The Taco Bell Order That Could Help Your Supply

Whether you're pregnant, breastfeeding, or just craving a Chalupa, I think everyone can agree: Taco Bell is the bomb. It's been a go-to favorite since I was kid and I frequented the drive-thru a lot during my pregnancy. But that's not necessarily a bad thing. Taco Bell has a lot of great nutritional options for dinner and the Taco Bell order that could increase your milk supply may just make it a regular spot for you on Taco Tuesday.

OK, let's make one thing clear — food on its own won't increase your milk supply. If you're actually battling low milk supply (and not many people truly are), you're going to have to do some research to figure out why, according to Kelly Mom. Does your baby have a bad latch? Do they have a tongue tie or lip tie? Are you stressed to the point of low production? Are you dehydrated? Talking to a lactation consultant and having them watch you breastfeed can figure out if your issue is low milk supply and why.

If you do have low milk supply and just want an excuse to eat at Taco Bell, there's good news — eating what you love may actually help your milk supply. Not because a crunchy tortilla holds some kind of nutrients to replenish your milk ducts, but because eating what you want is relaxing, tastes good, and makes you feel good. International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) Nadine Fournier tells Romper that there's often a placebo effect on breastfeeding moms regarding galactagogues, herbs or food that can increase milk supply. Often, moms assume these foods will work to increase their milk supply, so they are more relaxed when breastfeeding and their supply increases with less stress.

IBCLC Kristin Gourley of Lactation Link agrees. "Being relaxed can help with milk let-down because oxytocin doesn't release as easy if mom has high stress and thus cortisol levels," she says. And I don't know about you, but I think tacos are relaxing AF.

So what should you order at Taco Bell to increase your milk supply? Whatever you want. La Leche League International noted that even with a diet of not-so-great foods, your milk supply is still OK. But maintaining a healthy, well-balanced diet is still a great idea and, believe it or not, you can do it with Taco Bell. Especially if you order a Gordita Supreme with steak.

According to CNN, this meal is recommended for athletes hitting up their local Taco Bell. It's a healthy, balanced mix of carbs and protein, but it also has another important nutrient: iron. Romper reached out to Taco Bell to see if they'd received feedback from moms specifically on whether eating the Gordita Supreme did help increase their milk supply, but did not hear back at the time of publication. Regardless, the Gordita Supreme is loaded with iron — a whopping 15 percent of your daily iron, according to the Taco Bell website, which is really great for your milk supply. A study in the journal Birth noted that mothers with low iron often reported having a low milk supply. This issue often lead to the same mothers turning to formula instead as their babies were not interested in nursing.

Again, there's no guarantee that a Gordita Supreme with steak is going to fix your low milk supply blues, but it can't hurt to try, right? All of that iron has the possibility of helping and, let's face it, Taco Bell is delicious, so it will make you happy. And when mama's happy? Everyone's happy. Especially when she's not stressing over her milk production.