whatever he eats, you eat it too. And have twice the amount he does.

I got an insulated cup and put a smoothie in it with a few ice cubes made with a carton of smoothie from the supermarket and greek yoghurt. It's delicious, really good for you, and v easy. And if your cup is insulated it stays cool and delicious for a while. But you could always stick the cup in the fridge if you can't drink it all in one go.

Good luck, I know how horrible not eating can make you feel.

Horton · 23/10/2010 21:38

Oh yes, dried apricots are good for iron, too.

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