If the meat is necessary for lasagna in the new mom's household, adding it is is simple, but leave the spinach. Being well organised now will make things easier for you and your family when your baby does put in an appearance. 11. My Meal Prep for Baby’s Arrival. And I barely noticed the extra money spent at the grocery store. I’ve done a lot of reading on how other people meal prep for a new baby and frankly, it is not for me. I get quite a bit of satisfaction from opening our freezer and seeing a months worth of dinners. Although I tried to make most of my … Whether you are tossing around the idea of meal prepping for health or simplifying your daily routines ahead of a baby's arrival, meal prepping can save you time, money, and possibly your mind.If you have not meal prepped before, starting ahead of your baby's arrival will get you into the habit of preparing your meals in advance. For anyone interested in the specific recipes I meal prepped, here they are: Pork Chops with Apples and Sweet Potatoes, Your email address will not be published. Simple, healthy and oh-so-easy, this zucchini slice recipe makes a quick dinner or healthy lunch box snack. Then, I made my grocery list and hit up my local Aldi (if you’re on the fence about trying Aldi, I highly suggest you grab a quarter and some reusable bags and give it a try). … Website for moms seeking advice, community, and entertainment. This step is all about apples- we will puree half of our apples for the oatmeal bites and the chicken … It fuels your mind and productivity to be ready for anything life will throw at you. New Baby in the Family? Okay, to be fair, most new parents already have these on hand. Wrap individually and store in a gallon freezer bag to freeze. Or reheat in the microwave until warmed throughout. Instructions: Combine dry ingredients in a mixing bowl and then mix in the wet ingredients. This meal can be frozen before cooking, or after. DO make it easier for friends and family to help feed you. The newborn phase is full of daily discoveries and loads of love, but it's also busier than most parents expect. Being well organised now will make things easier for you and your family when your baby does put in … For freezing, put the pie in a disposable casserole pan, so a baking dish isn't tied up for months. Chili can be made without beans if that's your preference, or without meat, if mom is a vegetarian. Baby or Bridal Shower Games and Prize Baskets. Normally, we spend somewhere in the neighborhood of $80 per week on groceries. It really didn’t take long at all. The longer meals were the ones that needed to be pre-cooked and then frozen. November 7, 2014 , In: Mains, Recipes, With: No Comments. Cooking the meat in a slow cooker with broth ensures that it stays tender. This makes retrieving just what mom needs easy. But as you've figured out, your baby-to-be doesn't care about your schedule. This version from Pinch of Yum swaps out the meat and adds in nutrient-packed spinach. Instant Pot Citrus Herb Chicken. Topping this loaf with bacon adds a richness that will satisfy picky eaters. Freeze the chicken in the pan. A tiny new baby can mean big changes and major expenses for new parents. They can be frozen in a zipper bag and enjoyed for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Preparing for the arrival of a new little one is so emotional in so many different ways—and being somewhat prepared for life after baby comes home can be so helpful. Scrambled eggs, sausage, cheese, and veggies roll up nicely in a wheat tortilla. You can follow her on Twitter and Medium https://medium.com/@mariafchapman14, or subscribe to her newsletter for periodic updates. This meal can be made and frozen in a disposable lasagna pan to make for easy cleanup, making this meal a new-mom favorite. Lasagna is a classic freezer meal. For the most part, I’ve stuck with a modified keto diet to control my GD. Frozen veggies make this hearty meal even more comfortable to put together. Salsa and Greek yogurt make an excellent dressing option. I thought I would just wing it. Our baby registry checklist and roundup of the best baby products will help you understand your options and make decisions about what's important. To combat this likely scenario, I decided to spend the last month of my pregnancy making and freezing a variety of healthy dinners. Having a stash of prepared protein on hand that is pre-shredded can make preparing stir-fry, tacos, enchiladas, soups, or wraps super simple for moms with one free hand. It seems like the trend is to pick 4-5 meals and just make a bunch of them. Experts say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Reheating for two minutes as moms pack the diaper bag ensures that there is a hot and hearty breakfast that will fuel her morning. Beef stew makes a fabulous frozen meal for lunch or dinner. Build a mixture with prewashed lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and top with the fajita mix. The arrival of a new baby can be both exciting and financially overwhelming. The fastest meals to prep are the crock-pot freezer meals. The stew is still vibrant and hearty thanks to the beef stock and potatoes. Completely cutting sugar out of my diet would be awesome, but totally unsustainable. Here are the essential items to stock up on before baby’s arrival. I spent about an hour each day prepping. RELATED: 10 Healthy Snacks Your Picky Toddler Will Love. 6 oz tomato paste. My pre-baby freezer meals started with one, lone chicken pot pie. Un-paper Towels: Because Who Can Find Paper Towels, Anyway. NEXT: 10 Superfoods That Can Make Your Pregnancy Easier, Maria Chapman is a literacy specialist turned freelance writer. It’s great over rice or quinoa, with steamed veggies, or sandwich-style in buns. 3 cloves of garlic minced. Another fast meal idea that I defer to a lot is a quick stir fry. The only place to satisfy all of your guilty pleasures. I know that if I’m struggling with the transition from one kid to two, meal planning is going to fall to the wayside and we’re going to be eating a lot of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and pizza. With all this in mind, I compiled a list of freezer-friendly dinner recipes that I thought would last us approximately a month. New moms often spend their days caring for a tiny human and forget to care for themselves. Instead, I plan to take a balanced approach to eating. Easy breakfast options can give moms the necessary energy after sleepless nights and support adequate breast milk production. But in between the muslins, nappies and blankets, a batch of homemade, ready-prepared meals can make those early days much easier. I was able to easily label each dish and they stacked nicely in the freezer (once frozen). So, I don’t think this ended up costing us any extra and depending on how we shop for breakfast, lunch and snacks after the baby is born, we may end up saving money. 2 jalapeños (remove seeds to make less spicy) 2 bell peppers, chopped. I split the actual meal prep process up over a couple of days. Try these easy and nutritious meals: 1. Easy Protein Granola paired with greek yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal or frozen waffles! Unfortunately, we weren’t those parents. Some ideas include: Overnight Oats – I’ve made these so many times, I can basically make them in my sleep! This recipe from Taste of Home uses ground beef, but people can swap that with turkey, pork, chicken, or a combination. She uses her 13 years of experience in urban education, her specialization in literacy education, and her experiences parenting five children to write engaging, relatable content. This averages out to about $32/week. Simply toss the ingredients in a Zip-loc bag, label and place in the freezer. Serving up the hottest food trends and the inside scoop on restaurants worldwide. Go with the Flow . This recipe from Delish calls for red wine but skips the flour. If you’re the sole meal preparer in your household, I highly recommend meal prepping in this manner. Feel free to mix up the ingredients to keep this breakfast from feeling repetitive. I love these as a quick breakfast... Chia Pudding – With such simple ingredients and minimal prep work, I know that chia pudding is something I’ll easily be... Smoothies – … Since I’m so self-aware, I decided the best thing to do to help control my post-baby diet, is to meal prep. Since I know this about myself, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to how I can continue a healthy diet without having to go to the extremes of GD/Keto. Ricotta and mozzarella cheeses still provide protein in addition to the creamy, gooey texture people love. 4 1/2 cups chicken broth. When turning it into a meal, add a vegetable and a sauce for an easy option. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Once you have the baby, friends and family will often drop off meals to lighten your load... Have Hospital and Doctor’s Phone #s Handy. Pancakes freeze quickly, and a piece of parchment or waxed paper in between them will keep them from sticking together. Instant Pot Mama Rita’s Meatballs. I need a little more variety. Your email address will not be published. To make vegetable nachos, slice bell peppers, zucchini, celery, and cucumbers and arrange them on a plate. Top with hot chili and shredded cheese. Required fields are marked *. Top them with peanut butter for an extra boost of protein and healthy fats. Shepherd's pie is the perfect combination of protein, veggies, and luscious potatoes to keep new moms fed on busy days. the last weeks Clean Out Your Fridge/Freezer. 1 lb hamburger. In today's video I show you some of the things we've done to prepare/organize for our baby boy who is due September 16, 2018! 5 Breakfast DIY Frozen Meals. https://mariachapman.substack.com/. Program them into your phone, so when you go into labor, … Thanks for the reminder that I need to get on the ball preparing food before baby comes (only 2 weeks until I’m considered “full term”!!) (Sometimes I even found better deals when buying in larger quantities.) The veggies nourish, and the protein in the chili will keep mom full through nap time. For this meal to go from breakfast to dinner, freeze individual portions in zipper bags, and place each part in a large freezer bag. 1 large sweet potato, cut into chunks. There's no excuse to skip lunch when these fill the freezer. RELATED: 10 Tips For Getting Dinner On The Table When You’re Exhausted. October 2020 Recipes. Whether you're a new parent or gifting a frozen meal to someone else, get started making … The longer meals were the ones that needed to be pre-cooked and then frozen. Breakfast Burritos Conquer meal planning and freeze make-ahead meals before your baby arrives. Here are 10 DIY frozen meals ideas. I really don’t want to fall into that category again. I also completely cut sugar out of my diet with the exception of a half a banana here or there. 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When it is frozen, remove the foil, and the chicken parmesan comes out flat and ready for wrapping and freezing. We try to conceive based on our age, our work schedule, or the seasons. Since I was making the same meal for dinner, it didn’t make me much extra time to start building my freezer stash. For an added nutritional boost, try topping it with mashed sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes. After a baby is born, life becomes full of activity, so it's important to practice some self-care by preparing meals for yourself ahead of time. Here are some meals to prepare ahead of time to keep new moms nourished throughout the day. The ultimate newborn baby checklist can help you determine what you'll need to purchase and prepare as you get ready for baby's birth. Preparing for Baby’s Arrival With Quick & Easy Dinners. It also has many child-friendly steps to involve your toddlers or older children in […] For the most part, these meals are casseroles that only need to be warmed or crock-pot meals that need to be thawed and tossed in the crock-pot the morning of. While there was a bit of legwork involved in the planning and preparation of so many meals, it offered peace of mind. 1 chopped onion. Tired moms can use reheated chili to top vegetable "chips" or as a filling for Taco Tuesday. If you’ve caught a couple of my previous posts, you’re probably well aware of the fact that I have gestational diabetes. My hope is that with a freezer stocked full of healthy dinners, I won’t have the urge to order pizza when things get stressful. Remove and roll into ping pong sized balls. One of the perks of GD is a really healthy diet. All in all, my meal prep trip cost about $125. A while ago I shared some snippets in my stories on Instagram of us prepping a handfuld of meals for our freezer, so that we are prepared for our little girl’s arrival in October. Egg dishes for breakfast (burritos, egg cups like the Sous-vide ones at Starbucks) If my options are the same chicken we’ve had for dinner at least once a week for the last month or a pizza, you better believe I’m going to order the pizza. Individual burritos can be wrapped in parchment paper and frozen in a zipper bag. No one will know that fiber-boosting veggies are hiding inside. Whether you're a new parent or gifting a frozen meal to someone else, get started making pre-made meals with these 15 freezer meals for new moms. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator or place the container/bag in the sink filled with warm water. These pancakes from Lichen Paleo, Loving AIP, are a healthy and protein-packed twist on a breakfast favorite. Unfortunately, that’s what we had to do because we hadn’t thought of making a pre-baby grocery list (first time parent problems). An option that includes complex carbohydrates and protein will keep moms running all morning. Baby Nail Clippers . It’s when the forcing function is removed that I struggle. RELATED: The Pros And Cons Of Making Your Own Baby Food. Once the baby arrives, you’ll probably have friends and family bring over food for awhile, but that eventually comes to an end!