Eating healthy + newborn baby - is it possible?

[2025MUM2025]

I had a baby 12 weeks ago and struggling to eat healthily. I never feel 'full up', I am always wandering around the house grabbing food and just shovelling it into my mouth. Then I feel fat and stuffed 😫

Does anyone have any tips for me or do I just accept this is life with a newborn?

One thing I always do is cook a healthy dinner as I have DH and another DC. So always a portion of meat with rice/pasta/potatoes and salad/vegetables. Even if we have something out of the freezer I will serve healthy sides with it.

I made a “packed lunch box” in the morning (in the same way I had done pre-mat leave). Husband would also make one up on mornings where I was a struggling or just for a change. Sometimes he would add on a flask of soup too. I found it really helped having all my food there in the fridge and stopped me rummaging desperately in cupboards eating things which didn’t actually address hunger.

Assuming with a 12 week old, you’re tired which is then why we eat more.
try and choose healthy options when grabbing food. Eat an apple rather than a biscuit for example

You’ve just had a baby! Your body is healing! Eat what you flipping well like, your postpartum body deserves nourishing, not disciplining

12 weeks? Definitely give yourself a break. It’s not impossible it just depends on how much energy you have available to make it happen imo!
The one thing I kept up was my healthy breakfast of fruit nuts, seeds and yoghurt but some days I didn’t eat it until 3pm, I got DH to make mine when he made his before he left for work otherwise I’d have probably failed at that. Everything else was just whatever I could cope with . I always found grapes an easy snack, but it didn’t stop me eating biscuits, a bar of chocolate or standing at the cupboard and eating anything when ravenous.
Batch cooking is also handy for those days when you’re just too tired to function. Congrats on the baby also :)

I’m in a similar position right now. Are you breastfeeding and do you drink lots of water throughout the day? I keep a 1 litre water bottle on me at all times. Often “hunger” is a need for both nutritious food and a lot of water. Are you prioritising rest and sleep? I think with a newborn those two things have to come first for me to be able to eat well. Are you actually eating enough at meal times? I wasn’t and it led to sugary snacking which also ultimately made me feel lethargic. I have 4-5 smaller “meals” a day now which I think is better for me at the newborn / young infant stage as I need the energy so much throughout the day and night.

Yes of course our babies are still very young etc but this time round (number 3) I’ve realised just how much not eating nutrient dense food when I was so ravenous really impacted my mood and energy levels previously. I just wanted sweet things and carbs, which is because I was exhausted, it was easy and it was a bit of a dopamine hit. We just don’t keep biscuits etc in the house at the moment because I can’t keep my hands off them when I’m breastfeeding and tired.

I prioritise protein with every meal and every snack and have tried to keep track of how many grams of protein I have each day. The more natural protein I have in my diet, the better I feel for days! I also keep a banana (and water bottle!) by the bed just in case. I rarely eat it but it’s somehow kept me away from the pantry at 2am. I have found lots of easy, nutritious, high protein ideas for meals/snacks that I’m actually excited about and enjoy.