Here’s the thing about becoming a parent; it’s indescribable. That’s why time and time again you hear new parents say things like, “No one ever told me that…” The truth is, the emotion tied to having a child is beyond language. Of course it is incredible, and tiring, and emotional, and exciting, but those are just filler adjectives, used because they are all we have that comes close enough to describing the experience.

In an effort to help out with the, “No one ever told me” bit, I’m coming to you straight from the new-mom side. As we round the corner on Mother’s Day, I think it’s important to reflect on a part of the postpartum experience that few people ever really talk about: eating. Or more importantly, making sure new moms are eating enough of the right things amidst their emphasis on feeding the baby.

Good Advice

The greatest advice anyone gave me and my husband after the birth of our son a year ago was actually directed at my husband; “You feed her because she’s feeding the baby.”

And it was true. In the postpartum haze of all-nighters and early feedings and dirty diapers and post-delivery healing, I was too tired and busy nursing the baby to feed myself. When my best friend flew across the country to meet our new son she wasted no time laying down the new who-feeds-who directive. And it saved us. I started to feel well-nourished, even though I was sustaining two lives with my one body, and my husband felt even more useful and involved in this very special time of caring. And useful he was. He got up every morning and made me a massive breakfast. As such, I was at the whim of whatever he was making, even if our tastebuds were complete opposites. While I normally gravitated toward a starchy or sugary breakfast, all of a sudden I was eating really nutrient-packed meals with endless amounts of veggies and protein.

I could feel my body maximizing the nutrition of each meal.

I began to fuel up on spinach, asparagus, and green peppers. He would toss mushrooms and broccoli into an omelette along with sweet potato sides. He made me green smoothies with pumpkin and chia seeds. Avocados became substitutes for cheese and bananas became sweet-tooth satisfiers. I could feel my body maximizing the nutrition of each meal. Anything without a heavy dose of vegetables felt empty from then on. I had never consciously craved nutrition from food before. This was a new experience for me. In a time when nutrition was essential to my health, healing, and the well-being of my baby, this new food palette was making all the difference. I was healing faster, my milk supply was up, and my energy and hormones were balancing. All things doctors like to see after you give birth.

What I wish I knew

When I reflect back on those first few weeks of parenthood I can’t help but think what an amazing treat it would have been to have a box of nutrient-dense meals show up at our doorstep, pre-portioned and ready to cook. The convenience of having someone else craft the recipes, portion out the ingredients, and make sure everything in the meal was full of plant-based goodness would have been a real time-saver for us in those hectic first weeks of parenthood. Let’s just say Purple Carrot is my new go-to baby shower gift for all the soon-to-be parents out there.

This mother’s day, help nourish the new or expecting mom in your own life. Or, reflect on the woman who fed you through endless midnight feedings, perfectly packed lunch boxes, and college care packages and repay the favor.

Thank you to all the amazing Moms out there who have kept us nourished and well-fed over the years.

Gift Mom a box of Purple Carrot today.