What a Nutrient-Dense Confinement Meal Looks Like

The changes that happen to your body after delivery is more than meets the eye. Internally, the huge loss of blood can cause anaemia. As a result, you may constantly look pale and feel tired, dizzy, and weak. Since you do not have enough red blood cells, your heart has to work harder to get enough oxygen to your organs. You may even start craving odd substances to munch on such as ice – or even stranger items like paper. To prevent unwanted diseases, it is important to take good care of yourself after giving birth.

The thing is, the confinement period should not be a time where you should be stressed out to think of what to eat. Perhaps you want to spend some time with your newborn to create a bond. It is also a time the most critical for you to heal and regain your strength after giving birth. Therefore, the goal of your postnatal diet should revolve around replenishing blood and fueling your energy. 

What to pile up in your everyday food to heal after delivery? For a start, you could categorise what you have in your kitchen by the benefits they give or which nutrients do they provide. Once you have identified which ones you need most and which ones you require less of, what comes next becomes much easier to do. If you have identified what they are and are still unsure of which ones to eat more, we suggest you eat more protein and fibre. These are able to repair and build stronger tissues in your body and aid digestion respectively.

In creating our confinement menu, we have worked with a nutritionist to not only give ample nutrients to you but also present you with a variety of fusion and traditional meal selection. Apart from Chinese dishes, we also include Asian-Mediterranean cuisines, Japanese cuisines, and others with aims to nourish blood and help you regain energy. Our menu comprises breastfeeding-friendly dishes filled with well-balanced ingredients that can help in easing your digestive system.

If you would like to get into the details, find out how your body replaces blood and what food will help in boosting the process. To help you plan your meals, you may also search for what else does your body need in order to recover from delivery. OR, you can simply have a look at some of the food included in our confinement meal set! Here’s one to let you have a peek of what’s included in our set!

TRI-COLOUR RICE

One particular thing this food set is doing right in comparison to some other confinement meals out there is that it does not omit the carb completely. Instead, the typical plain white rice is replaced with a tri-colour rice! Carbs are crucial to fuel your energy, which, you’ll realise you will easily be losing after constant breastfeeding.

STEAMED CHICKEN WITH WOLFBERRIES, RED DATES, AND BLACK BEAN SAUCE

If you don’t already know, wolfberries (also known as goji berries) and red dates are the superfoods for new moms. Wolfberries are some of the most antioxidant-rich fruits there are. Can be taken raw or cooked, wolfberries are said to be able to lower blood sugar level and improve cholesterol levels. Red dates can help you regain your strength while controlling your sugar craving. Fresh red dates are rich in vitamin C while the dry ones are rich in iron and calcium. In China, red dates have been consumed by new mothers for generations as a way to replenish blood. Chicken, one of the tastiest sources of protein, is simply not a stranger to a mom in confinement. The chicken is steamed to perfection to keep the meat tender.

BROCCOLI WITH BRAISED SHIITAKE MUSHROOM

As if you need another reason to love broccoli, the delicious, crunchy vegetable that complements a variety of dishes! Broccoli contains folate, or better known as the folic acid – yes, the superhero for pregnant women that needs no introduction! Due to blood loss, some new mothers may face the risk of anaemia, which will cause them to feel dizzy at times and easily feel exhausted. 

If you have ever wondered whether you can eat mushroom during confinement, now you know. This dish also features the tasty and equally healthy shiitake mushrooms. With all these, it’s impossible to not clean up the plate!

DISPEL WIND CHICKEN SOUP WITH LEMONGRASS

Having chicken soup after delivery or any surgical procedure, or when you are not feeling well is simply the best. This soup relieves abdominal gas which is commonly known as the ‘wind’. Plus, who doesn’t love a nourishing, flavourful bowl of soup? 

If there are any ingredients that could bring the soup to the next level, it’s the lemongrass! Bringing aromatic fragrance and antioxidant properties to the dish, lemongrass is also said to be able to relieve pain and swelling, reduce fever, and improve cholesterol in the blood. 

One particular thing we believe would excite you is that eating soup is known to help you cut calories during meals! How? A study shows that having a bowl of low-calorie soup makes people eat less throughout the meal which, in turn, reduces the overall calorie intake.   

RED DATES TEA

The ultimate confinement beverage! Freshly brewed together with other healthy ingredients like longan, this drink is great in nourishing blood and improving its circulation. It also works wonders in boosting your digestive system and improving immunity. Many Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioners believe that it also balances the inner body’s qi (energy). Plus, it tastes just as sweet as a glass of fruity tea can ever be!

And there you have it! A set of perfectly cooked, nutritional and delicious confinement meal. As you can see, a good confinement meal is not as much different than what you would expect. Apart from the red dates tea and some ingredients, the rest resemble normal everyday dishes. This shows that you do not have to go out of your way when planning what to eat during your confinement period. As long as you do not overeat, keep yourself well-hydrated, and obtain ample nutrients, you should be on the right track! 

The chances of your recovery going smoothly go through the roof if what’s listed above are already your typical daily dishes. If they aren’t, it is not too late for you to start planning your confinement diet. After all, how well your recovery goes mainly depends on your postnatal diet. We hope this confinement food Singapore review has helped you tremendously! Go through Tian Wei Signature’s website to have a look at other delicious confinement foods we serve to new mothers!