Nourishing Postpartum Meals in the Bay Area | Meet French Chef Guillemette

How long does postpartum last? Is it just 6 weeks? 3 months? Or 3 years?

No matter how long this new chapter of your life lasts, undeniably, it’s a process that requires a lot of energy, more than you ever thought you would need.

The first weeks of the transition can be very intense. Unquestionably, learning how to care for your newborn, and feed your baby, while being sleep deprived is challenging. Add recovery from pregnancy and delivery to the mix and a proper meal or a shower suddenly seem like luxury.

Support and nourishment are essential to postpartum wellness

Having support and being nourished on every level is going to be essential… be ready!

Postpartum meals don’t need to be fancy or made with ‘magic’ ingredients.
Favor homemade meals that will nourish your body and your mind – in other words, avoid processed foods, which lack essential nutrients, slow down your system and are now known to impact mental health.

Ideally, postpartum meals are:

1. Warming, gently spiced, soothing for body and mind

2. Hydrating, to help recover from delivery and support breastfeeding

3. Nutrient-dense and balanced in proteins, calcium, healthy fats, fiber, iron, and vitamins, … to avoid postpartum depletion

4. Cooked and highly digestible

5. Colorful plates and rainbow meals to spark joy, and bring a wide variety of nutrients

So how can you get proper nourishment once your baby has arrived? Here are a few ideas:

Anticipate: prepare a few meals at the end of your pregnancy and freeze them for future use.

Throw yourself a food-focused baby shower! Have a few friends help you cook a few dishes so you can freeze them for later.

Communicate your specific postpartum food needs with your partner, so they can help nourish you. Stick a few recipes and lists of healthy snacks on the fridge, so everybody knows where to find information.

Organize a meal train with your friends, family, neighbors. People are usually happy to help, but don’t know how, so don’t hesitate to give details about what to cook, or share recipes!

Subscribe to a meal delivery service – some specialize in postpartum specifically, for meals, broths and snacks.

OR— Hire a Postpartum Chef!

Introducing: Chef Guillemette

Hi, I’m Guillemette. I’m a French private postpartum chef in the San Francisco Bay Area. I prepare nourishing, healing, warming balanced meals created in your home while you rest, recover, and bond with your new baby.

Here’s a recipe that will wonderfully nourish a new mom during early postpartum and beyond:

This lentil, sausage and chard soup is packed with protein, iron, fiber and is very hydrating. It’s made with fennel and leafy greens, that are supposed to be great breastfeeding support.

Double the recipe, and freeze some for later! I promise you will be grateful to yourself.

Lentil, Sausage and Chard Soup

Serves 6

2 tbsp. olive oil
3 mild Italian pork sausages, casing removed
–
1 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves, chopped
2 celery stalks, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 fennel, diced
Salt, pepper
–
1.5 cup lentils (green or brown)
2 bay leaves
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
6 cups water
–
1 bunch chard (or other dark leafy greens), chopped

To serve : Parmesan shavings

Heat olive oil in a large pan or Dutch oven. On medium-high heat, add sausages and brown, breaking down into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon and stirring often. Add onion, garlic, celery, carrots fennel, salt and pepper on medium heat and cook until softer, stirring often.

Add lentils, bay leaves, crushed tomatoes, and water. Cover with a lid, bring to the boil, then simmer for about 40 minutes. Lentils should be tender.
Remove bay leaves.
Add the chopped chard, cover with the lid and simmer for 5 minutes, until chard is just wilted.

Season to taste. Serve in bowls and top with parmesan shavings.

Keeps in the fridge for 4 days, freezes for 3 months.

Recipe by Guillemette, Private Bay Area Postpartum Chef

Check out Guillemette’s website to learn more about delicious postpartum care in the San Francisco Bay Area.

You can also contact her for a free consultation about her postpartum chef services at: hello.chef.guillemette@gmail.com | (669) 245-8181 | Instagram