How to Prepare Meals for When the Baby Arrives

Preparing food ahead of time makes your transition easier.

Whether your new baby is your very first or will be welcomed by older siblings, preparing for the birth requires plenty of time and energy. After the baby arrives back home, your lives will be changed, and planning ahead will ensure that you have plenty of quality, stress-free time to spend with your little one. Meals are a basic necessity that can be easy to overlook beforehand, but will make all the difference once you're home and running on very little sleep. Instead of relying on prepackaged meals, stock up on nutritious homemade food.

Things You'll Need

• Mixing bowls
• Pots
• Pans
• Casserole dishes
• Freezer wrappings
• Storage containers
• Aluminium foil
• Measuring spoons and cups
• Labels
• Markers

Instructions

1. Create a timeline. If you wait until you're too close to your due date, you may end up rushed by unexpected last-minute preparations. However, if you prepare meals too early, they may take up freezer space or risk freezer burn. Depending on how much help you'll have, how much storage space you have and other factors, one to two months before the birth is usually a smart time-frame.

2. 

   Soups and stews made with broth, not cream, will freeze well.

   Find recipes. Opt for favorite recipes that the whole family will enjoy for the next several weeks or months. When tweaking recipes or finding new ones, steer clear of foods that won't freeze well, such as dairy-based soups and sauces or vegetables with a high water content, such as tomatoes. Breads and bread-based dishes, such as pastry crust, tend to freeze well.

3. Create a menu. Although it's wise to keep some flexibility, planning a general menu will ensure that you prepare enough meals for several weeks after the baby's birth, with plenty of variety. Figure out how many times per week you'll eat each meal.

4. Shop for ingredients. Create a grocery list for all of the necessary ingredients. Look for deals on wholesale or bulk items, which will save costs.

5. 

   Cook. In order to cut down on preparation time, organize your recipes by main ingredient and cook the ingredients together. For instance, if three different recipes call for chicken, buy and prepare the chicken ahead of time before tackling individual recipes.

6. Package the meals. Proper packaging will ensure a longer, healthier shelf life for your meals and a fresher taste. Avoid packaging meals while they're still hot. Wait until your meals are cool, then promptly place the food into containers or seal it inside freezer-safe ziplock bags or wrappers. Solid foods benefit from a protective layer of aluminium foil. Place a blank label on each packaged meal and clearly mark the name of the meal, main ingredients and the date of cooking.

7. 

   Ensure your meals are packed neatly with sufficient space.

   Store and freeze. If you overcrowd your freezer with ready-made meals, you run the risk of lowering your freezer's capacity and effectiveness. Use a deep-freezer for extra storage space, if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase the fixings for simple meals, such as sandwiches, for days you don't wish to thaw a frozen dinner. Snack foods you can eat one-handed, such as granola bars or veggie sticks, are also useful.

• If family and friends want to know how they can help after the baby's birth, suggest bringing a fresh meal.

• When thawing your food after months in the freezer, place the frozen package in cold water, not hot water.

References

• Tammy's Recipes: Meal-Planning After Birth, and Other Questions
• Parents.com; A Conversation with the One-Armed Cooks; Melanie Monroe Rosen
• AllRecipes: Freezing Foods - A Real Time-Saver

Resources

• Pick Your Own: Vacuum Food Sealers