Your baby is here, and you are all snuggled up on the couch together. It’s 3pm and you realize you haven’t planned anything for dinner and your Meal Train meals ended 3 days ago. The leftovers are gone and you don’t have the energy or desire to stand at the stove to cook a meal.
Sure you could ask your partner to cook. Most dads can manage meals like spaghetti, pancakes, hamburgers on the grill but he is at work now and you don’t really want to make him cook right when he gets home plus you are pasta mealed out from your Meal Train casseroles and you don’t really want to make the hamburger patties so they are ready for him to grill.
The good thing is, you planned ahead, you don’t have to worry about all that meal mess. You read this blog which gave you meal planning tips and 3 easy freezers to start your journey of being Super Mom and Super Wife.
You go girl!!!
Meal Planning Tips
Cook for TWO – From 32-34 weeks on, try to double the batch of many meals you make to freeze and enjoy at a later time.
Examples of those may be: Sloppy Joe and taco meat mixture, BBQ Shredded Chicken for wraps or buns, BBQ pulled pork for sandwiches, shredded roast meat to make a quick roast meal, beef and noodles or shredded roast with beef gravy over instant potatoes over a piece of toast. (Not super keto-friendly but quick and easy) These freezer meals can be defrosted quickly in the microwave or reheated on the stovetop with very little work.
Think outside of just dinner – You will be home for weeks and you will need more food than just at dinner time.
For Breakfast, make yourself many different types of muffins to grab and devour. Try out a few overnight oat recipes during pregnancy so you know which ones are your faves before you are extra emotional and cry because you don’t like the one with apples.
For lunch, pre-buy items for homemade Lunchables. Take yourself back to your elementary school days and enjoy a picnic on the floor with your baby. Grab some cut up cheese, salami, turkey and crackers. Talk to your baby about your elementary memories. He will love to hear your voice talking to him.
For snacks, order yourself multiple yogurts, already sliced or cut up fruit, apple sauce packets, and granola bars. This isn’t the time to be Betty Crocker. Spend the extra money on the already done foods and order them delivery or drive up.
INSTANT POT & CROCKPOTS – These bad boys will be your best friends. They make mealtime super easy and often way fewer dishes.
Dishes – Even people who like to do dishes by hand will enjoy this tip during the early weeks postpartum. Paper plates, plastic bowls, plastic silverware, and paper or plastic cups will be a huge lifesaver when all you are wanting is to sleep and cuddle your baby. You can be green all the other times of your life if you desire but not having to do dishes is so helpful.
Freezer meals – Making freezer meals ahead of time will save lots of time and energy when you are home with your baby. Make sure though that when you plan ahead for meals you plan ahead for dishes (Can you tell I hate doing dishes?). Use gallon freezer bags for soups and other items you can toss in your Crockpot or Instant Pot so when you are done you just toss it away. In a similar fashion, when you make your casserole type freezer meals buy the tin square or rectangle dishes to just toss after you are done with the meal.
Meal Train – Have a close friend or family member share your personal link with other family and friends. Have at least 10 openings for people to bring you meals and have them arrive something like this:
Day 1: Meal Train meal
Day 2: Meal Train meal
Day 3: Leftovers
Day 4: Meal Train meal
Day 5 Leftovers
Day 6: Meal Train meal
Day 7: Leftovers
Day 8: Meal Train meal
Day 9 Leftovers
That ends up being food for at least 9 days with 5 wonderful family members or friends loving on you with yummy meals. Most people will make enough for 4-6 people to eat so you should have plenty of leftovers.
Postpartum Doulas and Family help – If you have a postpartum doula, family members or friend coming over to support you after you come home from the hospital, have them make you some freezer meals or a meal you are craving that night.
GIFTS – During your baby shower let people know you want gift cards for restaurants. Nowadays, you can get almost anything delivered to you via apps like Grubhub, Doordash or Ubereats. They can be a bit pricey but if you budget for it, it can be very helpful.
What tips would you add that were helpful to you, we want to know!
3 EASY FREEZER MEALS
TACO SOUP
Dump all cans into gallon bag to make ahead or dump cans straight into CrockPot in the morning
2 cans of chicken
1 can of pinto beans rinsed
1 can of black beans rinsed
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 32 oz box of chicken broth
1 can of enchilada sauce
1 can corn
1 cup of diced onion
*Add cumin, paprika, onion powder, chili powder to taste for this meal to be dairy-free
**Add taco seasoning packet for dairy option
Cook in Crockpot for 4-6 hours.
MEATLOAF
1.5 pounds of fresh/never frozen ground beef
¼ cup of instant oatmeal
2 eggs
1/3 cup of the milk you drink
Pinch of salt and pepper
Mix all together and put into tin meatloaf or bread loaf
Topping: ¼ cup ketchup and brown sugar plus add 1 Tablespoon of yellow mustard
Heat topping mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds and mix together. Then add topping to the top of the meatloaf.
Place lid on top of tin or place on gallon bag, zip tight and freeze.
To cook, bring out 24-48 hours before mealtime and let defrost in the fridge.
Place in oven at 350 degrees for 60 minutes or until done cooking.
Enjoy with microwaved steamed vegetables and instant potatoes.
This last one is one I personally used during my postpartum.
CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
They are so super easy and yummy and this simple freezer meal recipe from Damn Delicious is perfect.
