A nursing mother has to limit herself to sweets. However, you can and should eat healthy sweets. After all, feeding is a labor-intensive process that is accompanied by a large load on the body. Nights without sleep, stress and anxiety do not add to your health.
If you really want sweets, eat healthy foods. Eating a small piece of halva will help stabilize your emotional background and improve your mood. The product contains a large amount of carbohydrates, which accelerates the production of serotonin in the mother’s body.
As a rule, the delicacy is made from sunflower seeds, peanuts, almonds, pistachios, and sesame. Each type of halva has a different composition and beneficial properties.
Is it possible to have halva during breastfeeding in a newborn?
Pediatricians have conflicting opinions about when to introduce sweets. It all depends on the type of product. Sunflower and sesame halva are considered the most hypoallergenic. The peanut product is introduced last.
In the first days after birth
The consumption of halva is strictly prohibited. In the first days after childbirth, a nursing mother must follow a strict diet. Halva and other sweets should not be used due to the risk of colic, digestive disorders and allergic reactions.
In the first month
It is recommended to continue the diet. Eating any sweets is prohibited.
In the second month
Halva is administered towards the end of the second month of a baby’s life. The product is introduced into the diet gradually, starting with a small piece the size of a thimble. A nursing mother can eat halva if the child has no changes in health.
In the third month
If there is no allergy, mom can eat up to 50 g of the product per day. Consume sweets no more than 3 times a week.
How much halva can you eat per day and from what month?
Halva is a high-calorie product. Basically, it is made from sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and nuts. The product is healthy, but allergenic. Regardless of the type of halva, follow the rule: introduce it into your diet in small portions. In the sixth month of breastfeeding, you can eat up to 100 g of product per day.
Sunflower
The calorie content of the product is 560 kcal. In percentage terms, carbohydrates (43 g) account for the majority, followed by fats (37 g) and proteins (13 g). The sweetness contains vitamins B1, B2 and PP, trace elements calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, iron.
Despite the usefulness of the product, you can include it in the diet closer to the end of the second month of lactation.
Arakhisova
Halva is made from peanuts. It is a source of vitamins B1, B2, C, E, F. It contains protein and essential amino acids, minerals: calcium, zinc, phosphorus, manganese. Product:
- improves cognitive functions;
- reduces cholesterol levels;
- strengthens the immune system;
- provides prevention of cancer.
Since peanuts are considered a strong allergen, a nursing mother can introduce the product into her diet closer to the 6th month of feeding.
Tahini (sesame)
It has a delicate, refined taste. It contains a lot of calcium, vitamins B, C, E, F, and amino acids. Sesame halva eliminates headaches and bad mood. The composition contains antioxidants that have a beneficial effect on skin condition. Sweetness has a positive effect on vision and speeds up metabolic processes. It is recommended to introduce a new product starting from the 3rd month of breastfeeding.
Uzbek
The popular treat is based on egg whites and nuts - walnuts, hazelnuts or almonds. Sometimes milk, sesame seeds and candied fruits are added to the sweetness. Natural Uzbek halva contains no flavorings. Calorie content is 500 kcal per 100 g of product. Since eggs and nuts during breastfeeding can cause allergies, a nursing mother can eat Uzbek halva no earlier than 3 months of breastfeeding.
On fructose
Unlike other types of sweets, halva contains fructose instead of sugar. The substance does not increase blood glucose levels. The product also includes:
- sunflower seeds and nuts;
- liquorice root;
- milk serum.
100 g of product contains 520 kcal. Halva can be consumed by nursing mothers who have diabetes. Sweetness improves the immune response, normalizes the acid-base balance, and has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.
The product can be introduced into the diet from the second month of breastfeeding. Unlike sugar, fructose does not provoke fermentation in the intestines and does not cause bloating or colic.
Include halva in your diet in moderation, otherwise mother and child may have problems with the cardiovascular and endocrine systems.
With milk
Halva with milk is a type of Uzbek sweet. Ingredients: walnuts, pistachios, milk powder, sugar, raisins, cocoa, vanilla. The product is introduced into the menu towards the end of the third month of lactation.
Waffles with halva
You can eat waffles no earlier than 6 months of breastfeeding. In addition to halva, waffles contain emulsifiers, dyes and preservatives. The introduction of sweets in the early stages can cause diathesis in the baby.
In Apple pie order
Chocolate products contain theobromine, a substance that acts like caffeine: dilates blood vessels, stimulates cardiac activity, and excites the central nervous system. Until the child is 6 months old, it is better to avoid chocolate halva.
What is halva?
The dessert, created by the Arabs, is made from nuts or seeds with the addition of sugar, honey, caramel or other sweet ingredients.
There are many recipes for oriental delicacies. Some varieties are prepared on the basis of flour, milk, and vegetable mass. The beneficial and negative properties of the product depend on the composition. The sweetness has a high calorie content - 500-650 kcal per 100 g of halva. High temperatures during processing of raw materials significantly reduce the biochemical value, but some vitamins and minerals remain. The color depends on the main ingredients, it can be cream, yellowish-gray, brown. The structure is layered, slightly crumbly, and can be easily cut with a knife. The smell must match the raw materials used. The taste is sweet, without rancidity. Changes in external characteristics may indicate an expired shelf life or improper storage.
The benefits and harms of halva for nursing women
Halva is not only sweet, but also a storehouse of vitamins. In addition to vitamins and minerals, the product contains a large amount of unsaturated fats. The delicacy has a beneficial effect on the female body:
- improves blood circulation;
- prevents the development of anemia;
- improves the condition of skin and hair;
- normalizes the functioning of the nervous system;
- speeds up metabolism;
- activates intestinal peristalsis;
- provides prevention of constipation.
The pronounced benefits of halva for the body will be noticeable in case of loss of strength, colds, and depression.
Due to its high calorie content, the product quickly satisfies hunger, fills the body with energy and vitality. The fats included in the composition are quickly absorbed without loading the stomach. Halva contains dietary fiber, which has a positive effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
Sunflower seed halva
Sunflower halva is the most popular. It is believed that eating this type of halva is most beneficial for the body. The sunflower seeds included in its composition are a wonderful remedy for premature aging, heart disease, and musculoskeletal system.
Vitamin B1 has a positive effect on cardiac activity, the immune system, and the nervous system. Vitamin F1 normalizes cholesterol levels. Helps restore and heal skin, nails, hair. This is relevant when deciding whether a nursing mother can have halva, since during pregnancy and lactation the body loses a lot of calcium and vitamins.
Reviews from mothers who breastfeed
Question to the expert
Alyona
This is my first child, so I coordinate my menu with the pediatrician. I started eating halva when my daughter was 4 months old. I take Uzbek, without sugar. So far I have not noticed any negative reactions. But I wouldn’t recommend introducing peanut halva at all. At 8 months old, her daughter developed a terrible diathesis because of her. Although I ate a small piece.
Oksana
I have three children. When I was feeding my first two children, I did not follow a strict diet. At 3 months she ate halva, and almost all its varieties. Of course, I ate little by little and washed it down with tea. But the third child has severe allergies. I only started eating halva when I was 6 months old, but I still broke out. I have to completely give up sweets. So everything is individual.
Catherine
I have loved sesame halva since childhood. I couldn’t give it up even during lactation. In agreement with the pediatrician, I started eating it when my son was 2.5 months old. There were no problems. True, I still eat it in small pieces.
Yana
I haven't liked halva since childhood. But the child was not gaining weight, the doctors recommended halva with fructose. I eat little by little, but I feel like the milk has become fatty. I can’t say that the product helped us gain weight. I think it’s heredity - dad is very thin.
Zoya
Girls, you can eat sweets, but don’t rush to include them in your menu. I hurried - I wanted something tasty, so I ate a piece of halva. And the child was only 2 months old. The result is a rash, bloating, and diarrhea. Since then I haven't experimented. I eat strictly on a diet. I started trying to give Halva again only when my daughter was six months old. There were no problems.
How to choose and store halva
When purchasing, carefully read the composition of the product. It should not contain emulsifiers, dyes, or flavors. Choose sweets made from seeds and nuts, which are considered low-allergenic. Follow these simple rules:
- Look at the expiration date. For loose sweets it is small, no more than 2 months. The product, packaged in original packaging, can be stored for up to six months.
- If you take loose halva, there should be no dark spots, oil, or whole grains on the surface.
- The product must be dry and not crumble when cutting.
- Fresh, airy sweetness that melts in your mouth. The presence of bitterness in the taste is a sign of expired halva.
The weighed product lasts the longest in a glass jar. The container should be placed in the refrigerator. Prepackaged halva is stored in its original packaging, observing the temperature regime of +7…+12ºС.
Halva can be frozen.
How to buy a quality product
You need to choose the right sweet, paying attention to the composition: it should contain sunflower seeds, sugar or molasses. There should be no flavors or dyes. If the role of molasses is replaced by honey, you need to make sure that the baby is not allergic to it.
Appearance is also important. If there is noticeable discharge of liquid, the product was stored incorrectly and is unfit for consumption, especially if it has a bitter aftertaste. This means that the components have oxidized and can cause poisoning. Such halva should absolutely not be eaten while breastfeeding, and in general it is better to throw it away.
The product should not contain seed husks. If it occurs, the manufacturer violated the production technology, that is, his product cannot be trusted.
Recipes for a nursing mother
Homemade halva is much healthier than store-bought halva. The composition can be varied and only those ingredients that the mother and child are not allergic to can be included in the recipe. You can use almonds, pistachios, and walnuts in cooking - they are less likely to cause allergic reactions than peanuts.
Classic peanut halwa recipe
Sweets prepared at home can be included in the diet of a nursing mother by the 5th month of lactation.
Ingredients:
- peanuts - 200 g;
- wheat flour - 100 g;
- sugar - 70 g;
- sunflower oil - 50 ml;
- vanilla sugar - to taste.
How to cook:
- Fry the peanuts and flour in a frying pan separately.
- Grind the nuts in a blender and mix with flour.
- Pour 50 ml of water into the pan, add sugar. Bring to a boil, simmer over low heat for 5 minutes. Stir the mixture so that it does not burn. Remove from heat and add butter.
- Mix all ingredients and place in pan to harden evenly.
If desired, sprinkle the still-uncured product with sunflower seeds or sesame seeds.
Uzbek halva
The treat can be given any shape. Make the halwa into soft balls of sprinkles or cut it into rectangular pieces.
Ingredients:
- walnuts - 500 g;
- granulated sugar - 200 g;
- wheat flour - 200 g;
- cocoa - 3 tbsp;
- vegetable oil - 20 ml.
How to cook:
- Grind the nuts in a blender.
- Fry the flour in a frying pan until golden brown.
- Mix the ingredients.
- Pour 80 ml of water into an enamel pan. Add sugar.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and cook for another 5 minutes. Skim off the foam periodically.
- Gradually add the nut-flour mixture to the syrup. Stir the mixture vigorously.
- Add cocoa.
- Transfer the contents onto a baking sheet. Cover the top with foil and place the weight. Leave for 2 hours so that the contents are well compacted.
If desired, you can add sesame seeds and dried fruits to the recipe.
Sunflower halva without added sugar
The product is fragrant and aromatic thanks to the addition of oil. The sweet can be eaten starting from the 2nd month of lactation - it contains only natural ingredients.
Ingredients:
- sunflower seeds - 200 g;
- raisins - 50 g;
- sunflower oil - 30 ml.
How to cook
Wash and dry the raisins, grind in a blender. Grind the seeds too. Mix ingredients, add oil. Leave in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Roll the mixture into balls or give it another shape.
Breastfeeding is not a reason to give up your favorite sweets. The main thing is to observe the measure and monitor the baby’s reaction to the new product. Don't introduce several new sweets at the same time. If there is no allergy, then starting from the 6th month of a baby’s life, you can eat halva of any variety.
Rules for eating dessert during lactation
To avoid unpleasant consequences, follow these simple rules:
- Choose carefully. If there are all kinds of additives, flavorings, and stabilizers, you shouldn’t buy sweets. Choose a fresh, high-quality product without a rancid odor. The presence of husks indicates violations of the cooking technology;
- Opt for sesame or sunflower halva . Unlike peanuts, these types are less likely to cause allergic reactions. They will be more useful and safe for mother and baby;
- Practice moderation when consuming your favorite product. Eat small portions. Consuming once a day or every other day will not harm the baby;
- Carefully monitor the newborn’s well-being and his reaction to a new product. If allergic manifestations occur, postpone the introduction of sweets into your menu for 1 month;
- Consult your pediatrician before using an unusual product.
