An Easy (& delicious) Postnatal Meal…

As a new mum the last thing you want to think about is cooking.  However, what you eat and drink in the postnatal period will have a lasting impact on your moods, your energy levels and your ability to take care (and enjoy) your baby.

You can eat nothing but this ayurvedic kitchari and still be sure you’re getting all the right nutrients need to sustain you and your newest life.   It’s warming, grounding and super easy to digest, meaning you body is able to divert all its energy to healing your postpartum body.

To keep things really simple, make up a big batch before your baby is born, freeze into small containers and reheat with plenty of ghee in a pan whenever you fancy a bowl.

You’ll get everything you need from an Indian grocers or health food shop.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of basmati rice
• 1 cup of mung dhal
• 1 inch of grated ginger
• 4 tablespoons of ghee (or coconut oil if you’re vegan)
• 3 bay leaves
• 3 cardamom pods
• 5 cloves
• 8 peppercorns
• 1 teaspoon fenugreek
• ½ handful of sultanas
• ½ teaspoon turmeric
• ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
• 1 pinch asafetida
• 1 stick of cinnamon
• ½ handful of dessicated coconut
• A big handful of coriander leaves
• 2 cups of chopped vata-pacifying veggies – choose from: carrots, green beans, zucchini, celery, pumpkin, sweet potato, asparagus  (avoid gas producing veggies e.g. cabbage, cauliflower as this can aggravate your nervous system and bub’s delicate tummy)

Method:

• Soak the mung dahl overnight and then rinse a few times
• Make a paste by blending coconut, coriander, ginger & ½ cup of warm water
• Heat the ghee in a big pan and fry bay leaves, cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, cloves, peppercorns, fennel, fenugreek & asafetida
• After 1 minute add the paste, rice & drained mung dahl
• Add 6 cups of water and bring to the boil
• Boil for 5 minutes and then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally
• Check consistency and add more water if necessary
• Add sea salt, coriander leaves and/or lemon juice to taste 
• Sit back and enjoy!

Stacey Astley-Clark is a multi-tasking mum, Childbirth Educator & the founder of Buddha Babies;  a social enterprise*  that provides prenatal-yoga and Hypnobirthing Australia™ classes in Bondi and Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

 20% of all course costs go directly to  The Freedom Project; a charity that rescues and rehabilitates victims of child trafficking and sex slavery

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