If you have freezer space (if you have space, I highly recommend getting a chest freezer for a variety of reasons including breast milk storage, bulk meat buying, freezer meal storing...) one great thing to do is prep some freezer meals for after baby comes. This thread is for us to share good freezer meal ideas. Crock-pot dump recipes, baked Italian dishes, and casseroles are especially good for this.
DD #1: April 2017
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Re: Freezer Meal Idea Exchange
Salsa chicken, skinnytaste
Chicken taco chili, skinnytaste
Coconut curry chicken, boys ahoy
Baked Italian dishes (I prefer to thaw and then cook, but you can find modifications to cook times if you cook from frozen)
Baked pasta with sausage and spinach, skinnytaste (I usually use ground beef instead)
Lasagna, emily bites (I usually use zucchini instead of onions and peppers)
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
https://www.trialandeater.com/lactation-cookies/
Beef and veggie kebabs
Veggie egg bake
Eggplant roll-ups
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20
@catem07
The kabobs are a great idea! I would never have thought of setting those up and freezing them in advance.
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
yes! Sadly we can't have a grill at our apartment and really we will only be here for a month before we head to our house in NY for the summer so freezer meals will not likely be used much for us is what I found out last time around. But grilling everything is what we do all summer so much easier to clean up. We also have a couple smokers too which is also amazing to just set something in it in the morning and it's ready at night and you don't need to clean up.
Speaking of clean up, get the crock pot liners if you're doing crock pot meals, lifting those things to wash after a c-section sucks.
DH: 32
Married 7/18/15
1st born at 35+4 on 6/6/16
Team green turned BLUE!
2nd born at 38+6 on 8/30/18
Team green turned PINK!
Due with #3 on 6/6/20 Team Green
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Since it will be summer I plan to marinade a bunch of different chicken for the grill, stock up on burgers and hot dogs, a few batches of stuffed shells. I hate cooking in the summer so we tend to grill a lot.
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
As for meal planning I highly recommend ingredient meals. That way you can just mix and match. So grilling up some chicken breasts, putting some pork in the crock pot for pulled pork, having some veggies to cook up, plain rice and easy sides. The key is to do the protein plain and add flavor with sauces and stuff. You can also cook up some shredded chicken, pulled pork, ground meat plain and freeze. That way you just have to thaw and its ready to make into tacos, spaghetti, whatever you want really!
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
Something like this.
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
https://thefamilyfreezer.com/2017/09/25/10-whole30-crockpot-freezer-meals-in-90-minutes/
- BFP: 3/10/16 — Baby Girl born 11/20/16
TTC#2 April 2019DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
I like to stock up on pantry staples for what I like to call stupid simple meals:
BBQ sandwiches: frozen chicken breasts, a bottle of BBQ sauce and dry seasonings.
Salsa Chicken: frozen chicken breasts, a jar of salsa, cream cheese, black beans/corn (If you’re inclined) or minute rice, taco seasoning
Also, I still had a lot of aversions and strange cravings PP. I also couldn’t do milk products with DS1 due to an allergy or tomatoes with DS2 due to an intolerance. So some meals might end up being null and void if you’re nursing a sensitive baby.
It sounds like I need to get a crock pot!
https://thefamilydinnerproject.org/food/vegg@jess09lynn
ETA fixed link
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020