Postpartum Nutrition: When Eating is Hard
An article for the moms who struggle to find the motivation to feed themselves postpartum. We all have different struggles postpartum, and for some people, eating can be a big one.
POSTPARTUMORLANDO DOULANUTRITION
Anna Waters
6/3/20262 min read
There are lots of resources out there for postpartum meals. You can prepare freezer meals in advance, cook fresh meals, or order takeout. For some of us, feeding ourselves can feel like a chore, but nourishing our bodies is incredibly important for our overall health and recovery.
There are plenty of nutrition goals you can aim for during the postpartum period: warm foods, hydrating foods, nutrient-dense foods. My favorite goal is very simple: make sure that you are fed.
We often hear "fed is best" when it comes to babies, but many of us forget that the same principle applies to parents, too.
If you're having a hard time feeding yourself during postpartum, here are a few tips that can help. Most of them revolve around snacks. Snacks sometimes get a bad reputation, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting your nutrition in smaller bites throughout the day instead of sitting down for full meals. Many of us don't have the time, energy, or appetite for a big meal, especially in those early weeks. Having easy, accessible snacks nearby gives you the opportunity to sneak in a little extra nutrition whenever you can.
So, here are my top postpartum snacking tips:
Choose one snack from each major nutrition category:
Fat
Protein
Fiber
Fruit or vegetables
Keep at least two very different types of snacks in the places where you spend the most time. Having a variety of options makes it more likely that at least one of them will sound appealing when you're hungry. Some good places to stash snacks include:
By your bed
Next to the couch
In the nursery
In a diaper bag or go-bag if you're leaving the house regularly
Bonus points for hydrating snacks.
Fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables are excellent choices. My kids love frozen blueberries and mango, and as a bonus, frozen produce is often less expensive and lasts much longer than fresh.
This is the point where I considered adding more tips, but honestly, you probably have enough on your plate already.
So here's what I really want you to remember: if the only thing that sounds good right now is a peanut butter milkshake, drink the peanut butter milkshake while you work on finding a more sustainable food plan. Sometimes meeting your immediate needs comes first.
As someone who has personally struggled with maintaining adequate nutrition at times, I know how difficult it can be to meet your body's needs when eating feels overwhelming. This post is written specifically for people who are having trouble getting enough calories or maintaining balanced nutrition during the postpartum period. If this isn't your struggle, that's okay, too.
Most people face challenges with food and nutrition at some point. No matter what those challenges look like for you today, I hope you know that you're doing your best. Postpartum is hard, and taking care of yourself isn't always easy. Give yourself grace, celebrate the small wins, and remember: You can do hard things.