Nourishing Yourself Postpartum - with Di from Mama's Meals
The importance of nourishing new mothers is a sacred practice in many ancient cultures, however, in modern society it can often be overlooked. Pregnancy, childbirth and the demands of looking after a new baby is no mean feat which means that replenishing a mother’s body of essential nutrients is so important in the fourth trimester!
When it comes to foods to focus on postpartum, keep it simple and opt for nutrient-rich whole foods to help promote healing and recovery. In traditional cultures, foods which are warm and soft are often served to mothers in the first month after birth. So, let’s reclaim some of that ancient wisdom and focus on fuelling your postpartum to help you feel your best.
Foods to focus on:
- Soups, stews and bone broth;
- Curries with warming spices such as turmeric and ginger;
- Protein such as eggs, fish, legumes and animal protein;
- Healthy fats such as avocado, nuts, seeds, tahini and coconut oil;
- Roasted root vegetables such as pumpkin, kumara and carrots;
- Whole grains such as oats and quinoa;
- Porridge topped with nut butter, seeds, and warm fruit or berries.
Preparing for your postpartum period is an investment you will not regret. In your third trimester, you could start by making space in your freezer for some pre-made meals to nourish yourself in those first few weeks. Even better, ask your friends and family to start a meal train for you once your baby arrives so you can rest up knowing that you are being nourished.
Di’s Top 5 Postpartum Recipes:
These recipes are some of my go-to recipes postpartum. They are simple, nutritious and of course, delicious.
Di has kindly given us her top 5 recipes which we have turned into a FREE download - you can get from here:
Creamy Red Lentil Dahl
Freezer friendly
Dairy free and gluten free
Dahl is the perfect comfort dish postpartum. It is full of beautiful aromatic and anti-inflammatory spices and is packed with fibre, protein and iron from the lentils.
Chicken Noodle Soup
Freezer friendly
Dairy free
This is one of my favourite recipes. I filled my freezer with this soup when I was pregnant – it is like a hug in a bowl and it is full of nutrients.
Beef Ragu
Dairy free
Freezer friendly
This ragu is so easy to make and it freezes incredibly well. It is easy to digest and rich in iron. You can serve with pasta or mashed potatoes and a side of steamed vegetables for the ultimate comfort meal.
Peanut Butter Chickpea Cookies
Prep time: 5 minutes
Gluten free & dairy free
Oat Muesli Bites
Prep time: 10 minutes
Freezer friendly
Dairy free & nut free
These muesli bites are delicious as well as nourishing. A great one-handed snack that you can make before your baby arrives as they freeze well.
Thanks so much Di! These look incredible! x
Heres the download again: https://www.vivalavulva.co.nz/collections/resources-for-mamas-viva-la-vulva/products/mamas-meals-postpartum-recipes
