The nutritional needs of a mom postpartum are just as important as the needs of a mom during pregnancy. These needs increase for moms like me who are breastfeeding, which is why I took the dive to purchase the Ritual protein powder. The Ritual Essential Protein Powder for Pregnancy & Postpartum is a plant-based protein with essential Choline to help support the increased nutritional needs of women during pregnancy and lactation.
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Why is Your Postpartum Diet Important?
New mothers’ nutrition is important. Our bodies just went through so much change. We grew a baby, and then our hormones rapidly changed after having the baby. Late nights and early mornings mean your energy is sapped and you might not be feeling your best. If you’re like me and breastfeeding, you especially need to ensure your postpartum diet contains as much protein, calcium, and fluids as necessary so our bodies produce the nutritional breastmilk our babies need. In fact, women who breastfeed need about 500 extra calories each day. These calories should come from nutritional sources, not junk.
Related: Staying Hydrated is Key to Increasing Breast Milk Supply
Here are just a few of the benefits of having a healthy postpartum diet:
Speedy recovery – A healthy postpartum diet is the way to go to prevent bone loss, replenish your iron stores, reduce hemorrhoids, and more.
Promotes milk production – What you eat and drink is super important for the quantity and quality of your milk supply.
Improved wellbeing – A well-balanced diet can support the 24/7 stamina you’re going to need as a busy mom.
What I Love About the Ritual Essential Protein for Pregnancy & Postpartum
Finding a protein powder that is not only nutritious but also vegan was important to me. The Ritual Protein powder fits that bill. Plus, it tastes great! There are a lot of things about this protein powder that I enjoy, but these are at the top of my list:
- it has 20 grams of protein per serving sourced from organic, US-grown organic yellow peas
- choline and l-methionine provide pregnant and lactating women with a complete protein source. Choline is also beneficial in babies’ brain and nervous system development.
- it tastes great (no fake sweetener taste) since it is naturally flavored and sweetened with fermented sugarcane juice and monk fruit
I’ve tried to be as intentional as possible with the things I include in my postpartum diet, especially since I am breastfeeding. With 20g of protein, 250mg of choline, 120 mg of calcium, and 3g of iron, the Ritual Essential Protein for Pregnancy and Postpartum definitely makes it easier to get the nutrition I need. Its ingredients are Made Traceable, which means they’re ethically sourced and can be traced back to exactly where they come from. Its clean ingredient profile makes me feel at ease especially when my daughter sneaks a sip. Plus, Ritual’s protein powder tastes really good no matter what I add to it.
So far, I’ve tested out the following add-ons to the shake:
- oatmeal
- coconut water
- peanut butter
- almond butter
- spinach
- oat milk
- bananas
- chai tea
What Can Be Improved
I can go on and on about the things I love about the Ritual Essential Protein for Pregnancy and Postpartum. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t things that the brand can work on improving.
- More servings per bag. The 1 lb. bag only has 15 servings and costs $40. This can be a financial barrier to some moms who are looking to improve their postpartum diet.
- You have to blend it or use a shaker bottle to avoid clumping. I found that blending the protein powder offered the smoothest shake versus using a blender bottler.
When You Should Use Ritual Essential Protein for Pregnancy & Postpartum
Ritual suggests using the Daily Shake Pregnancy & Postpartum when
- trying to conceive
- during pregnancy
- during lactation
- formula feeding (6-months postpartum)
Click Here to Get $15 Off Your First Order
Ritual’s Essential Protein Pregnancy & Postpartum protein powder has been a staple in my postpartum diet. I enjoy the taste and that I can add just about anything to it without it affecting the flavor. The Ritual protein powder has just the right amount of protein lactating moms need in their diet to support breast milk production. And it’s clean! If you’re looking for ways to improve your nutrition postpartum, consider using Ritual.