Freezer meals?

orangegoggles

Anyone meal plan and/or make freezer meals? I used to do it a little when I was pregnant because I was literally so tired by the end of the day cooking was the last thing on my mind. Which led to DH picking up food for us on his way home from work.

I'd like to keep the weight Ive lost off so anyone have any good make ahead meals that are relatively healthy? Just trying to avoid take out once I get back I work in September.

orangegoggles

dmalone1024 said:

Do you have a food saver? That thing is amazing! I make marinated chicken breasts in the bags, then just take em out and bake. Rice/veg on the side. It's a 30-min meal. Or over a salad. Try soups and chili, too. You can freeze batches and then reheat in the crockpot while you're at work. Dinner is ready when you get home!

No I do not have a food saver but lots of people love theirs. I'll have to check it out.

Also, I completely forgot about soups and chili. My mind was going more towards casseroles so thanks! Dumb question, but can I put a frozen block of soup or chili in crock pot or does it have to be partially defrosted?

lindsayanne14

I would imagine you can put soup and chili in the crock pot frozen. I usually portion my soups into baggies with 3-4 bowls in each bag. Before bed I put the bag into the fridge and by morning it has thawed and I heat up individual bowls of soup in the microwave or on the stove. If you click on my Pinterest link, I have a whole board of freezer meals, I usually adapt recipes to use lean meats and low fat milks, cheeses, sour cream and cream soups to make them healthier.

orangegoggles

lindsayanne79 said:

I would imagine you can put soup and chili in the crock pot frozen. I usually portion my soups into baggies with 3-4 bowls in each bag. Before bed I put the bag into the fridge and by morning it has thawed and I heat up individual bowls of soup in the microwave or on the stove. If you click on my Pinterest link, I have a whole board of freezer meals, I usually adapt recipes to use lean meats and low fat milks, cheeses, sour cream and cream soups to make them healthier.

Ohhh thanks! Can't wait to check it out once I'm on a computer!

ChloBub

I posted on your working mom thread, but I'll share with you my 4-week meal plan:

M1: pot roast (freezer, crock-pot)

T1: chicken pasta (same as I eat for lunch every day, but DH has grad school so I pack him a to-go container to take to class with him - it's just spaghetti sauce and chicken breasts in the crock pot)

W1: turkey black bean chili (freezer, crock-pot)

T1: Asian chopped salad (pre-packaged salad mix; sautee chicken in sesame oil)

Weekend: leftover pot roast with salsa for beef burritos, leftovers

M2: meatballs (freezer), serve with sweet potatoes and broccoli

T2: chicken pasta

W2: chicken taco soup (freezer, crock pot)

T2: stuffed bell peppers (freezer - stuffing - ground turkey/beef, quinoa, salsa, cheese)

Weekend: breakfast for dinner, leftovers, prep chicken pasta

M3: BBQ pork roast (freezer, crock pot - just pork and bbq sauce!)

T3: chicken pasta

W3: Thai peanut pork (freezer, crock pot), serve with rice and broccoli

T3: beef fajita bowls (premade from butcher, use leftover rice from Wednesday)

Weekend: bbq baked potatoes, leftovers, prep chicken pasta

M4: apple chicken thighs (freezer)

T4: chicken pasta

W4: chicken kale soup (freezer, crockpot)

T4: bacon-wrapped chicken thighs (freezer)

Weekend: leftovers, prep chicken pasta

So all the "freezer" meals I do every 4 weeks and just pop them out the day of. They're relatively healthy with a few splurges in there. HTH!