Chinese Confinement Foods
Along with specific confinement soups, there are also suggestions on foods that will help with the healing process in confinement. Most of these are warm in properties (according to TCM) and help reduce wind in the body. Some of these include:
- Ginger, ginger, ginger – in any and every form possible!
- Black silkie chicken (in soups, stews, or as a meat)
- Red dates
- Dried Longans (or dragon-eyes)
- Fish (smaller types to avoid mercury) in either soups, stews, or steamed
- Black vinegar
- Sesame oil (a few drops here and there is helpful, this is also a warming ingredient and really enhances flavor)
- Pepper (both black and white)
All “cooling” foods, soups, and ingredients should be avoided during confinement. They either create wind in the body or don’t allow good flow of blood and energy within the body. Foods include:
- Watermelon and other “melons”, including cantaloupe and honeydew
- Dragon fruit
- Tofu (and all soy products including soy bean drink)
- Chinese Lettuce / Lettuce / Salad
- Chrysanthemum tea / Green tea
- Radish / Chinese radish
- Watercress
- Wintermelon Soup
This table outlines the COOLING and WARMING ingredients that can be found in the Chinese soup repertoire. It’s great because most Chinese soups have a combination of protein, vegetables or roots, and herbs. It’s not exactly a mix and match, but what you pair does come from experience and passed down knowledge, and of course, some testing. Enjoy!
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A selection of confinement Chinese Soups
What is confinement and confinement stories
Baby 5 & 6 Confinement story
Some confinement foods for your tummy!
The DO's and DON'T's of confinement
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