If I could give a word of advice to FTMs..

MDmama519 · September 2011

Please do yourself a favor and prepare freezer meals in advance.

During my first pregnancy, I thought it was an insane idea to prepare freezer meals ahead of time. I kept telling everyone "You're nuts, I will still be able to cook a meal."

I really regretted it when DS was born. We pretty much lived off take-out and frozen pizza. I didn't have the time or energy to cook dinner. About 2 weeks into it, my mom brought a chicken pot pie over and it literally made me cry.

I am making a list of freezer meals that I am going to make later down the road and would be happy to share them here.

Lelo3 · September 2011

Please share

onetxjewel · September 2011

I've been pinning a ton of crockpot and frozen meals on pinterest!!! I'm glad i'm doing this now! Even almost 9 weeks pregnant I have no desire to cook, so for me i've been finding easy casseroles. Tonight we'll be eating "crack potatoes" that I found on pinterest. It's hash browns, sour cream, ranch packets, bacon bits, and cheddar cheese...you stir it all together and bake...that's it! It's just bacon, ranch, hash browns. That with a salad and sour dough and we'll be set for 2 or 3 meals!!! Good thing my husband isn't too picky!

Pinterest has definitely been awesome in the new/easy recipe department!!! Big Smile

Wildlandwife · September 2011

Heck ya! I made a couple, but even to this day, LOVE freezer meals. I will be doing much more this pregnancy.

Lu24 · September 2011

This is definitely something I want to do! I know it will be so nice to not have to worry much about cooking for the first week or so.

gekeler6 · September 2011

This is really good advice!!! I highly recommend this too! When I had my second set of twins, I only had help from the husband for two weeks, I really felt like he should have taken a month off! My neighbor was soooooo sweet and put together a volunteer of ladies who made us meals for two weeks!!!! They would bring dinner at 5pm, hot and ready to eat and it was enough to feed everyone and some left over! I wish I would have thought ahead enough to freeze meals, even if it was only a couple weeks of food. I couldn't thank the ladies who made our meals for us enough! I never had anyone be so thoughtful and nice before! This time I will be spending days preparing meals and storing weeks worth for the family! I know I won't have time for descent meals when the baby arrives!

dixee.deluxe · September 2011

I'm glad I didn't because a lot of the freezer meal recipes I'd seen contained red sauce or dairy. They would've gone to waste.

DragonflyBelle · September 2011

I agree with the OP...I didn't eat for weeks after we brought Juliana home. I would look up at 4 pm and hadn't eaten a thing because I just wasn't thinking. Maybe having it on-hand and actually knowing I put time and energy into cooking it would have reminded me to eat.

shouldbworkin · September 2011

dixee.deluxe:

I'm glad I didn't because a lot of the freezer meal recipes I'd seen contained red sauce or dairy. They would've gone to waste.

this happened to me the 2nd time around. At least DH ate well. lol! This time around, I will be doing DF freezer meals (my kids still can't eat dairy anyway). I also love using the crock pot to make huge meals that are easy to freeze and heat up, like stews and soups.

okate0213 · September 2011

I did a couple last time. I agree totally worth it and plan on doing more this time.

mamabear0813 · September 2011

I TOTALLY agree. If you run into issues with the dishes, you can trade with family! Here take this and make me something dairy free. LOL

JFH2010 · September 2011

I really want to do this, but I have to ask...how does everyone have enough freezer space?? I can't imagine fitting "weeks" of casseroles in there! I don't think my freezer is abnormally small. Am I just underestimating the space in an avg freezer? Do you guys have extra freezers?

shouldbworkin · September 2011

JFH2010:
I really want to do this, but I have to ask...how does everyone have enough freezer space?? I can't imagine fitting "weeks" of casseroles in there! I don't think my freezer is abnormally small. Am I just underestimating the space in an avg freezer? Do you guys have extra freezers?

I bought aluminum loaf pans and made casseroles in that. It was plenty for 2 adults and I could pop it in the oven on low to heat up since I was home. I just didn't have time to stand by the stove.

Also, sauces, chili's, etc. can go in zip loc bags that you stack up on top of each other flat on a shelf in your freezer. Take them out a day early to thaw in the fridge so that you can pour them into a pan to reheat (or YH can pour into a pan to reheat when he gets home ;-))

ksen820 · September 2011

That's a great idea! Luckily though, my solution for the first 2 weeks is my mom

She will be staying with us for at least the first week (if not 2) and I am putting her to work lol.

darleenmonroe · September 2011

I did this while 3rd trimester with DS but I didn't make enough. I only made about 6 dinners and looking back I should have made 30 dinners!!!!!! 1 month's worth of dinners would have made life sooooo much easier! The only thing was you have to remember to get them out of the freezer so you have to have a little foresight.

You can bet you butt I will be doing 30 dinners this time around!

I made:

homeade lasangua

homemade chicken soup

crockpot vegetable beef barley stew

homemade chili (two dinners)

I can't think what the other dinner was. Anyway they all froze great, thawed great and were yummy yummy to eat without haveing to do anymore than bake or nuke!

9 weeks 2 days w/ Baby #2

mamabear0813 · September 2011

softskate31:
I disagree. I made a bunch of freezer meals for when DD was born and they are still sitting in the chest freezer 14m later.

Our oven heats up our whole freaking house and it was more of a pain to bake something for 2 hours than it was to just prepare a quick grilled meat and salad.

Only make stuff you know you will eat and DH will eat.

Definitely this. Don't make a bunch of new recipes that you haven't tested out yet. You don't know if you'll hate it when you're hungry and hormonal. But if you have a few freezable casseroles or chili or sauces you love, make several! Pasta is super easy and if you have your favorite sauce ready to go it's a treat too, instead of just a canned sauce. Depending on where you live, it may still be cold in April (I'm in Northern MI, so it's cold until July LOL) so things like Chili would be nice, but if it's already warm out you may want to skip those things. It may be better to whip things up in the moment, because you may only feel like salads or lighter things. I can't even remember what I ate int he first few days. My family (well, DH's family) mostly sucks and didn't bring ANYTHING. My dad came over with some pizza once and my FIL, his wife and my BIL all invited themselves over. Of course, my dad didn't realize there'd be so many people and didn't bring enough pizza for all of them and I didn't eat any of it. Sorry, that's been building for a while I guess! LOL

Lina1030 · September 2011

I never did. I like to freeze soups or sauces for pasta (I usually make extra to have an freeze for days I am lazy or do not have time) I usually make quick and easy meals in under 30 minutes anyway...unless I am making something fancy that requires a little more prep/cook time. My inlaws brought dinner, my aunt and sister were with us and helped in the beginning with meals and shopping. But if you don't have help this is a good tip. I just wouldn't cook a chicken breast and freeze it. There are some good meals that freeze well. Maybe lasagna, sauces (all you do is boil pasta), soups, etc.

biblionerd · September 2011

I was planning on it and didn't end up doing it, but didn't regret it. We found out how poorly DH functions on no sleep (like creepy standing up and throwing lamps in his sleep then screaming because he thought it was the baby). So since I was getting little help at night he cooked.

mamabear0813 · September 2011

biblionerd:
I was planning on it and didn't end up doing it, but didn't regret it. We found out how poorly DH functions on no sleep (like creepy standing up and throwing lamps in his sleep then screaming because he thought it was the baby). So since I was getting little help at night he cooked.

OMG! DH says crazy things in his sleep sometimes, but that is awful!

biblionerd · September 2011

mamabear0813:
biblionerd:
I was planning on it and didn't end up doing it, but didn't regret it. We found out how poorly DH functions on no sleep (like creepy standing up and throwing lamps in his sleep then screaming because he thought it was the baby). So since I was getting little help at night he cooked.
OMG! DH says crazy things in his sleep sometimes, but that is awful!

Yeah, it was insane. The first time we just woke up to a giant clatter and my (tiffany glass... grrrrr!) lamp from his nightstand was on the floor and he was just standing there yelling "the baby, the baby, where's the baby". The second time it happened he woke up before he dropped it and said he was holding the lamp cradled in his arms like a baby. I never imagined getting NO nighttime help, but DS was obviously not safe with him like that...

vtwd40 · September 2011

I've been wanting a small chest freezer for the garage for over a year anyways, but now that I'm pregnant, I REALLY want one. Honestly, if I make lasagna or casserole, we only eat a small portion of it. We do leftovers, but you can only eat SO much of the same thing, so I started freezing half. It works great, but my freezer can't hold everything, so when I get a freezer, that will help. I have a book that helps you do freezer meals with your regular recipes and help you organize so you can cook less on the days you decide to "super cook". Even doing things like pre-browning lots of hamburger meat and freezing it in small bags can speed up night where you don't have the energy to cook (or forget to thaw some meat) I also like to make big soup batches and freeze the leftovers in bags. I'm hoping to use some Christmas $ to get a small freezer, hopefully cheaper on like craigslist. Even a few extra meals can help IMO

beth6287 · September 2011

vtwd40:
I've been wanting a small chest freezer for the garage for over a year anyways, but now that I'm pregnant, I REALLY want one. Honestly, if I make lasagna or casserole, we only eat a small portion of it. We do leftovers, but you can only eat SO much of the same thing, so I started freezing half. It works great, but my freezer can't hold everything, so when I get a freezer, that will help. I have a book that helps you do freezer meals with your regular recipes and help you organize so you can cook less on the days you decide to "super cook". Even doing things like pre-browning lots of hamburger meat and freezing it in small bags can speed up night where you don't have the energy to cook (or forget to thaw some meat) I also like to make big soup batches and freeze the leftovers in bags. I'm hoping to use some Christmas $ to get a small freezer, hopefully cheaper on like craigslist. Even a few extra meals can help IMO

What is this book? i have a hard time trying to figure out what freezes well and doesn't.

2007wife · September 2011

I totally disagree too.

I did not make a single freezer meal and we were perfectly fine the first month. I also had a c-section so my recovery was a little tougher. Still I was fine. We just cooked simple things like grilled chicken and roasted veggies. We had some take out but not a ton. Ate sandwiches for lunch.

I also delivered in the summer and found that so many freezer meals are things that are supper heavy like chilli, soup, pasta and so forth. I was certainly not in the mood to eat anything like that after I delivered. All I craved was veggies and fresh food.

ABeautifulMind · September 2011

My midwives actually "require" us to do this. They said we should have meals frozen just in case I labor for days and for the days following the birth. Good advice!!!!

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