FIT Guide

Emily Skye

Postpartum meal planning: What to eat after the baby arrives

I’m breastfeeding – what do I need to eat?

Breastfeeding burns up energy, and your body is taking nutrients from you to make milk for your baby. So if you're postpartum and breastfeeding, FIT Advanced Sports Dietitian Lisa Middleton suggests you will need an estimated extra 300–500 calories per day on top of your basic calorie needs to make sure you’re not left depleted.

If you’re part of the FIT Fam, you’ll have access to heaps of nutritious snack recipes – in addition to your main meal plan – to keep you satisfied.

It’s also important to note that everyone is different, and needs will change as your baby’s feeding patterns change – trust your body and use your hunger levels to inform your choices, too.

Breastfeeding also increases your fluid requirements by around 500ml (3-4 glasses) per day. So take your water bottle with you wherever you go, but also remember you can get this fluid from smoothies, home-made juices, soups and tea. Try to avoid having coffee close to your baby’s feeding time, and it’s safest to avoid drinking alcohol while breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding mothers should also ensure they’re getting adequate:

• Calcium – choose calcium-rich snacks, e.g. smoothies, yoghurt, cheese or tinned salmon on rice cakes.
• Iron – eat iron-rich foods such as lean red meat, legumes, eggs and leafy greens.
• Fatty acids – aim to include oily fish (e.g. salmon) in meals at least 3 times a week.
• Iodine – you may require a breastfeeding multivitamin to meet your needs.

• Vegetarian and vegan mothers may require further supplements – speak to your doctor or an accredited practising dietitian.

I’m not breastfeeding – what do I need to eat?

If you’re postpartum but not breastfeeding, just do your best to eat nutritious foods that will give you the energy you need to look after the little one.

The best dishes for postpartum meal prep

Having some frozen meals handy can make your postpartum meal planning a lot easier. Using spare time to batch cook a nourishing recipe (or freezing a few of your favorites before the baby arrives) will ensure you’ve got access to nourishing, healthy food that you actually want to eat when you don’t have time to cook.

It’s also a good idea to get into the habit of cooking more than you need so you can start utilising leftovers in your postpartum meal plan.

Meals to batch cook for the freezer

• Soup

• Curry

• Casserole & stew

• Pasta sauce

• Meat-based dishes

Meals to use as leftovers
Along with the dishes above, these meals will store well in your fridge for 2–3 days.

• Grain-based salads

• One-pot bakes & pies

• Tray bakes

• Pasta & pasta bakes

• Enchiladas

What should a day of postpartum meals look like?

Looking for some inspo for your postpartum meal prep? Here’s what a great day of fuelling yourself looks like when you’ve just had a baby. Keep in mind that every woman is different, and you may need to eat more or less than this.

Breakfast: Apple Cinnamon Overnight Oats
Keep it simple with these overnight oats. With low-GI carbs for energy and an impressive 23 grams of protein, the best thing about this breakfast is that you can make it in bulk and keep it in the fridge for up to a week.

Morning snack: Choc Chip Protein Mug Cake
A chocolate protein fix you can cook in the microwave.

Lunch: Pulse Pasta Salad
A literal handful of ingredients can give you this nourishing pasta salad, filled with plenty of fibre, protein and healthy fats.

Optional afternoon snack: Raspberry Chia Snack Smoothie
When you’ve only got one arm free (because the other is holding the baby) a snack you can drink is your friend.

Dinner: Slow-Cooker Chicken and Chickpea Soup
Easy to cook, easy to freeze, and full of vegetables and lean protein, this soup is the perfect addition to your postpartum meal prep dinner schedule.

You’ve got this, mama!

With a new baby to care for, the early weeks after giving birth are a time to go with the flow. Your ‘return to normal’ – including any weight loss – will be different to anyone else’s, so don’t compare yourself. It takes 9 months to grow a baby, so it’s going time to get back to anything close to your pre-pregnancy body. Just stay focused on feeding your baby and keeping yourself healthy.

If you’re looking to regain your strength after having a baby, I’ve got you. Try my dedicated postpartum workout program FIT Post-Pregnancy, including meal plans and expert advice, for free for 7 days at Emilyskyefit.com/join-us.