If you are the main cook in your family, you will need to consider how your family will eat after the birth of your little one. While takeout is an okay option for a day or two, you probably aren’t going to want to eat Chinese food and pizza everyday for weeks after baby arrives.
That said, finding time to plan and prepare meals in those first few weeks typically ranges from difficult to impossible, and attempting to do so can really take away from your bonding time with the new arrival.
Fortunately, with a little bit of forethought you can easily avoid this dilemma and ensure your family is well fed each and every day without ever resorting to fast food. Here are a few of the best options for acquiring meals during the first weeks postpartum. Pick one or choose several and mix-and-match. However you do it, make a plan now so you can skip the worry later.
Set Up a Meal Train
Everybody wants to help after a new baby is born. Take advantage of those offers by having a close friend or relative organize a meal train. This will ensure you have homemade meals coming in for a week or two after the birth so you never have to lift a finger.
Make and Freeze Meals
Of course, you can’t count on friends as your sole source of food. For this reason, it is a good idea to do a bit of prep work during your last few weeks of pregnancy. One of the most popular ways to prepare is to make casseroles and other freezable dishes and toss them in the freezer to be reheated in the oven. There are tons of recipes online for this sort of thing. SupperThyme is a local option that offers pre-made meals to take!
Pre-Assemble Slow Cooker Meals
Besides casseroles, there are also a number of slow cooker meals that can be pre-assembled and frozen. These are great because they don’t require any actual cooking in advance—just cutting and bagging. When you’re ready to use a meal, simply toss it in the slow cooker and serve up your meal a few hours later. EasyFreezy Meals is a local option that helps with the meal prep!
Teach Your Partner (or Kids) to Cook
Considering that you will have just given birth, it’s fairly likely your family will be happy to help out around the kitchen. The problem is, many people have no idea how to prepare your favorite meals. If this is a problem in your family, consider teaching your family how to cook a few simple meals before baby arrives. This will mean they can deal with the meal prep while you tend to baby.
Keep Easy Options on Hand
There really is no reason every single meal must be cooked. Many great meal options can be served up with very little prep work and no cooking at all. For example, a bagged salad and bit of leftover grilled chicken can make an awesome meal. Another option is to toss some cheese, fruit, veggies, and ham onto a plate and have finger foods for dinner. Lastly, consider a basket of your favorite non perishable snacks and bottled water by your favorite nursing spots for those ravenous nursing sessions! Not only are these ideas easy, they are also healthy and delicious.
By using the tips and tricks above, you can ensure your family is happy, healthy, and well fed in the busy weeks after baby is born. So go ahead, make a grocery list and start your prep work right away. You’ll be happy you did!