Chicken Noodle Powerhouse Soup: The B Vitamins Benefit

Hey mamas, Jodi here from Michigan Family Doulas! We spend so much time preparing for birth, nesting, and getting ready for baby’s arrival, but what about after? That fourth trimester is a marathon of healing, adjusting, and round-the-clock baby care. To truly thrive through this incredible time, proper nourishment is absolutely key to a smoother, more vibrant postpartum recovery. Enter, the B Vitamins!

The B Vitamins Benefit: Your Postpartum Supercharge!

After the insane journey of pregnancy and childbirth, your body needs serious support. If you aren’t a robot, you are likely sleep-deprived, your hormones are shifting dramatically, and you’re expending constant energy caring for your little one. This here, is exactly why the B vitamins (like B1, B2, B6, B9-folate, and B12) come to the rescue!

Think of the B vitamins as your body’s essential energy managers. They are crucial for:

• Boosting Energy: They convert the food you eat into the usable energy you need to get through those demanding days and nights.
• Supporting Mood: They play a vital role in producing brain chemicals that help regulate your mood, helping to navigate the emotional shifts of postpartum.
• Nervous System Health: They support a healthy nervous system, which helps your body better cope with stress and improve your overall resilience.
• Overall Recovery: From cell repair to blood cell formation, B vitamins are involved in countless processes that support your body’s deep healing.

While you can find B vitamins in many plant sources, getting them from animal sources like meat, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy can be particularly effective, especially for B12, which is almost exclusively found in animal products. To show the difference, did you know you would have to eat nearly 12lbs of spinach to get any meaningful B vitamins from it?

Your New Go-To: Chicken Noodle Powerhouse Soup!

This recipe is designed to be incredibly easy to make (hello, rotisserie chicken!) and what’s more, it’s packed with B vitamins. It’s perfect for a nourishing lunch or a warm, satisfying dinner that checks all the boxes and everyone loves this!

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 cup chopped yellow onion (some B’s)
• 1 cup chopped carrots (some B’s)
• 1 cup chopped celery (some B’s)
• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth
• 2 cups cooked, shredded chicken (from a rotisserie chicken for ultimate ease, or leftover cooked chicken breast/thighs – Excellent source of B3, B6, B12!)
• 4 ounces whole wheat egg noodles or your preferred whole grain pasta (B1, B2, B3)
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas (some B’s)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• Optional: Fresh parsley or dill for garnish

Instructions:

1. Sauté the aromatics: First, in a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery. Sauté for 5-7 minutes, until softened.
2. Add broth and chicken: Next, pour in the chicken broth and bring to a simmer. Add the cooked, shredded chicken.
3. Cook the noodles: Add the whole wheat egg noodles to the pot. Cook according to package directions (usually 7-10 minutes), or until al dente.
4. Add peas and season: Stir in the peas during the last 2-3 minutes of cooking. Season the soup generously with salt and black pepper to taste.
5. Serve and enjoy: lastly, ladle the warm soup into bowls. Garnish with fresh parsley or dill if desired.