Postpartum Meal Prep: Nourishing Freezer Meals for Healing and Recovery
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The first weeks after bringing home my baby were… intense. Sleep deprivation, endless feedings, and recovering from my C-section made even the simplest things feel difficult.
The best gift I gave myself (and my husband!) during that time? A freezer full of nourishing, ready-to-eat meals and snacks.
Before my son was born, I spent a lot of time researching postpartum—not just what I’d need, but how I wanted those early weeks to feel. I talked with close friends who had already walked through postpartum themselves—friends who shared similar values and were honest about what truly mattered and what really didn’t.
They told me what they were grateful they’d prioritized.
They also told me what they wished they’d skipped.
Through both their experience and my research, I decided I wanted to do postpartum differently from what many might consider typical.
Instead of focusing on building out a nursery we knew we wouldn’t really be using for at least a year, we decided to put our energy into making postpartum restorative. We built a non-toxic, minimalist baby registry that reflected our values and avoided excess, and we shifted our attention toward what would support healing, bonding, and sustainability in those early weeks.
That focus became even more important when I had to pivot from my original birth plan and deliver via C-section (something I share more about in my birth story here). My body needed time, support, and deep nourishment to recover—and I knew I didn’t want to white-knuckle my way through postpartum survival mode.
We wanted space to heal. We wanted it to feel slow. And we wanted to bond with our new little babe.
And a huge part of that came down to nourishment.
Why I Chose a First 40 Days Approach to Postpartum
Before I started prepping meals, I read The First Forty Days. That book completely reframed how I thought about postpartum care.
Across cultures, the first forty days after birth are treated as a sacred window—a time for rest, warmth, and deep nourishment. The emphasis isn’t on “bouncing back,” but on rebuilding the mother. Warm, easy-to-digest meals. Mineral-rich broths. Plenty of fats and protein. And most importantly, support.
I’ll be honest: some of the recipes in the book didn’t exactly make my mouth water at first glance. But the why behind them resonated deeply. Postpartum isn’t the time for restriction or convenience foods—it’s a time to feed your body in a way that supports healing, hormones, and milk supply.
I didn’t follow the book to a T, but I used it as inspiration. I focused on meals that felt grounding, comforting, and genuinely nourishing—foods that would be easy to reheat and eat one-handed, but still support my recovery after my birth.
How I Prepped (and Why I Didn’t Do It Alone)
One of the biggest blessings during this season was community. A close friend—who couldn’t make it to my baby shower—offered to come over and spend a full day meal prepping with me. She even brought her vacuum sealer, which made freezer storage incredibly easy and efficient.
We cooked, assembled, labeled, and froze meals that would carry us through those early weeks. Knowing the freezer was stocked brought a level of peace I didn’t fully appreciate until we were in the thick of postpartum.
Supplies I Used
Vacuum sealer (ended up getting one of my own because I loved it so much! Bonus: I have since used it to help other friends meal prep for postpartum!)
Freezer-safe containers and bags
Labels and a Sharpie
Nothing fancy—just practical tools that made our meal prep a lot easier
What I Prepped for Postpartum
Everything we made was chosen with nourishment, simplicity, and reheating ease in mind.
Breakfast
Breakfast sandwiches (sourdough English muffins with sausage and cheese)
Egg bites (think Starbucks, but far better ingredients)
Breakfast burritos
Lunch & Dinner
Gluten-free lasagna
Creamy chicken and rice
Ancestral chili
Taco bowls
Chicken, bacon, potato soup
Snacks & Lactation Support
Lactation brownies
Lactation balls
Lactation cookies
Muffins
Bone broth
Having a mix of meals and snacks was key—especially during long nights and early mornings when sitting down for a full meal wasn’t always realistic. I also tried to keep a lot of things easy that could be eaten with one hand.
Why We Skipped a Traditional Meal Train
Rather than doing a traditional meal train—which, while well-intentioned, often includes foods that don’t align with postpartum dietary needs—we chose a different route.
For the sake of allergies, preferences, and nourishment, we asked our community to contribute to a gift card for Restorative Roots instead. We ordered a large box of their pre-made meals and snacks, which paired beautifully with what we had already prepped at home.
This allowed us to stay aligned with our values while still receiving support—and ensured that what we were eating truly contributed to healing.
Use code JENNTAYLOR for $20 off your first order of $200 or more!
How it Actually Went
Once our baby arrived, I was immediately grateful for the decision we had made to prioritize postpartum nourishment. In those early days, I never once worried about what we were going to eat. There was no mental load around meal planning, grocery lists, or cooking when my body was healing and our days revolved around feeding, sleeping, and learning our new rhythm as a family.
It was also incredibly helpful once my husband went back to work. Knowing we had weeks’ worth of meals ready meant he didn’t have to worry about jumping straight back into full-time work and making sure we were fed. Those first several weeks felt gentler because of that preparation — for both of us.
Looking back, I’d say postpartum meal prep wasn’t just a luxury, it was a necessity. Because it allowed us the time and space to bond with our baby and rest, I largely attribute it to how well my body healed from pregnancy and birth.
