These 24 easy and healthy postpartum snacks require no time to put together. You can simply snag a one-handed bite and continue caring for your little one.

When you have a newborn strapped to your chest in a ring sling, you are changing the diaper of your 19 month old, and your 3.5 year old is screaming in a time out for hitting, your rumbling belly is the last thing you are going to deal with. 

Those newborn days, while cuddly and special, are also full of exhaustion, stress, crazy hormones, and keeping some semblance of normal for the older kids. 

This post contains affiliate links. 

Before each of my three kids were born, I did a serious amount of freezer meal cooking. I also learned after my first, that stocking my pantry (and freezer) with healthy snacks I could just grab and go was very important. 

Having a stocked pantry meant I was not grabbing handfuls of chocolate chips every time I passed the pantry as a way to keep my energy up.

It meant I was not ruining full boxes of pasta when it was left undrained on the stove.

It meant I was not spending more than 60 seconds trying to chop or mix or cook something to sustain me. 

This list of 24 easy and healthy postpartum snacks have a long shelf life so you can just grab what you can when you can without worrying about having to cook something.

Dried Fruit 

While my go to is usually fresh fruit, when you are preparing for those newborn days, you never know when you are going to have time to head to the grocery store. Having some dried fruit on hand is perfect for those quick energy boosts when the fruit bowl is getting low. 

When you are shopping for dried fruit, make sure you check the ingredient labels for any added sugar or sodium. Your dried fruit should just be fruit and nothing else. 

The dried fruit favorites around here are:

• Dates
• Mangos – The Made in Nature brand is hands down my favorite dried mango brand. Their mangos seem to be the sweetest and freshest.
• Raisins – I like to buy these in bulk and portion them into snack bags, but you can also opt for the individual packs for an easy on the go snack that takes zero effort to put together. 
• Fruit Leather – The Stretch Island brand is our favorite.
• Applesauce Pouches – Technically this is not a dried fruit, it does have a longer shelf life than fresh fruit and serves very well as an on the go snack for you or the older kids. 

Bars 

We are not huge protein bar people, but during those exhausting postpartum days, having some high protein bars on hand makes getting in some quality nutrition simple and quick. 

When choosing your bars, be sure to read the ingredients labels. Many of them have lots of added sugars and processed ingredients that you really do not need in your diet. 

My favorite two types of bars for their healthier ingredients list are:

• RX Bars – Blueberry and Chocolate Sea Salt are my personal favorites.
• Larabars – The kids absolutely love Lara Bars, especially the blueberry muffin flavor.

Nuts & Seeds 

I have vivid memories of grabbing handfuls of nuts while I was holding a sleeping baby or too starving and impatient to wait for dinner to cook.

Nuts are full of protein, healthy fats, and do an excellent job of keeping you full until you can have a full 15 seconds to eat a real meal. 

• Almonds 
• Cashews 
• Peanuts 
• Chia Seeds – These are best to add to yogurt for those quick snacks. 
• Sunflower Seeds – Get ones that are already shelled so you are not dealing with finding a trash and can simply grab a handful. 
• Pumpkin Seeds – Another great one to add to yogurt or eat as a snack. 

Dairy 

• Single Yogurts – In non-newborn days, we buy the big tubs of yogurt and just portion what we want into bowls. With a newborn in hand, you may not have that kind of time (or want to make that much noise). Get the single serve yogurts because they are so much quicker to grab and easier to clean up. 
• Yogurt Pouches – The kids love these on the go yogurt pouches from Go Go squeeZ. They work super well to throw in the snack bag and get out the door. 
• Cheese Sticks – Another favorite with everyone around here, these can be eaten one-handed and standing up. 

Make Ahead Snacks

Before all three of my children were born, I went into serious freezer cooking mode. You can get my 40 favorite freezer friendly recipes here. 

Instead of just cooking dinners in preparation for the baby, I also made freezer snacks. It was such a relief to know I had some items premade to munch on between meals.

Premade snacks were especially helpful when Hazel was born and suddenly there was a 3.5 year old, 19 month old, and newborn to care for. 

• Almond Joy Energy Bites – This is one of my absolute favorite snacks to make even without a baby on the way. They are insanely delicious. 
• Spinach Balls – Get that extra boost of vegetables for the day. 
• Trail Mix – Yes you can buy trail mix already made (hello Target Monster Mix), but you can also make it yourself if you buy your items in bulk. I prefer mine with M&Ms or chocolate chips, almonds, peanuts, cashews, and raisins. You could also add some pretzel pieces for an extra salty crunch. 
• Banana Bites – Any time I can choose real food for a snack, I will. These peanut butter and chocolate banana bites hit the spot in between breastfeeding sessions. Just slice bananas, top one side with peanut butter, and top with a second slice. Then freeze.
• Banana Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies – Three ingredient cookies that last in the freezer are a super win over here. The kids even devour these ones. Toss in some chia seeds to boost the Omega-3s.  Combine one mashed banana with half a cup oats and a handful of chocolate chip cookies. Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Pantry 

I had ravenous postpartum hunger with all three children, and certainly after Hazel when I no longer had gestational diabetes. As a result, I wanted to snack on simple food items like Goldfish and pretzels.

However, there were a few healthier options that I leaned on once I got out of the deep baby fog.

• Seed Crackers – Skip the plain crackers and go with ones that are going to do your body good. I love these Crunchmaster seed crackers plain, in a yogurt dip, or topped with cheese. 

• Barilla Ready Pasta – I have a very vivid memory when Zoey was born (my first) of making pasta in a rare hands-free moment. She started fussing right as the pasta finished and I ran off before draining the water to tend to her. When I came back half an hour later, the pasta was ruined. Tears sprang to my eyes as I trashed the water-bloated noodles. These Barilla Ready Pastas are done in 60 seconds, which is often all you have to throw something together. 
• Instant Oatmeal – This one takes just slightly more effort to make as you have to microwave and stir, but having a quick oatmeal snack that you can top with honey, chia, berries, and chopped nuts will give you so much energy and nutrition as you continue to care for a tiny human. 

As you make your postpartum freezer meals, be sure to add these easy and healthy postpartum snacks to your grocery list. Once that little nugget of joy arrives, you are going to be so glad you can feed yourself well so you can continue to care for your little one well.