Meals for after baby #2 is born

creigh2010 · May 2014

I am really wanting to make freezer meals for a month after baby #2 is born. Just really nervous about it since I'm not sure what to do. How early should I start? (I am 28 weeks) Also not sure about good recipes that don't have any type of peppers (major allergy) and I can substitute the dairy for (another allergy). I figured I would lasagna and mac and cheese but that isn't going to feed our family for a month. Any suggestions? All help is very appreciated!

abundancenow · May 2014

I'm thinking I really don't want anything in the freezer for over 3 months, so I am planning on starting soon, but I don't want to over do it too soon.

Last time, I did chilly and it wasn't great because it gave baby gas.

I did enjoy blueberry muffins, the tiny ones just to pop in my mouth as a quick snack.

I haven't tested these out, but there seems to be good suggestions here...

https://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/07/freezer-cooking/

https://www.theshabbycreekcottage.com/2013/10/freezer-meals.html

https://www.ringaroundtherosies.net/2012/02/freezer-cooking.html

https://onceamonthmeals.com/easy-to-gift-freezer-meals/

GinnyJ2012 · May 2014

I've done breakfast sandwiches and burritos, both can be done without any dairy or peppers. These are amazing and provide good protein without the grease of fast food, but can be reheated in a few minutes.

For dinners I've done precooked spaghetti sauce, this can be used for lasagna, chicken Parmesan, spaghetti or whatever. I also made different marinades and put chicken in it and froze it. Cooked taco meat that just needs thawed, hamburger patties to thaw and cook, BBQ chicken/pork cooked and shredded, buffalo chicken cooked and shredded. Cubed chicken unseasoned to be used for fajitas or stirfry.

I also keep a large bag of frozen veggies, and rolls on hand. I'm also a big fan of my crock pot so I can put it together the night before and then pull out of the fridge and cook in the morning.

Ill try to put up some links that I used tomorrow, I'm on my phone now.

Brandiewine11 · May 2014

This is what we have in the freezer (all pepper free as DH has an allergy too!):

Lasagna x 2

Pasta (shells w/ marinara & spinach) - you could sub or leave out the ricotta in it

Marinara sauce with meatballs

chili

german roladen & spatzle noodles (probably not for everyone but so tasty! - MIL made it for us)

chicken & spinach cassarole

make-ahead mashed potatoes

We also have a potato crust breakfast quiche.

Just making some chicken or beef in marinades is great to. Then you can just add a veg and some rice, etc to make a meal.

Soups, stews, and chili freeze really easily. I just started making them for dinner, but making a double batch and freezing leftovers. Then you don't have to do a lot of extra work.

*LrCg* · May 2014

Honestly its really not hard to make dinner with a newborn. The first few weeks they sleep @22 hours of the day. By the time they are up more, you're adjusted. I will have 4U5 & never had an issue & Im not supermom. Plus, you may find with a change of hormones that your taste buds are a bit off & if you plan on brestfeeding you may eat something that upsets your baby. Not to mention food allergies. My friend has no food allergies in her or DH family & both her kids have a diary allergy which meant she had to cut it out.

GinnyJ2012 · May 2014

*LrCg* said:
Honestly its really not hard to make dinner with a newborn. The first few weeks they sleep @22 hours of the day. By the time they are up more, you're adjusted. I will have 4U5 & never had an issue & Im not supermom. Plus, you may find with a change of hormones that your taste buds are a bit off & if you plan on brestfeeding you may eat something that upsets your baby. Not to mention food allergies. My friend has no food allergies in her or DH family & both her kids have a diary allergy which meant she had to cut it out.

Not all new borns sleep 22 hours a day. DS didn't sleep much at all, wanted to nurse all the time, and was very colicky. The few times he would sleep with out being held I used for showers and cleaning up the house or napping because I was so exhausted. Having a few ready made dinners made my life a lot easier and less stressful.

sschwege · May 2014

I second the once a month meals webpage. I really liked the variety.

Jennicillin · May 2014

You're at about the stage I was with my daughter when I started the freezer meals.... wish I could start now with this kid but we're moving in a month, so I'll be getting a late start.

I started just picking out casseroles etc... that I could freeze and every time I cooked dinner I made a "double batch" one for that night, one for the freezer. It spread out the cost, and the workload, and was totally doable. On top of that once per paycheck I picked out a "breakfast recipe" to freeze. Muffins, breakfast sandwiches, etc....

After she came, if I had the energy to cook or had a craving, I would do it. If I didn't I had a freezer full of food. Since I had been working on it for 3 & 1/2 months before she was born, and almost always had left overs, not to mention the occasional take out or productive day I cooked, they lasted me almost 6 months!!

I have a deep freezer, so I was comfortable with the food being in there that long at the much lower temps.

All that said, I'm just gonna leave this here. I love freezer cooking!

https://www.pinterest.com/jennicillin/for-the-freezer/

BBColt78 · May 2014

*LrCg* said:

Honestly its really not hard to make dinner with a newborn. The first few weeks they sleep @22 hours of the day. By the time they are up more, you're adjusted. I will have 4U5 & never had an issue & Im not supermom. Plus, you may find with a change of hormones that your taste buds are a bit off & if you plan on brestfeeding you may eat something that upsets your baby. Not to mention food allergies. My friend has no food allergies in her or DH family & both her kids have a diary allergy which meant she had to cut it out.

My DD not sleep at all until she was literally 6 weeks old. We barely ate!

I'd freeze some stuff. I think the marinated meat sounds like a great idea. I'm going to try that myself.

chloephoebecali · May 2014

I did some marinated meat that is MSpI friendly. I grab the meat when it's on sale (in masses) and do various safe marinades. I love grilled food In the summer anyway, and use leftovers in salads for lunch. I will load up on less gas inducing frozen veggies as well.

GinnyJ2012 · May 2014

chloephoebecali said:
I did some marinated meat that is MSpI friendly. I grab the meat when it's on sale (in masses) and do various safe marinades. I love grilled food In the summer anyway, and use leftovers in salads for lunch. I will load up on less gas inducing frozen veggies as well.

I've been stocking up on meat when it goes on sale too. My food budget the last month or so is a little out of control, but it will all balance out in July/August when the food has already been bought!

Grilled meats on salads is a summer favorite for us too and it's something MH can do easily to help out.

AMcLaws · May 2014

I plan on doing a bunch of freezer breakfast burritos and such. I think I'm only going to have a weeks worth of dinners on hand, to makes things easier for DH. I'm having a RCS, so I want things to be fairly easy the first week we're home. I felt great after the first week with DD1. Hoping it'll be the same this time.

britab · May 2014

I like to preassemble things like beef stew or veggie soup in freezer bags and then throw them in the crockpot. Enchiladas are a great freezer meal too. I like budget bytes blog for ideas.

nicolinab · May 2014

There are some great threads on here, but I second the links above, too! I started stocking freezer meals about 28 weeks on. I am vegan and my husband is lactose intolerant, so we kind of have to be prepared with some food on hand! I did lasagnas, baked zitis, soups, chili. I even made brown rice, quinoa, and beans to have them ready, since we don't typically use packets or cans. Fortunately, it's summer, so we can grill. I stocked up on veggie dogs/meat and buns to just grill. I also got noodles (and already made the rice) and asian veggie freezer bags, then bought all different sauces. That way, we can make tons of different noodle or rice bowls quickly.

Good luck!

ivyreb · May 2014

I also recommend Once a Month Meals website for ideas.
Another favorite I made was a bunch of tortilla pies. Similar to this recipe:
https://www.marthastewart.com/343451/tortilla-pie

My version basically layers tortillas, refried beans, shredded chicken, enchilada sauce, cheese, corn... whatever you want!

bkcgraham · May 2014

Hello! I lurk here a bit but mostly post on the August board. I second the Fix, Freeze, Feast book - has some great recipes.

Also wanted to make another suggestion. I know you asked about meals but wanted to also suggest quick lunches/snacks for you. This is handy when it's just you during the day or middle of the night. Think high protein and easy. I did boiled eggs, cheese, peanut butter protein cookies (frozen), frozen mini quiches, homemade waffles (frozen ahead of time) w/peanut butter, muffins. Hope this helps too!

slippintrippn84 · May 2014

I'm not sure if this is helpful to you but:
I did Weight Watchers before I got pregnant and plan on resuming sometime after LO is born. They put out a cookbook called "I Love Leftovers" which had many recipes that you either double up on to freeze or they paired up with another recipe that could use the leftovers from meal 1 to make meal 2. Since it's Weight Watchers, they prob don't have many dishes with dairy (dairy is usually high in points) or it would not make a huge difference to substitute it out. I've tried a couple of them and liked them just fine. DH didn't complain about them either. It does have dishes that are outside the normal or "classic" cuisine, so you don't get too bored with them.

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