It is said that during confinement, the rate of a woman’s recovery depends highly on the food she consumes. Therefore, many mothers are very particular about meals and diet during confinement as it is believed that a confinement done right will save you a lot of health problems in the future.

Confinement meals are said to help in aiding your body’s recovery as well as to provide ample nutritional benefits aimed at replenish your body. However, main meals alone may sometimes not suffice when you get light cravings between meal times. If you feel the urge to munch on some light snacks, here are 4 mighty snacks with nutritional benefits you may want to try out :

Almonds
Almonds are rich in healthy proteins and calcium which may effectively enhance the growth process of your baby if you are breastfeeding. A serving of almond contains Vitamin E, Vitamin B2, B3 and B1, magnesium, copper, iron and zinc which are all believed to aid in boosting immunity. Almonds also provide your body with a boost in energy so it is considered as an energy snack. Mothers get tired easily especially during managing maternal chores and breastfeeding a baby. Grab a fistful of almonds even on a busy day as your snack and you will see a difference in your energy level. Apart from that, almonds are also high in Vitamin E. Regular consumption will give you lustrous hair and glowing skin.

Lactation Cookies
Lactation cookies can be store bought or homemade. It is an affordable alternative of confinement snacks. The main ingredient used in lactation cookies is oats, and oats are said to be packed with proteins, vitamins and minerals known for boosting lactation. Other ingredients include flaxseed and healthy oils like Omega-3 and Omega-6, known to stimulate the hormone that produces prolactin. However, there have not been scientifically proven results that lactation cookies increase milk production. They do make tasty snacks but be cautious because each cookie can contain up to 250 calories.

Unripe Papayas
Papayas make perfect snacks because of their potent content of Vitamin C, which is known as an immune boosting agent and anti-inflammatory. This is especially suitable for mothers after delivery as the enzymes that ease inflammation can help in your wound recovery, while preventing infection. Apart from that, papayas are also low in calories so you won’t actually feel the guilt while snacking on them. Consuming papayas regularly helps to boost levels of oxytocin in your body, increasing your milk production. Papayas can be eaten raw or cooked. Tian Wei Signature has a selection of dishes incorporated with green papaya aimed at helping mothers to boost their recovery as well as milk production.

Barley Malt
Malt is traditionally extracted from barley, and barley contains beta-glucan, which has over the years shown to increase prolactin – the main hormone for lactation. Barley malt is suitable to be consumed during confinement because it can be digested easily. During the malting process, malting enzymes separate the nutrition from barley grains. These enzymes break down the grains making it easier for our bodies to absorb the essential nutrients and easily digestable. During confinement, a mother’s digestive energy decreases making it more difficult to digest food that is consumed. It is when the body is in recovery process. Therefore, by consuming foods that are easy to digest,
ensures that the body is able to effectively absorb all the essential and vital nutrients.

In between adapting to a new lifestyle and getting accustomed to having a newborn in your life, it is important to also ensure that you take care of yourself. Stop every now and then to rest and have a light snack. You will feel much more refreshed.