It’s never ever too early to start thinking about freezer meals for new moms! The initial postpartum period can get a little crazy – so if you’re in your third trimester of pregnancy, it’s a good idea to start thinking ahead.
The fourth trimester of pregnancy (the first three months postpartum) often comes with a lot of sleepless nights, diaper changes and feedings. So whatever you can do or prep to make your life a little easier postpartum is worth it in my book!
There are a ton of things you can do to get the nursery ready, stage the first floor with all the essentials you’ll need for diaper changes, sterilize the bottles, and so much more – but this post is going to specifically talk about postpartum meals you can prep to make the initial newborn stage sooo much easier.
I honestly hate the word “diet” so you won’t find me talking about a pregnancy diet or postpartum diet here. Instead, I am a believer in balance and eating foods that you actually like, not what you think you need to eat to lose weight.
Freezer meals for new moms are by far my top recommended way to plan postpartum meals that you will actually eat and love!
This post is all about freezer meals for new moms.
What To Expect Postpartum
As I mentioned above, the fourth trimester of pregnancy is a ROLLERCOASTER.
I don’t say this to scare you but more to set the right expectations.
The postpartum period is unlike anything else I’ve ever experienced before and I think that has a lot to do with having to function on such little sleep. Depending on what time of day or night you gave birth, you may be pretty exhausted from the get go. And if you know one thing about newborns, it’s that they need to eat every few hours round the clock.
You will have a little extra help from nurses in the hospital but once you get home it’s go time!
Not only are you getting up for feedings but you are recovering from birth too, whether it be a vaginal birth or a c section. Either way, your body needs rest and it also needs fuel.
Postpartum Meal Plan
No matter how much you love to cook pre-baby, postpartum eating is a whole different ball game.
Initially, it will be challenging to find the time and energy to grocery shop, prep and cook meals. For that reason, it’s important to have options that are easy, filling and give you energy.
But it’s not uncommon for new moms to neglect their own eating and drinking due to being overtired, side tracked taking care of their newborn or just not feeling the greatest postpartum.
But it is sooo important to eat and stay hydrated. So so so important.
So what’s my solution?
Enter my favorite thing ever: freezer meals for new moms!
Freezer Meals For New Moms
Freezer meals for new moms are exactly what they sound like. They are meals you prepare ahead of time, freeze and cook at a future date when you’re ready to eat them!
By doing most of the work ahead of time, it saves all of the shopping and prep time when you haven’t put your newborn down all afternoon and want nothing to do with cooking dinner (I’m totally guilty over here…).
There are sooo many postpartum meal options out there for breakfast, lunch and dinner but I am going to share with you five of my favorites. They’re simple but family approved which make them a big win in my book!
I recommend choosing a few meals to make before baby arrives, even if they’re not one of the recipes I share below, but make sure you keep in mind how much storage space you have in your freezer.
Between the meals you prepare and the food your family and friends bring over, you should be in really good shape to have delicious and nutrient dense foods in the first few weeks postpartum.
1. Breakfast Burritos
Ingredients:
- 10 eggs
- Shredded cheese
- 5 large tortillas
- Frozen vegetables (optional)
- Seasonings of choice – I like garlic salt, pepper and onion powder
- Tin foil
- Large ziplock bag
Directions:
- Scramble eggs with your favorite seasonings and heat up pan.
- If you are using frozen vegetables such as peppers and onions or mushrooms, add them to the pan and cook until soft.
- Add the scrambled eggs to the pan.
- While the eggs are cooking, lay out five sheets of tin foil and pace a tortilla on each piece of tin foil.
- Once eggs are done, scoop eggs onto the tortillas and top with cheese.
- Roll up tortillas and wrap in tin foil.
- Place burritos into a large ziplock bag and place into the freezer.
- The night before you are going to eat a breakfast burrito, place it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat it, place it in the microwave for 1 minute or until heated through.
2. Lasagna With Meat Sauce
Ingredients:
- Jarred sauce or ingredients to make homemade sauce (below)
- Ground turkey or ground beef
- Lasagna noodles
- 15oz ricotta cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- DIsposable foil pan with lid
- Plastic wrap
- Tin foil
Ingredients For My Family’s Homemade Sauce:
- Crushed tomatoes (large can)
- Tomato paste (medium can)
- Garlic salt
- Pepper
- Minced garlic
Directions:
- If you are making a homemade sauce, combine crushed tomatoes and tomato paste in a stock pot. Then fill both cans with water and add them to the pot. Add garlic salt, pepper and minced garlic to your liking. Stir and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Fill a large pan with water and bring to a boil. Once it boils, add the lasagna noodles and cook according to the directions on the package.
- While the noodles are boiling, cook ground meat on the stove until no longer pink. I prefer ground turkey but you can use ground beef if you prefer.
- Once the ground meat is done, add spoonfuls of homemade or jarred sauce to it until it gets to your preferred consistency.
- Next, make the cheese filing according to the directions on the box.
- Put a thin layer of sauce on the bottom of the tin pan. Lay down as many lasagna noodles as needed to cover the bottom of the pan, spread some of the cheese mixture on the noodles and one cup of the meat sauce. Repeat with lasagna noodles, cheese and meat sauce until the pan is full. Top with remaining meat sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cover with plastic wrap followed by tin foil.
- Place in the freezer.
- The night before you will be eating it, put it in the fridge to defrost.
- Bake covered at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes. Let rest for 10 minutes after cooking. Enjoy!
3. Honey Garlic Chicken
Ingredients:
- 2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ cup low sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup ketchup
- ⅓ cup honey
- 2 cups baby carrots
- Gallon ziplock bag
Directions:
- Place all ingredients in a gallon size ziplock bag.
- Seal the bag and place it in the freezer.
- Thaw overnight in the fridge.
- Empty contents into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high 3-4.
- Serve with 90 second microwavable rice.
4. Beef Stew
Ingredients:
- Five pounds of roast meat
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
- 2 medium yellow onions, chopped
- 1 can tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups peas
- 1lb carrots, chopped and peeled
- 1lb red potatoes, chopped and peeled
- 3 tbsp low sodium soy sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp thyme
Directions:
- Meal Prep: Place all ingredients in a gallon size ziplock bag. Label and remove excess air. Freeze flat for later use.
- To Cook: Thaw overnight in the fridge. Empty contents into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high 3-4.
5. Chicken Fajitas
Ingredients:
- 1.5lbs chicken breasts, cut into strips
- 1 onion, sliced
- 3-4 bell peppers (any color)
- 2 tsp oil
Ingredients for Fajita Seasoning (or buy fajita seasoning packet):
- 2 tsp chilli powder
- 4 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp ground black pepper
- 4 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
Directions:
- Meal Prep: Combine all ingredients into a gallon sized zip lock bag. Label and remove excess air. Freeze flat for later use.
- To Cook: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Transfer fajita mix onto a lightly greased sheet pan with sides. Cook until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender, about 20 minutes.
This post is all about freezer meals for new moms.