You spent nine long months ensuring you ate right so that what you put in your stomach did not hurt your Baby in any way. And now that you are done with all the pushing and screaming and are well into motherhood, you need to be all the more cautious. Breastfeeding is a memorable journey and in order to make it a smooth sailing one, new moms need to ensure they eat right. Apart from a healthy diet, there is a list of foods you definitely must not eat while nursing your new born.

However, here’s a list of alternatives to ensure you don’t compromise on your favourite foods!

Fish

While you don’t really need to abandon fish completely, you definitely need to be selective in choosing the right one. Fishes high on mercury can hinder your milk supply. So stay away from them. Instead, opt for salmon, catfish or tuna. However, make sure you do not include them in your meal more than twice a week.

Alcohol

This one is a big no for breastfeeding moms and we all know it way too well! However, an occasional glass of white wine will not do much harm to your baby or your milk supply. And mind you, we are saying one glass. Also, once you finish enjoying your drink, make sure you don’t feed your baby for at least 3-4 hours or even better pump beforehand.

Caffeine

Coffee lovers, we are afraid this might disappoint you! Caffeine is not advisable for breastfeeding moms simply because babies cannot process the caffeine as quickly as an adult. And lastly, you definitely don’t want to keep you baby awake with that overdose of coffee. The simplest alternative is to switch to herbal teas and limit your coffee intake to once a day.

Peppermint

If you thought peppermint tea was a healthy alternative to coffee or tea, you are simply wrong. Certain compounds in peppermint can dry up the milk. The best way is to lay off peppermint teas and candies until you wean your baby.  

Red chilly

It’s not for fun that our grandmothers did not let us add red pepper to our food after delivery. The harsh taste of red chilly can hinder your baby’s digestion and lead to vomiting and diarrhea. Some babies also suffer from severe abdominal pain. The best alternative is powdered black pepper. This is easy to digest and also saves you from eating bland food.

Peanuts

Despite the lack of evidence and strong study to prove that eating peanuts when breastfeeding can cause the baby to develop peanut allergy, nursing mothers may just want to be cautious. Switch to almonds instead. Almonds are a good source of protein and calcium for the mother and the baby. However, do not overdo this too!

Gassy vegetables

Vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and beans are definitely healthy, but also leave the baby with a gassy stomach. So stay away from these. Instead, opt for veggies with high fibre or water content. Pumpkin, carrot, and cucumber are all good for nursing moms.

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