Perfect Postpartum Soup

Healing Chicken Ginger Soup

I know that during the summer, hot soup is probably the furthest food from most people's minds. Yet, following pregnancy, a mother's body changes from hot to cold.  In order for her body to heal well, she needs warming, easy to digest foods, like soups and stews.  I've recently started a new postpartum training program with Sacred Postpartum.  Along with the wealth of information on ways to honor and nurture new mothers, there are quite a few delicious recipes to feed and nourish the body.  I found this recipe online at nourishingmeals.com and thought it sounded like a perfect postpartum meal to bring to a new mother.  This recipe yeilds 6 servings, so I would likely double the recipe to make it count. 

To make the broth, place all ingredients for broth into a 6-quart pot. Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat medium-low and simmer for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Strain broth into a large bowl or another pot using a colander. Place chicken breasts onto a plate to cool. Pour the broth back into the pot. Once chicken is cooled, remove the skin, pull the meat from the bone and chop the chicken into bite-sized pieces.

For the Broth:

2 bone-in organic chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total)

8 cups water

1 large onion, chopped

3 stalks celery, chopped

1 large carrot, chopped

1 whole head garlic, cut in half cross-wise

1/4 to 1/2 cup finely chopped fresh ginger (or more!)

2 to 3 thai chiles, chopped or 1 teaspoon crushed red chili flakes

2 cups chopped shiitake mushrooms

1 stalk fresh lemongrass, chopped

cilantro stems

1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns

3 teaspoons Herbamare or sea salt

For the Soup:

1 medium onion, cut into crescent moons

3 to 4 stalks celery, sliced into diagonals

3 carrots, cut into matchsticks

2 to 3 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms

cooked chicken pulled from the bone and chopped

sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Optional Additions/Toppings:

rice noodles

chopped fresh basil

chopped fresh napa cabbage

chopped fresh cilantro

chopped fresh thai green chiles

lime wedges

Place all of the veggies for the soup (onion, carrot, celery, and shiitake mushrooms) into the pot with the broth. Cover and simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. Add the chicken. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer a minute or two more or until vegetables are cooked to your liking. Ladle soup into bowls and serve with a handful of basil, cilantro, and cabbage on top. Sprinkle with thai chiles if desired. You can also add a handful of cooked thai rice noodles to each bowl if desired. Squeeze a little lime juice over each bowl. Make sure to have some tissues handy if you are using the thai chiles!

If you try this recipe, let us know how you liked it!  If you have a great postpartum meal that you bring to new mothers, please share the recipe below!

Warmly,

Andrea

Tasty Tuesday-American Flag Fruit Dessert

America.  Home of the brave, land of the free, tastiest food anywhere!  With the 4th of July coming up, BBQ's will be a plenty.  We will be helping a lovely mother with some postpartum services so she can be relaxed and enjoy her festivities.

Here is one of my easy recipes to share at any 4th of July picnic/bbq/get together.

Ingredients:

1 pkg. washed strawberries
1 pkg. washed raspberries
1 pkg. washed cherries
1 pkg. washed blueberries
white chocolate covered pretzels

Supplies:
1 ceramic bowl
1 lg. platter

Directions:

Put blueberries in bowl.
Place bowl on upper lefthand corner of platter.
Alternate layers of red fruits with white pretzels to resemble flag.
Done. You've earned the right to devour the remaining packages of fruit/pretzels.

Here's the link from my pinterest if you want to read this woman's blog.

Happy 4th of July!!!

-Cathy

Popsicles for Breakfast are Life Changing!

Seriously, popsicles for breakfast are amazing and healthy.  Who would have thought?  During those summer months we are asked about easy breakfasts for hot, pregnant clients and their kids.  Moms want a break from slaving over the stove and kids want a break from eggs and cereal.  Enter....popsicles!

They take 5-10 minutes to prepare, have loads of protein, good fats, and fruit.  Kids think you are a Goddess for letting them eat treats in the morning, they cool you down, and can be grabbed quickly for an on-the-go meal. For an even easier way to prepare breakfast, simply hire A Joyful Journey and we can meal prep for you!

Here are a few of my favorite recipes and the ice pop maker I adore:


Berry Parfait Yogurt Popsicles 

Ingredients:

• 3 cups fresh or frozen fruit, roughly chopped if large: strawberries (about 1 1/2 pints), cherries, whole blueberries, raspberries, peaches, blackberries, plums—pick your favorite!
• 2-4 tablespoons honey, maple syrup, or agave, divided
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup milk (any kind dairy/non-dairy will do—I used skim. Omit if using regular vs. Greek yogurt)
• 2/3 cup prepared granola

Directions:

Mix fruit and honey together in a lg. bowl.

In another bowl, mix vanilla extract, yogurt, and milk.

In popsicle mold, alternate fruit/honey mixture with yogurt mixture.  Pour granola on top.

Place popsicle sticks in mold and let freeze for 6-7 hrs.

Enjoy.

Blueberry Oatmeal Popsicles

Ingredients  (makes about 10 large popsicles)

• 1/2 cup  quick oats
• 1 cup water or milk of choice
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (optional, use coconut cream for dairy free/Vegan)

Directions

1. Heat oatmeal and liquid in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or until steaming hot.
2. Mix in frozen blueberries and maple syrup.
3. Pour into popsicle moulds.  If using yogurt, alternative oatmeal and yogurt to create a layer.  Insert popsicle sticks.
4. Place in freezer for 4-6 hours or until completely frozen.  Run under hot water to loosen popsicles.

Chia Coconut Pudding Popsicles

Ingredients:

• 1 can (14-15 oz) coconut milk (I used full fat)
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• fresh fruit of your choice
• 1 Tbsp sugar or honey (optional)
• 1/2 tsp vanilla or almond extract (optional)

Directions:

1. Pour the coconut milk into a small bowl. Make sure to get out all the thickened stuff inside the can. Give it a whisk or a stir to combine well.
2. Stir in the chia seeds and let sit, stirring once or twice, for about 30 minutes, to allow the seeds to expand.
3. Add a little bit of the coconut mixture to the bottom of each of 5 popsicle molds.
4. Drop some of the fruit in on top. If your fruit is too big to fit, chop it up.
5. Continue adding more coconut mixture, then more fruit until the molds are almost full. Rap the mold firmly against a hard surface to encourage the pudding to fill all the nooks and crannies in and around the fruit.
6. Insert popsicle sticks into the molds, they will stand up by themselves.
7. Top off the molds if there is any room in them.
8. Freeze for several hours until completely frozen.
9. To remove from the molds, fill a sink with hot water, just deep enough to immerse the mold up to, but not over, the rim, and hold the mold in the hot water for about 15 seconds to loosen the pops.
10. Pull the popsicles out of the mold and enjoy.
11. If you want to save the pops for later, wrap them in waxed paper and place in zip lock baggies.

What is Your Birth Plan?

Any mom to be is bound to have been asked the question, "What is your birth plan?"  There are so many options out there.  Where should she begin?

For starters, you need to do your research.  This is not what your friends, family, or random Facebook post says.  We love Evidence Based Birth. They continually bring forth new studies, and conferences to make the best possible outcomes for mother and baby.  Seeking the opinion of your midwife or ob/gyn is another great option.  I use the word opinion though.  Research and ask questions.  Ask if their advice is backed up by studies.

Now onto the birth plan.  When giving your birth plan to your provider and any other medical professional, I've noticed a couple things.  One, your plan is usually too long. Just like a resume, it should be limited to 1 page.  Two, the clients who make a visual birthplan tend to have their preferences followed more accurately.  Most people are very visual and respond better to this than words alone.

We have sample Birth Preferences that we can make for you.  These visual plans will ensure your providers have a clear understanding of your wishes.  Birth Mentoring is a service we offer for those clients who wish to have a birth plan made and want a doula without the doula.  Some of our couples are very private but they want guidance.  This service is perfect for that!

If you have any questions or would love to hire us contact us.  It would be our honor to serve you.

Happy Friday,

Cathy, Owner
A Joyful Journey Birth Services

A Summer Challenge

We live in a time of extreme activity.  In most cultures, there used to be a mandatory 40 day sitting in.  40 glorious days of healing and bonding with a new baby.  This sitting in period would come complete with family and friends bringing meals, doing laundry, helping with other children, and cleaning the home.  Nowadays, women are lucky to get 1 meal brought to them.  Sure their husbands/partners probably help with some dishes and/or laundry but let's me honest, it takes a lot more to run a house than the occasional meal and emptying the dishwasher.  And our husbands/partners still work full time and might need to help with older children.  This fast paced life is straining our lives way too much.

We are now a majority 2 income household population.  Women just don't have as much time to help each other.  We are so busy over scheduling our littles, checking our Facebook, and taking cross-fit classes that we have forgotten about our community.  What if we, gasp, only scheduled one activity for our children at a time, logged onto Facebook/internet for 30 min max a day, and played outside with our family as a way to get fit?  Not including our full time work schedules and rest time, we would have SO much more time.  Time for intimacy, time for friends, time for worship, time for community.  We would have lots of time.

I challenge you to try this.  I challenge you to find someone you know who is pregnant.  Make her  the recipe below.  Spend time in conversation with her.  I promise you, it will open up windows, bring happiness to you both and maybe save a woman who was having a hard time and needed a kind gesture.  I believe in the domino effect.  Kindness preceeds kindness.  I challenge you to commit to 1 small act of kindness a week.  Be the change, share the happiness.

Easy Peasy Postpartum Herbal Spray

Equipment Needed:
muslin tea bags
1 pot

Ingredients:
2 oz lavender buds
2oz chamomile
2 oz calendula

Preparation:

Fill pot with water.
Boil Water.
Fill muslin tea bags with mixed herbs.
Shut off heat when water starts to boil.
Throw tea bags in water and steep for 30 min.

When cooled, put in a pitcher and bring to a new mom.
Placed in peri bottle or in a sitz bath, postpartum mom will have reduced inflammation and increased comfort in her bottom.


Alternative Acts to Help a Postpartum Woman:

Bring her a cup of coffee
Make her older kids a sack lunch and surprise her with it
Bring a meal/Order the family of pizza
Fold laundry
Wash/Dry the dishes
Mail her a homemade card/letter
Hire a Postpartum Doula to cater to the new Mom
www.ajoyfuljourney.org