For years, new moms with babies who are having trouble breastfeeding have been advised by lactation specialists to follow ‘a caveman diet’.  Babies who are gluten intolerant or allergic to cow's milk can sometimes naturally refuse breastmilk due to the discomfort they'll feel after eating.

Unfortunately, it’s usually presented as nothing more than a list of ‘foods not to eat’ and nothing more. No suggestions for all the wonderful things you can eat, nor recipes to prepare with them, so it ends up coming across as so punitive, restrictive and seemingly impossible that many moms give up and opt to feed their babies processed formula instead.

In addition to all the health benefits that your baby will miss out on if they’re given formula in place of your breast milk, you’ll also miss out, as breastfeeding is a natural part of the body’s process of shedding the extra weight you put on during pregnancy.

And what new mom doesn’t want her pre-baby body back…now?

You may have heard about the caveman diet as it is indeed referred to, but felt it was too radical or perhaps even a bit too manly.

It doesn’t have to be!

In this easy to follow 6-week meal guide, it all becomes clear.  With simple preparation suggestions and leftover dinner from last night turning into tomorrow’s lunch, you’ll be able to go Paleo without feeling confused or as though you’re missing out.

The Paleo Lifestyle is indicated for anyone seeking better health, whether they’re dealing with illness, trying to lose weight or simply want to feel better.

Paleo Living works well for baby, too; the exciting thing is that most of the common allergens that tend to cause colic are already not things that are eaten on the Paleo diet, such as dairy, soy, peanuts, gluten containing grains, corn, beans, artificial colors, sweeteners and flavors.

In keeping with the guidelines from the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, during breastfeeding you’ll need about 500 calories a day more than you did before you became pregnant. 

As such, I’ve written this plan to be roughly 2,500 calories per day of healthy, delicious Paleo foods. Remember to listen to your body’s hunger and satiety cues above all else, though, as only you know when you’re full… or when you need just a little more kale.

·         A little side note: Quite interesting to note that the word ‘colic’, another common issue with babies, comes from the Greek kolikos, meaning "suffering in the colon”, which is precisely the reason why children and adults alike fare so well on Paleo!

If your baby does have colic, there are some otherwise Paleo friendly foods that may be causing your baby’s discomfort, including hot spices, including most peppers, shellfish, citrus fruits, proteins including eggs, fish, chicken and beef, raw nuts, tomato and cruciferous veggies.

·          Lactation experts suggest omitting the foods above initially and then testing one at a time to see which seem to trigger symptoms for baby, and which do not.  Of course, once your baby has been weaned, you can add back in all the great Paleo foods on the second list.

  *Please note that this is not an exhaustive list of all foods that would potentially trigger colicky symptoms in your baby, just some of the more commonly reported foods.  As this plan is not specifically for colic, it does include some of the foods on this list which some have reported can trigger symptoms.  If your baby exhibits discomfort when you consume it, simply omit and replace with one of the other protein options listed throughout the plan, and check with your doc!

By following this six week plan, not only is your baby likely to start feeling a lot better, you’ll also be that much closer to your pre-baby weight!