Be Well Bites: The Best Foods to Eat After Having a Baby

Need-to-Know Nutrients

When you eat foods rich with nutrients, you'll notice that your calories go a long way. You'll feel fuller longer, and will have the get-up-and-go mentality you need for those 3 a.m. feeding calls. McManus suggests the following to fuel up on:

• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains
• Lean protein, like fish, beef, and soy foods
• Dairy -- choose skim or low-fat milk
• Leafy greens
• Iron, especially if you suffer from postpartum symptoms. You can find this in things like fortified cereals, prune juice, and lean meats.
• Vitamin C, which can help with wound healing for mothers who delivered via C-section. Find this in oranges, tomatoes, and natural fruit juices.

If you're in the mood for a snack, McManus says to think carefully before you choose. Steer clear from snack packs since they are stocked with tons of artificial sweeteners. Instead, either have a tiny portion of what you actually want or pick from one of the following:

• Whole-grain crackers with hummus
• Nuts (stash some in your purse in case you get a craving on the go)
• A cup of whole-grain cereal with low-fat milk.
• A hardboiled egg with some carrots
• Low-fat cheese with a piece of fruit
• Peanut butter on an apple
• Plain Greek yogurt -- add in a cup of berries to avoid added sugar from the flavored kind.