Can I have fried potatoes while breastfeeding?


The diet of foods during breastfeeding should meet the needs of the mother and child. Especially in the first months, a nursing mother is recommended to adhere to a balanced but strict diet. Restrictions also apply to the cooking method. Often during a diet, doubts arise regarding the consumption of familiar dishes, for example, is it possible for a nursing mother to eat fried potatoes?

Composition of potatoes

The value of tubers depends on the conditions of cultivation, storage and the quality of fertilizers applied to the soil. In combination with these conditions, the quantitative composition of vitamins, macroelements and acids may vary. Potato tubers are 75% water, 18% starch; the rest is fats, proteins, minerals and other organic compounds.

100 g of raw potatoes contains vitamins:

  • C (ascorbic acid) - 11 mg;
  • K – 2.1 µg;
  • B9 (folacin) – 16.5 mcg;
  • B6 (pyridoxine) – 0.24 mcg;
  • B3 (niacin) – 1.1 mg;
  • B1 (thiamine) – 0.08 mg;
  • B2 (riboflavin) – 0.03 mg.

The product also contains minerals.

For 100 g of fresh potatoes there is:

  • calcium 11 mg;
  • iron – 0.7 mg;
  • magnesium – 22 mg;
  • phosphorus – 59 mg;
  • potassium – 426 mg;
  • sodium – 6 mg.

Potatoes also contain macroelements: chromium, iodine, silicon and some others. The composition also contains acids: citric, oxalic, lactic and pyruvic.

Taken together, all nutrients have a beneficial effect on the digestive, cardiovascular and nervous systems of mother and child.

Chemical composition and calorie content of potatoes

Probably everyone knows that potatoes contain starch. However, this vegetable is also a source of protein, and it is one of the most complete in comparison with other vegetable ones.

Potato protein has high biological activity because it contains quite a lot of easily digestible amino acids that are important for metabolism. It has high nutritional value and is easily absorbed by the human body.


Potatoes are a source of complete vegetable protein.
In addition, the vegetable is rich in vitamins (A, group B, C, PP) and includes a whole range of useful microelements. These are potassium and magnesium, iron and calcium, zinc and bromine, phosphorus and selenium. Moreover, just like protein, they have an easily digestible form.

The calorie content of potatoes is quite high when compared with other vegetables - 100 g contains 73–83 kcal.


Potatoes are one of the most high-calorie vegetables

Interestingly, potatoes have not always been such a popular dish in our country. People's strong love for this product grew over time - over the course of 200 years. Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich (second half of the 17th century) called this vegetable the “devil’s apple.” And in other countries, starchy tubers did not immediately gain recognition. For example, the French, a very scrupulous nation when it comes to cooking, considered this food coarse, unpretentious and poisonous.

Should you eat potatoes when breastfeeding a newborn?

Potatoes are a healthy and familiar product for every person, which is found in many dishes.
During the lactation period, it is necessary for a young mother to create a complete menu that would meet the needs of the mother and child, despite the necessary restrictions. The diet of a nursing mother necessarily includes it in the diet as a source of “fast” carbohydrates and essential vitamins. Advice!
Before cooking, potatoes must be soaked in cold water for several hours.

In order to get the maximum benefit, it is better to boil, stew or bake potatoes. This type of heat treatment allows you to preserve a greater amount of useful substances, and the absorption of the product will be easier for the body of a nursing mother.

Tips for eating boiled potatoes during breastfeeding and how else they can be prepared for a nursing mother

  • To prepare potatoes, choose light-colored tubers without green spots. This vegetable contains a significant amount of useful substances and has better taste.
  • If you want to make full-fledged mashed potatoes or are planning to eat boiled potatoes with butter, then first check the safety of other components of the dish. It is possible that the baby cannot tolerate dairy products.
  • For the first weeks, it is better to use boiled potatoes without any oil, or mash them with water.
  • Potatoes for a nursing mother should be cooked without peeling - this way most of the starch will be released into the water, which will reduce the calorie content of the vegetable.
  • Potatoes can also be baked whole in the oven, stewed along with other vegetables and added to soups. Don’t forget about healthy casseroles, to which you can add some meat or the same vegetables.

To summarize, I would like to note that boiled potatoes during breastfeeding are a largely healthy product that will fit perfectly into the menu of a young mother. The main thing to remember is that you need to eat it in moderation and do not forget that even the healthiest vegetable, when consumed in excess, only brings harm.

Can a nursing mother eat fried potatoes?

The menu of a nursing mother should consist of healthy and nutritious foods, and the dishes should be tasty and varied. A feature of the diet is also a strict ban on eating fried foods. Fried potatoes are prohibited. Due to the availability and ubiquity of its use, there is an impression of its usefulness. But during the frying process, potatoes lose a significant amount of nutrients, lose moisture and accumulate fat. This product is no longer suitable for a nursing mother and a newborn; it should be abandoned during breastfeeding.

In the first month after birth

It is better to introduce a new product gradually, monitoring the reaction of mother and baby. The starch contained in the composition can cause an allergic reaction. In the first month after childbirth, it is better to prepare boiled potatoes or cream soup with a little salt. For a weakened mother's body, fatty fried potatoes can provoke an exacerbation of chronic diseases of the digestive tract or the emergence of new ones.

In the second month after birth

The next month is marked by a slight relaxation of the strict diet. The mother's body is gradually recovering, but the ban on eating fried potatoes still remains. In the second month after giving birth, a young mother’s diet can be diversified with baked potatoes without oil. During cooking, do not allow the formation of a brown crust, and it is better to use a baking bag or foil.

What are the benefits of potatoes during lactation for a nursing mother?

Now let's learn more about such a healthy product as potatoes and understand why it is better to strive to preserve all its nutrients when cooking. This is very simple to do - instead of frying, preheat the oven and bake the potatoes at medium temperature. It is no less tasty, but much healthier.

  • Many people are most afraid of starch, which the root vegetable is rich in, but even this substance has positive properties. So, starchy vegetables perfectly satiate and relieve hunger for a long time. This ingredient is also capable of protecting the body from malignant neoplasms .
  • Potatoes contain a lot of vitamins, including tubers containing vitamin C, folic acid and many B vitamins . This is an indispensable product for a nursing mother who has an increased need for nutrients.
  • The rich mineral composition also sets potatoes apart from other vegetables: the root vegetable naturally stores a lot of potassium and calcium , and it also contains magnesium, iron and iodine, fluorine and phosphorus, which are essential for good health. And this is not the entire list of precious components.
  • Potatoes are especially recommended for those nursing mothers who suffer from heartburn or increased stomach acidity during breastfeeding. But, of course, we are not talking about fried potatoes, but about those that were boiled “in their jackets.”
  • No matter how people who struggle for a beautiful and slender body are afraid of tubers, baked or boiled potatoes cannot negatively affect the numbers on your scales - rather, on the contrary, because even a small portion of the dish satisfies hunger for a long time. But the fried vegetable is really very high in calories.

So, can a nursing mother have fried potatoes? Of course, you can occasionally treat yourself to such a treat if you really love it, just keep in mind that such dishes are potentially harmful, so basically the meal can be classified as “indulgence,” but not a full meal. That is why eating fried potatoes too often during lactation is not recommended, just as it is not recommended to do it in large portions.

How and when to introduce fried potatoes into your diet

After the first months of a strict diet, you can try to expand your diet.
But for fried potatoes, it is worth adhering to the ban for up to six months, then you can try introducing a new product, provided that there are no manifestations of food allergies in the child and the mother is in good health. If the mother loves this dish and needs it to maintain good health, then it can be introduced after the second month of lactation. Important! For the entire period of breastfeeding, preference should be given to boiled or baked potatoes.

Fried potatoes should be included in the diet gradually, preferably before lunch. After successfully familiarizing yourself with the product, you can eat it at any time. The use of the product should not be systematic; it can be added to the diet 1-2 times a week and in small portions.

Composition and beneficial properties of fried potatoes

In order to know whether it is possible to have fried potatoes during breastfeeding, it is enough to study their beneficial qualities and nutritional value. A young mother should not forget that during the frying process, important vitamins are lost, fat is enriched, and the energy value of the dish increases several times. Such a product will not bring any benefit to the child, and if abused, it can affect the mother’s weight.

How to reduce the harm from fried potatoes

It's almost impossible to do. But if the power of desire is so great, then a nursing mother can try this dish, but with great caution. Watch your baby's reaction very carefully, this is the most important thing.

Start by soaking the potatoes in cold water, draining and changing the water several times. This way you will get rid of the nitrates contained in the tubers and excess starch. A nursing mother needs to fry potatoes in good vegetable oil mixed with water. Reducing the amount of oil will have a beneficial effect on the benefits of the dish. Be sure to ensure that the oil is not reused; carcinogens are formed in it during repeated heat treatment.

Before feeding after a full portion of fried potatoes, it is extremely important to check the baby’s reaction to a small amount of product. It is advisable that regular boiled potatoes be added to the diet first. If there are no negative reactions from the baby or an allergic reaction, try eating fried. Please note: Small quantity! This should be a kind of test to see how the child will react.

According to the rules, the safe amount of potatoes for the first time is about 50 grams. It is better to eat it in the first half of the day. Next, you will need to monitor the baby’s condition for a couple of days. The nature of the stool and behavior may change, but if this does not appear, you can safely add fried potatoes to your diet. Also keep an eye on your baby's skin; a rash, irritation and itching may appear. If there is any change in your child's usual condition, stop eating fried potatoes. It is important to limit yourself to such unhealthy foods as much as possible until three months after the baby is born, or better yet, up to six months.

Immediately after birth and in the first months of life, the baby’s body experiences severe stress and spends all its energy adapting to changed living conditions. Mother's milk is the best thing for him. The digestive system easily digests it. After mom's experiments with her favorite products, the little man may have a hard time.

Eating potatoes and other fried foods is in no way healthy. Do not abuse them, otherwise you can harm the baby and cause yourself a lot of unpleasant minutes, calming the child and eliminating his discomfort. Any fried foods cooked in oil are harmful for nursing women, the reasons are described above. They can be eaten extremely rarely, as a change from the usual diet, but be sure to monitor the baby’s condition.

How to choose potatoes for frying

First of all, attention should be paid to the size and condition of the potato peel. It should be free of ulcerations, crusts, and traces of rot. The color of the potato should not be green; this indicates unripeness, improper transportation or storage in which it was exposed to sunlight. This product is unsuitable for consumption because it contains solanine. This substance is toxic to humans in large quantities.

For frying potatoes, you should choose certain varieties that have less starch and white flesh. These conditions are the key to properly cooked fried potatoes. To do this, it is better to choose varieties: Leader, Bryansk early, Nadezhda and others.

Energy value of potato dishes

The nutritional value of the finished product depends on the cooking method. Boiled potatoes with or without skin allow you to preserve almost all valuable qualities. And the prepared dish will still remain low in calories.

Important! In the process of heat treatment, 10-40% of vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is lost, and in the process of frying potatoes, B vitamins are destroyed.

In order to get the maximum benefit from potatoes, you need to boil them together with the peel, after thoroughly cleaning them from dirt and dust.

The energy value of fried potatoes increases several times. Especially if the frying process takes place in deep fat. This occurs due to the absorption of fat from the oil in which the product is cooked. Carcinogens are also released during the frying process.

Name of the finished productEnergy value, kcal per 100 g
Boiled “in its uniform”76
Boiled without peel72
Fried157
Deep fried264
Chips551

The benefits and harms of potatoes

Potatoes can be eaten in the first week after the birth of the baby. The main thing is that the product is in an easily digestible form, without spices and fats. Potatoes will help regulate intestinal motility, improve bowel movements, and avoid increased gas formation.

Composition and beneficial properties of potatoes

Potatoes contain ascorbic acid, vitamins B3, B6, B12, starch, which is converted into glucose. With regular consumption of the product, the body is saturated with both vitamins and minerals. Potassium removes waste and toxins, magnesium supports the functioning of the endocrine and nervous systems, phosphorus regulates the activity of the liver and brain, improves memory and coordination of movement.

Benefits of vegetables for breastfeeding:

  • starch reduces the level of bad cholesterol, is a source of carbohydrates to release energy for the body;
  • tyrosine lowers blood pressure, helps cope with headaches, weakness, and malaise;
  • potato broth - a remedy for getting rid of depression, a natural energy drink;
  • potatoes cleanse the skin of acne, relieve irritation, redness, peeling, make nails and hair firm and elastic;
  • it improves the condition of the digestive tract, normalizes metabolism;
  • Potatoes improve the condition of the skin after burns and injuries;
  • fresh potato juice is indicated for diseases of the heart, blood vessels, and to stimulate intestinal motility.

Potatoes are a filling and healthy product. With regular use of the vegetable, the mother’s body will recover more quickly after childbirth, and the baby will grow and develop properly. The calorie content of the vegetable is 77 kcal per 100 g.

Potato damage

Potatoes can become a source of poisoning to the body due to the content of solanine, which accumulates in the tubers of the plant. The presence of a toxic substance can be determined by the green veins that are present in the finished product. The harmful component also accumulates during product storage.

Potatoes can provoke allergic reactions in a child. The reason for this is proteins and starch. With constant and excessive consumption of vegetables, you can get indigestion, worsening the functioning of the baby’s digestive tract.

Potatoes contain a lot of carbohydrates, which can cause flatulence and irritation of the esophageal mucosa. Dishes containing fatty potatoes can cause constipation in both mother and baby.

Prohibited potato dishes for nursing mothers

For the health of the young mother and child, semi-finished products, such as French fries or main courses, remain an absolute ban. The composition of these products is dominated by a large amount of starch or potato powder.

You should be especially careful when handling potato products in fast food establishments. In this case, there will also be a danger in the fat content of the fries, since the oil is not changed before each frying. The calorie content of such a product is high, but there are no beneficial properties.

Potato chips also remain prohibited during this period. They contain trans fats, which are harmful to the body of the mother and child. The chips also contain flavorings, flavor enhancers and salt. These substances can lead to a deterioration in the composition of breast milk.

Mother Fried Potato Recipes

During the diet of a nursing mother, you can prepare homemade fried potatoes. Unfortunately, you won't be able to achieve much variety. The simplest and relatively healthy way is to fry boiled potatoes. You can use the puree to make deep-fried potato balls.

If time permits, you can make chips in the oven. The appearance and taste of the product will differ from store bought ones, but they will not have a negative impact on mother and child.

To prepare them you will need:

  • 2 potatoes;
  • a tablespoon of vegetable or olive oil;
  • a pinch of salt.

Wash, peel and thinly slice the potatoes. Then soak in water for 10-15 minutes. Then the potatoes must be thoroughly dried.

Find out from this article whether you can eat duck dishes while breastfeeding.

Place parchment paper on a baking sheet and place the slices one at a time, sprinkle with oil and salt.

Dry in the oven at 100-120°C until golden brown.

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