'Postpartum Nutrition Cookbook' shows new moms how to nourish their bodies, focus on self-care

When there’s a new baby at home, it’s not unusual for caretakers to focus less on their own wellbeing. And, there’s often a lot of pressure on women to bounce back, lose weight and get in shape after giving birth. But your body needs nourishment to recover.

That’s where “The Postpartum Nutrition Cookbook” comes in. Written by registered dietitians Diana Licalzi and Ashley Reaver, the book is a guide to nutrients and healing foods. It shows new parents how to prepare nutritious meals and center self-care.

Licalzi says that after someone gives birth, there are two stages of recovery. The acute phase is the physical recovery from labor and delivery. But long-term recovery can take up to 18 months to regain the muscle strength lost with pregnancy.

It’s more important to focus on regaining energy and strength than losing weight, and the recipes in the book do just that, Licalzi says.

“If you're not consuming enough energy — enough calories — your body's going to take those calories to keep your body going. It's going to keep your heart beating, your lungs breathing, et cetera. It's not going to be putting that energy into rebuilding that tissue that you need to really heal,” Licalzi says. “I like to tell moms, ‘Take that time, especially in those first six weeks, to really focus on just nourishing your body and giving it what it needs to heal.’”

By Diana Licalzi and Ashley Reaver 

White bean chicken chili

Banana bread baked pancakes

Electrolyte replenisher

Reprinted with permission fro the publisher, Blue Star Press. All rights reserved.