Shopping Cart

Your cart is empty

Continue Shopping

World Day of Cultural Diversity: A Postpartum Viewpoint


World Day of Cultural Diversity provides us with an opportunity to deepen our understanding of the practices and values of other cultures. We find it to be especially important to look to other cultures in order to learn from their wisdom on healing practices. Here at Ritual Meals, it is part of our manifesto to preserve global rituals in order to empower and nourish women through their most transformational wellness journey.

When we turn to other cultures and observe their abundant postpartum practices, we then notice a distinct lack of postpartum practices among Western cultures. A recent study found that postpartum disorders, including the “baby blues,” were virtually nonexistent. On the flip side, 50% to 85% of new mothers in industrialized nations experience the “baby blues,” and 15% to 25% (or more) experience postpartum depression.

Rich and diverse postpartum practices protect the new mother

They found that all of the studied cultures had specific rituals they turned to when supporting a new mother. While these practices vary from culture to culture, they shared a few common themes:

1. A distinct postpartum period

A time recognized as distinct from normal life, where the mother regains her strength and does limited activities.


2. Protective measures reflecting the new mother’s vulnerability

New mothers are considered to be vulnerable during this time and personal care activities are performed on her. Activities such as massage and hair washing are noted in Guatemalan, Mayan, and Latina cultures


3. Social seclusion and mandated rest

This is a time for the vulnerable mother to refrain from social activity in order to properly heal.This seclusion and rest is also noted to promote milk production. In the Punjab, women are secluded from everyone except female relatives and midwives for 5 days. In contrast, new mothers in America are expected to entertain all family members and friends who come to visit the newborn.


4. Functional assistance

In these cultures studied, all new mothers were provided with someone to care for the rest of her family and maintain the house while she was resting and healing.


5. Social recognition of her new role and status

A great deal of personal attention is given to a mother through recognizing her new role with gifts and social rituals. In China and Nepal, very little attention is placed on the pregnancy and the main focus is on the mother after the baby is born. This differs quite a bit from what mothers in America experience.


From reading through these themes, we can clearly see that other cultures differ in the way that they treat the postpartum period of a woman's life. American mothers find that more of people's attention is placed on her during the pregnancy rather than after she delivers the baby. Upon returning home, a mother may find herself without the proper support needed to adjust to this new life. The attention might also be solely placed on the baby rather than checking in with how the mother is feeling with her new role in life. It is no wonder that many new mamas can be left feeling blue!

Here at Ritual Meals, we believe new mothers in our communities should and can thrive postpartum. We want to do our part in making this time period as smooth of a transition as possible. The collective wisdom of generations of grandmothers have taught us that these rituals are essential for a new mother's postpartum journey:


Warmth

Keep the body warm inside and out after giving birth, so that you maintain good circulation which aids the body's healing process.

Rest

Make your rest a priority, so that you build more energy, strength, and clarity to care for your newborn.


Nutrition

Eat nourishing, easy to digest food designed for postpartum, so that you replenish what was lost during birth and strengthen your body to meet every challenge.


Social Rituals

Welcome help in the other areas of your life, so that you can focus on resting and bonding with your baby. Receiving support in the areas you prefer not to focus on is the greatest way to honor yourself on your motherhood journey.


This is why we thoughtfully craft each meal with ingredients to support and heal you during this important phase of life. We infuse the ancient wisdom passed down from generation to generation into our meals and postpartum program. We hope that through our meal programs, you can get a taste of these various cultural practices for yourself.

FAQs

Have more questions about Ritual Meals? View our frequently asked questions below.

  • What is Ritual Meals?

    Ritual Meals is a postpartum meal delivery service. Our signature postpartum meal delivery product is The Postpartum Program, which includes meals, snacks, and teas shipped weekly to your doorstep. Customers receive orders with all the fresh meals, snacks, and teas you need to enjoy nourishing postpartum food prepared by our chefs. We save you the time and energy of going to the grocery store, finding new recipes, meal planning, and portioning.

    Our talented chefs work with our Wellness Team to create new menus each week for you, based on what’s seasonally available from our community of local farms and ranches. We use the highest quality ingredients which are organic or pesticide free produce and grass-fed or pasture-raised animals.

  • What are the benefits of postpartum food and Ritual Meals?

    We understand that, as a new mom, you've got one of the hardest jobs in the world—so we created The Postpartum Program to help you heal and feel your best after giving birth. Our postpartum meals are nutritionally designed to support your physical recovery, energy levels, hormonal balance, milk supply and quality, and mood. At Ritual Meals, we are serious about supporting your postpartum nourishment and postpartum wellness journey. Everything we cook is made with the highest quality, whole food ingredients, good for you and your baby, whether or not you are breastfeeding.

    Our postpartum nutrition philosophy is focused on food as medicine.

    Our postpartum meals include both plated food and soups and stews which are more easily digestible and improve absorption of essential minerals and vitamins that the body needs to repair, restore, and fortify after birth or surgery. Grass-fed and pasture-raised animal stock are the base of all of our soups and stews, supplying essential nutrients, lean protein, and collagen to boost energy, support and heal connective tissues, and support healthy metabolism.

    If you are breastfeeding, our postpartum meals can provide measurable benefits for your milk supply and quality. Our postpartum meals often include galactagogues (ingredients which support milk supply and quality), including flax seeds, oats, tahini, brewer’s yeast, and more. We also avoid ingredients that could be associated with colic or sensitivities for breastfed babies, including cruciferous vegetables, garlic, and hot peppers.

    * This program is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. We recommend that you consult with your doctor prior to starting this program if you have a medical condition or are taking any prescription medication or nutritional supplements.

  • How much does Ritual Meals Cost?

    The Postpartum Program at Ritual Meals is priced starting at $176 per week. Meal frequency per week can be customized, which changes the cost of the program. As well, if you opted into our Subscription option, you can save up to 10% each week and receive free delivery with promo code FREESHIPPING.  Customize your postpartum plan to view prices.

  • What kinds of ingredients does Ritual Meals use?

    All meals are made to order and made from scratch with the highest quality ingredients. We prioritize local and organic produce and use only meat sourced from local farms that sustainably and humanely raise their animals. Our animals are always grass-fed or pasture-raised. Our produce is plant rich, organic or pesticide-free, low gluten, no refined sugars, and non-GMO.

    Organic or pesticide-free, whole, unprocessed foods are both more nutritive and more flavorful. We thoughtfully pair ingredients based on complementary benefits. For example, these pairings—lentils and red bell pepper, sesame and salmon, pasture-raised eggs and leafy greens, and chicken and quinoa—allow you to absorb more nutrients and experience their healing benefits.

  • What if I have allergy or dietary needs?

    Due to the small size of our culinary team, we are currently unable to offer substitutions in our menus, which are set weekly. To receive weekly email notifications about our upcoming menus which lists our full ingredients, please subscribe to our newsletter below.

    Please note: our Postpartum Program is not intended for severe allergies. If you have any questions about how we can support your dietary needs, please reach out to our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com

  • How do you keep food fresh in transit? What if I am not home?

    We pack the postpartum meals fresh with care using 100% recyclable, insulated boxes and drain safe gel packs designed to keep your food refrigerated on the way to your doorstep.

    We understand that when it comes to birth, timing may not always happen according to plan. We highly recommend recruiting the help of a friend, neighbor, or family member so that if you aren’t able to get to your food when it arrives at your doorstep, they can help you store it in the fridge until you're ready to enjoy them.

    The delivery driver should leave the package for you at your door with no signature required. We package our postpartum meals in 100% recyclable insulated liners with drain-safe gel packs, so that your food stays refrigerated in transit. If you have any concerns with the temperature or condition of your meals once delivered, please contact our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com.

  • Where does Ritual Meals deliver?

    We ship across the continental US to your doorstep! If you have any additional questions, you can contact our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com.

  • How do I get started with Ritual Meals?

    You can get started by selecting your program options on the Postpartum Program page

    If you would like any help choosing a program that works best for you, please email our Wellness Team at info@ritualmeals.com and we’d be happy to help!


Nourish your body. Thrive postpartum

Before your actual delivery, plan your postpartum meal delivery.

Plan Ahead
Postpartum Meal Delivery
Women-owned Business
Women-Owned

Founded and created by two women of color, our goal is to create more opportunities to other women.

Locally Sourced
Locally Sourced

We source as locally as possible from our community of local farms and ranches.

Whole Foods
Whole Foods

We commit to using organic or pesticide-free, 100% whole food ingredients in all our products.

Sustainably Made
Sustainably Made

We commit to environmental responsibilty through our low waste practices both inside and outside of the kitchen.

Gives Back
Gives Back

We donate 2% of our sales to organizations that support and empower women or work to reduce food insecurity.