While living in Spain this year, I haven’t gotten to hang out with many newborn babies and their moms. I miss them - really, deeply, and viscerally. A couple of weeks ago, though, I got to spend a morning with a 6-week old and her mama in order to film some demonstrations of baby care techniques for my upcoming online course, Life Beyond Birth 101. The rest of the day and into the next I felt so GOOD! The time we spent together was fun; we had a good time and laughed a lot. I

Bone broth is the darling of the health industry, and many food manufacturers are taking advantage of the craze by packaging this amazing stuff for sale. It provides easy-to-absorb, essential and non-essential amino acids (the building blocks of proteins); collagen/gelatin, which help form connective tissue; and nutrients that support digestive functions, immunity and brain health. Athletes are all about this stuff, and new moms should be too! It is so simple and cheap to

Oatmeal has a reputation as a boring porridge, but I have come to love it. It is incredibly filling, especially coupled with saturated fats, and is easy to make and digest. The addition of the eggs in this recipe gives it extra protein and creaminess; it is delicious topped with fruit and nuts! OATMEAL CUSTARD 3 c water, milk, or non-dairy milk 1.5 c rolled oats 2 eggs 1/2 c dried fruit (raisins chopped prunes, apricots, dates, etc) toppings: fresh fruit ~ berries, c

I often encounter first-time mothers struggling to shift from the life they have known up until birth to their new realities of life with baby. Most of them have never been told about the subtleties of this shift. The to-do list, the rapid pace of life, the external achievements, and the ignoring of their deepest needs no longer serve mama in this new reality. These things are replaced with days that slip by; feeling everything deeply; becoming engrossed in your baby’s every

Congee is a traditional porridge in many parts of Asia, made of rice and water. It can be sweet or savory, thick or smooth, but it is always comforting. I like to serve this and a mug of warm bone broth to mamas as their first meal after birth. The rice is totally broken down, so there is little effort required from the digestive system, and the molasses adds iron as well as a rich sweetness. The spices and ghee add to the perfection of this dish! Start cooking when labor

After all the contortions and effort the body goes through in pregnancy and birth, new mama digestion is weak. As summer begins (this one seems particularly hot!) it is often tempting to eat lots of raw fruits and vegetables, or cold treats. However, these foods require the digestive system to warm up them up in order to break them down. Warming up food uses energy that could be going to healing and breastmilk production. So, if YOU have recently given birth, do yourself a fa

Pot Pie is a wonderful southern comfort food. It is warm and creamy, salty with a slight sweetness in the crust, and satisfyingly filling. When we were first married, my husband used to joke about wanting a chicken pot pie at the end of a long day of work...like making one was my wifely duty! It sounded hard to make, but one day I decided to go for it, and found it surprisingly easy and delicious. I’m constantly searching for recipes that are familiar to the American p

This dish is a wonderful food for mamas anytime! It is grounding, warm, nourishing, easy to digest, and fills the house with a wonderful aroma. All my clients ask for more! New Mother's Kitchari 1 c red lentils 3T ghee 1t black mustard seeds 1t cumin seeds 1t garam masala 1 pinch hing (asafetida) 1c basmati rice 5-6 c water or broth ½ - 1 c of any mixed vegetables, finely chopped (I like to use a combination of carrots, chard, green beans, and/or zucchini) 1 inch pi

This recipe evolved from my first experience of postpartum. It has served me well in nurturing all the mamas I have worked with since. For a more filling variation, try serving it over quinoa or rice. My friend (and amazing birth doula) Rachel calls this dish, "a hug in a bowl." It is comfort food at its best: warm, mushy, creamy, salty, slightly sweet, and simple. May you feel the hugs in each spoonful! COCONUT MILK STEW 3-4 small or medi

Your baby is inching closer to 6 months old and you are wondering how this introduction of food thing is supposed to go. Mainstream advice says to give them iron-fortified rice cereal when they reach 6 months old, and advance from there, spooning jarred baby food into their cute, delighted mouth. However, some babies aren’t into the spoon…meaning not interested in using it as a utensil to get food to their mouths. They want to feel the food with their hands, maybe smear it

Working with new parents, I often see how having a baby challenges their abilities to meet their own needs. Our culture conditions us to do whatever it takes to ensure the survival and happiness of our offspring, even at the expense of our own health and wellbeing. The reality is that if our own needs are met, we are better able to meet the needs of those dependent on us. There is a whole industry built on guiding us to do what our culture has told us not to do. How many

We are a society that turns to experts to tell us how to do everything from making scones to finding our true calling. When it comes to the adventure of parenthood, the scene is no different. As a mama, I have found myself stressed out because things aren’t going the way they are “supposed” to go. Many of the families I work with ask questions about the gazillion topics covered by professionals. Trying to live up to an ideal can provoke a sense of pressure, failure, and over

These cookies are big on nutrition, small on sugar, and oh-so-soul-satisfying. Partners and big kids love them too!