The Postpartum Nutrition Cookbook: Nourishing Foods for New Moms in the First 40 Days and Beyond

Registered dietitians and parents Licalzi (cofounder, Type 2 Diabetes Revolution) and Reaver (creator, Lower Cholesterol Longer Life Method) noticed there wasn’t much literature about postpartum nutrition. They decided to remedy that by writing this book to note the importance of diet in supporting breastfeeding and the postpartum recovery process. The challenge of fitting in time even to grab a quick bite from the pantry is addressed, with attention given to how to plan meals, prep ahead, and stock one’s kitchen to make cooking even easier. Their book explores all the intricate processes that occur in a human body throughout pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the recovery process, including both short-term recovery (often named “the fourth trimester”) and long-term recovery, which can last up to 18 months past birth. Diagrams and timelines illustrate key points. A postpartum parent’s changing needs for vitamins and minerals are also included, along with ideas for stocking the freezer before the baby arrives. Each recipe includes suggestions for boosting nutritional content even further by adding protein or vitamins, or by making them plant-based.