What Not to Eat Postpartum: Foods That Slow Healing

Who knew there are foods you should and shouldn’t eat postpartum?

During my first pregnancy, I researched everything about what to eat during pregnancy—but totally overlooked postpartum nutrition. After Rory (my first) was born, I ate what I thought was “healthy” (smoothies and salads) and splurged on junk food brought by friends and family. The result? I was super constipated and felt completely drained. I thought that was normal.

Before my second birth, I learned about Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and postpartum traditions in The First Forty Days by Heng Ou. Turns out, our ancestors knew exactly how to nourish a postpartum mom. The key? Warm, soft, easy-to-digest foods like soups, stews, and bone broths.

This time, I prepped 60 postpartum meals in advance, and guess what? No constipation! I felt 100x better—even with a toddler running around.

Postpartum Foods to Avoid for Better Digestion and Healing

While focusing on nutrient-dense, warming postpartum meals, it’s equally important to avoid certain foods that can slow digestion, weaken recovery, and disrupt hormone balance.

Cold Foods & Drinks

Your digestive fire slows down during birth, making it harder for your body to process cold foods. Iced drinks, smoothies, ice cream, and raw salads can make it more difficult for your body to restore balance.

Dry Foods

Avoid cakes, bread, crackers, and cookies that lack moisture. At Mama Meals, our lactation cookies and postpartum brownies are made with grass-fed butter and pasture-raised eggs, keeping them nourishing and easy to digest.

Crunchy Foods

Crunchy foods—like chips, certain granola bars, and dry nuts/seeds—are harder to digest postpartum and can contribute to bloating or discomfort.

Raw Vegetables

While veggies are essential, cooked vegetables are much easier to digest postpartum. Avoid raw salads and raw veggie-packed smoothies for the first few weeks.

Highly Processed Foods

Even “healthy” processed foods labeled organic or gluten-free can contain preservatives and gut-disrupting ingredients. Stick to whole, simple, nutrient-dense foods for optimal postpartum recovery.

Postpartum Recovery Starts with Nourishing Foods

The fourth trimester is a critical time for healing, hormone balance, and energy restoration. By focusing on warming, nutrient-dense postpartum foods and avoiding cold, raw, and processed foods, new moms can support digestion, boost milk supply, and recover faster.

Get Nourishing Postpartum Meals Delivered

Postpartum moms deserve nourishing, organic, and easy-to-digest meals without the stress of cooking. Mama Meals provides organic postpartum meal delivery with recipes based on Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Weston A. Price principles.

➡️ Check out our menu and get your first order delivered today!