Easy peasy postpartum snacks for the hospital. I think the rumor is out hospitals don’t have the best food, so come prepared. While you can eat whatever you want postpartum when given the go by staff, it varies from hospital to hospital and from one provider to another whether or not you can eat snacks during labor or anything besides clear liquids.
The question I get asked a lot is, can you bring food to the hospital when having a baby? Yes, most hospitals have no problem with patients bringing food into the hospital. Matter of fact, if you ask the nurses, they may even have a binder full of restaurants that deliver to the hospital if you wanted to order food.
Where it can get a little tricky is whether your provider will allow you to eat while in labor. Some doctors are perfectly fine with light foods but nothing heavy like a burger and french fries and others won’t allow anything but clear liquids. Many midwives are totally fine with their patients eating healthy snacks for labor.
Snacks for husbands during labor are always ok!
The million-dollar question. LOL. Why don’t they let you eat during labor? The risk of aspiration. That food you ate can come back up and block your airway and cause serious complications.
I’ve put together a list of some tasty, easy-peasy postpartum snacks for the hospital. You can also use some of these same snacks as hospital snacks for dad and good snacks for breastfeeding moms.
Speaking of dads, there’s always a debate whether or not dad or your partner should or shouldn’t eat while you’re in labor or preparing for delivery.
Some don’t mind at all if their partner eats in the room and others just can’t handle it if they can’t eat too.
I will tell you if you are preparing for a c-section please make sure your partner eats some of these hospital snacks you plan to pack before going into the operating room.
You don’t want them passing out because they can’t handle what they see and you also don’t want them hitting the floor because they didn’t put something in their belly.
On another note, even during covid if you prefer for your partner to go out and pick up snacks they can. They can also go out and pick up a delicious celebration meal for you. There was a time hospitals did this for patients, but I know many no longer do.
What Are Good Snacks For Hospital Bag
- Peanut butter snack packs & apple slices
- Dates
- Trail mix
- Fresh fruit
- Fresh veggies
- Yogurt and blueberries
- Small salads
- Muffins
- Smoothies
- Chicken breast pieces
- Larabars
- Hummus & Pretzels
- Popcorn
- KIND Nut Bars
- Edamame
- Sandwiches
- Cheese
- Chickpeas
- Veggie chips
- English muffin & Peanut Butter
- MacroBars
Related: Postpartum Essentials List For Mom & Baby
Postpartum Snacks For Hospital
Justin’s Peanut Butter Snack Packs & Apple Slices- Justin’s PB packs are the perfect option to travel with. Stash them in your hospital bag and throw a few in the glove department of your car. Slice an apple and squeeze a little lemon juice over it to keep it from browning.
Peanut butter is a really excellent source of protein which you need during your postpartum recovery.
If you want a little sweet treat on your postpartum snack for the hospital, grab some Trader Joe’s cookie butter and bring that too. You’re welcome!
Dates: As you are preparing, slice a few dates open and stuff them with peanut butter or almonds. They are yummy and healthy snacks post-pregnancy.
Trail mix- Trail mixes have a little of everything from pumpkin seeds, and cashews to banana slices, providing the fiber and protein you need.
Yogurt and blueberries- We need healthy fats during postpartum if you enjoy yogurt pack it. Even non-dairy yogurt has about 7 grams of fat in it.
You can even add granola, pumpkin, or hemp seeds. Hemps seeds provide about 10 grams of protein.
Small salad with brown rice– Make a small salad and add a little brown rice to have as a snack. One of my favorite snacks and a good wholesome snack for after delivery.
Related: Cozy Postpartum Pajamas For Your Hospital Stay
Smoothies- Banana base smoothies with lots of your favorite fruits and spinach or kale. Freeze it and add it to your cooler as you’re headed out the door.
Chicken breast– An easy postpartum snack and helpful hospital snack for dad is cut-up chicken breast in thick cube pieces with some whole-grain crackers.
Larabars- If you are allowed to have light snacks, some solid snacks for your labor bag are Larabars. They come in so many flavors and are made with very limited ingredients.
Fresh Fruit- Pack your favorite fresh fruit. Berries, plums, oranges, grapes, whatever you enjoy the most, add them to your list of healthy snacks for your hospital bag.
Muffins- Bake some muffins beforehand our buy your favorite to take with you.
Fresh Veggies- Quick and healthy postpartum snacks for the hospital are fresh veggies. Carrots, sweet peppers, celery, and/or broccoli, whichever you love the most.
Related: Postpartum Compression Leggings For Mom
Hummus & Pretzels- If you are looking for light snacks for your hospital bag after a c-section, try hummus and pretzels. A c-section is major surgery, so take your time when advancing your diet.
Start off slow with light snacks and advance, as you can tolerate.
Popcorn- Boom Chicka Pop single-serve bags of popcorn are easy peasy hospital bag snacks for you and your partner. A few different flavors are available like sea salt, sweet and salty kettle corn or dark chocolate drizzled sea salt.
KIND Nut Bars– Another snack bar that isn’t just ideal for a quick snack postpartum but a great one to keep on hand in the diaper bag and the car as well in case you need a little pick me up.
Edamame- Edamame is a wonderful source of fiber, antioxidants, and protein. They are also super easy to prepare.
Sandwiches- Make a few sandwiches for dad or your partner to snack on while you’re in labor and postpartum.
Cheese- Hard cheese or string cheese, whichever you enjoy snacking on.
Chickpeas- If you are a lover of Trader Joe’s, like so many are. Grab some Greek Chickpeas with parsley and cumin. I can snack on these all day, they are just that delicious. You can add them to just about anything.
There’s a pull tab so no can opener is required.
Veggie Chips- For a relatively healthy alternative to chips, try veggie chips for a snack.
Bread & Peanut Butter- A fulfilling postpartum snack for the hospital is a whole-wheat English muffin or a whole wheat slice of bread with peanut butter.
MacroBars- If you are looking for high-protein snacks for labor, GoMacro organic vegan protein bars might be a good choice. They are packed with 11 grams of protein and come in a variety of flavors. A few flavors include banana & almond butter, double chocolate & peanut butter chips, and maple sea salt to name a few.
Related: Best Gifts For New Moms In The Hospital
This is a long list of postpartum snacks for the hospital, but these are just some helpful ideas for you and your partner. You can bring a few snacks for labor and postpartum, enough for your entire stay or nothing at all. It’s completely up to you!
Product Options To Store Your Snacks
Reusable snack bags- Stashers is a silicone pouch with a tight seal that will hold sandwiches and snacks, and they have a few other larger sizes.
Stackable containers- Stackable containers come with 3 containers in a few different sizes. Each container comes with a lid and there is also a handle to carry. You can take all 3 containers or just 1 if you like. The carrying handle will fit all 3 containers.
Insulated Cooler Bag- Depending on what hospital bag snacks you decided to take, you may need a cooler to keep items fresh and cold. You can use the Creative Green Life insulated cooler bag for your snacks to pack in your hospital bag and you can later use it at the grocery store.
- Can keep ice frozen for up to 8 hours.
- If you need to bring hot food along, Creative Green Life can keep hot foods hot.
- Throw it in the washer as needed or wipe it clean.
Yeti Daytrip Lunch Bag- The daytrip lunch bag can hold a fair amount of items for your hospital stay. You will have this for years to come and get many uses out of it.
- Magnetic closure.
- Insulated soft cooler.
- Multiple latch closures.
Food Warmer Electric Lunch Box- A lunch box that can keep your partner’s food hot and ready to eat. Lots of hospitals have microwaves for patients and family members to use, but not all of them. Especially smaller hospitals.
- Heats frozen meals and leftovers.
- You’re able to use the lunch box with Tupperware, aluminum foil, and glass.
- Available in 120v and 12v plugs.
How soon after birth can you eat?
If everything is going ok, you should be able to eat 1 to 2 hours after vaginal birth.
For a c-section, you may have sips of clear liquids to start. After about 6-8 hours, you can start out with a light meal.
What food can you take to the hospital?
You can bring food from home, maternity snacks, or food your family may have prepared. You’ll need to check, but some hospitals allow patients to put their food in the fridge if there is one on the unit as long as you label it with a name and date.
You can also have food delivered.
I hope you find this post on postpartum snacks for hospitals helpful. Feel free to share some of your favorite pregnancy and postpartum snacks that you can’t get enough of.
Have a safe and memorable delivery. You got this, mama.
Enjoy!
Please know this post is not intended to provide medical advice. Always discuss with your doctor what you can and cannot eat while in labor, postpartum, and during your entire hospital stay. Always discuss questions you may have regarding your pregnancy and delivery with your doctor!
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