Postpartum Food Picks
My 4 Favorite Resources for Where to Shop
This will probably be the first of many, many food posts because as much as I love eating, I *almost* as equally love sharing about food.
I’ve been working in the health & wellness industry for 12 years now with a deep rooted passion for whole, nourishing foods. During my pregnancy, my goal was to continue eating the same way to support my body and my baby as we both were growing. My postpartum goals were/are to continue nourishing myself for breastfeeding (to keep up supply but to also pass along vital nutrients to Saga via my milk), to rebuild my blood loss during labor, and to simply nourish myself consistently.
Living in a rural community, my access to food is a bit different than perhaps what you have available to you. Here we have an abundance of local, free range, organic meat. Beef, pork, lamb, chicken, even duck shares are available through incredible local farms here. I have been on a quest to find raw dairy (the closest I got was raw goat’s milk but my supplier has since moved) and still have high hopes of having a dairy cow one day, or a community dairy cow share. Our growing season is fairly short here but I grow as many vegetables as I can (and planting some new fruits and fruit trees this year!) and purchase from local farms throughout the summer as well. We have one main grocery store, a Safeway, where healthier brand options are there but… limited. So I’m constantly purchasing from multiple different places, some even online, to keep us on budget and within our focus for whole foods.
I should probably note that I do the meal planning & grocery shopping for our family which I prefer and actually really love. I enjoy researching new recipes each week (Half Baked Harvest is our current favorite) and putting together the grocery list based off of what recipes we’ll be eating that week. My focus is on whole, real, nutrient dense foods… accessibly. Meaning I don’t spend more than $100/week on all of our groceries and we don’t eat out.
Coming back to my postpartum nourishment goals, I feel fortunate in saying that breastfeeding came easy for Saga and I. I’ve always put a focus on nutrition to support my supply, not obsessing but simply making a daily effort to cook all of my meals. Warm oatmeal with blueberries and flax and a nut butter in the morning, making sure I get plenty of protein (eggs, sausage, bacon) and water, upping my supplement game with Vitamin-C and Magnesium. Roasted chicken and veggies for lunch. Soups, stews, and nutrient dense dinners. Lentils, rice, quinoa. Drinking more herbal teas. Eating spoonfuls of black tahini (read up on black sesame postpartum, it’s pretty amazing!) My acupuncturist recommended grass-fed red meat, lamb, beets, and dark leafy greens to help rebuild my blood. And I’ve been treating myself to a warm, fresh roll from the oven at the local bakery when something sweet is calling to me.
Real foods are something I feel so excited by. Eating out & ordering in just don’t jazz me up the same way cooking a homegrown or locally grown meal does. We’re also knee deep in winter so the warmer our food is, the better it sounds and tastes. Summer brings a whole new variety of light flavors and lots of sunshine.
For now, I want to leave you with 4 of my favorite resources for shopping for food. Whether you’re looking for organic produce and the best dairy or snacks for your hospital bag or work desk while breastfeeding…
Favorite Online Grocer for Dairy & Bulk Items:
Azure Standard — I do a monthly pickup order from Azure where I purchase our A2 milk, grass fed butter, raw cheese, sprouted breads, tortillas, toothpaste, and organic bulk items like oats, honey, dates, & cooking oils. The quality of their products is amazing and at an affordable price.
Favorite Online Grocer for Snacks:
Martie — This is where I purchase our HU Kitchen chocolate, fair trade coffee, Purely Elizabeth Granola, organic salsa & jams, tuna, roasted almonds, nut butters, and where I got all of my hospital bag snacks (and breastfeeding snacks) from. They have the brands we love at Whole Foods but for a fraction of the price. Side Note: If you haven’t ordered from them yet, drop your email below and I’ll send you a $20 off your first order referral link. (This isn’t sponsored, they just have a pretty awesome referral program for everyone to access!)
Favorite Online Grocer for Organic Produce & Meat:
Misfits Market — I used to order from Misfits on a weekly basis because their selection of organic produce and meat is pretty great. They also have similar snack items to Martie but their delivery system requires you order by a specific day to get it sent out the same day every week. Their fees and prices have also increased over the past few months since I found them so I haven’t found myself ordering from them as much but it’s a good one to check out if you haven’t already.
Favorite Catalog to Purchase Garden Seeds:
Annie’s Heirloom Seeds — I’ve been ordering from Annie’s for a few years now and she has some of the best varieties, at the best prices I have come across. I am dreaming of our summer garden as we speak.
With Gratitude,
Caitlin