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Keep taking your prenatal vitamins.
If you took them during your pregnancy, don’t stop now. Many formulations are created specially to support both pregnant and lactating women, and even if you are not breastfeeding, your eating habits may be less than stellar as you adjust to your busy new lifestyle.
Eat small and often throughout the day.
Chances are you’re not going to be whipping up a gourmet dinner every evening. However, you do need to refuel often, so make sure you have plenty of healthy comestibles at hand. During the early postpartum period, you should try to consume the equivalent of your pregnancy diet plus an extra 200 or so calories. (If you’re not breastfeeding, just eliminate those additional calories.)
Stock up on healthful snacks.
By some strange twist of fate, it seems that high-sugar, high-fat snacks are the only things you can lay your hungry little hands on when you’re refilling your water bottle after your baby’s lengthy 3am feed. Avoid temptation by loading the fridge, the pantry and, indeed, any available counter space with nutritious and healthful snacks that require minimal preparation. Things like cheese, fruit, rice cakes, yogurt and celery loaded with peanut butter are easy ways to give your body energy and satisfy cravings.
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