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Original poster

How many meals should I make in advance?

58 replies

Lilly24 · 18/07/2021 19:28

So my first baby is due at the end of next month and I'm starting the meal prep tomorrow (planning to cook a couple of meals in bigger batches every week until he's born so that I can freeze the excess in preparation for having a newborn). I'm making hot pot tomorrow (should hopefully make enough to feed us tomorrow and then be able to freeze 6 portions 🤞) and then a curry on Tuesday (which should leave me with at least 4 freezable portions).
In the coming weeks I'm planning to make chilli con carne (should have 6 portions leftover to freeze), chicken and broccoli potato topped pie (should also leave 6 portions to freeze), lasange (again, leaving 6 portions to freeze) and some breakfast burritos (makes 16 little burritos so probably 8 portions). So altogether if I follow this plan we should end up with 14 evening meals (28 portions) and about 4 breakfasts 🤔
Should I be aiming to do more than this? How many would you aim for?

OP posts:
MattyGroves · 21/07/2021 07:57

@Elune

Honestly I think it's so off-putting to make breastfeeding sound like you are absolutely chained to your baby and can't ever have any respite or a break. I breastfed my DD but I could still easily take 10 mins to eat my dinner while DH held her. Your husband really couldn't hold your baby for 10 mins while you ate your dinner so you had to breastfeed and try to eat at the same time for every meal? Really, truly? Mmhmm.
Agree. I had a baby who was a bit velcro and breastfed a lot. I did eat a lot with him in the sling but if my DH was home, it was always possible to time things so I could get 10 mins to eat properly.

Honestly Mumsnet terrified me about breastfeeding. I thought it was going to be painful and completely all consuming and my baby would be stuck to me 24/7. It's been painfree and I have managed some semblance of a social life even though I have bfed for 2 years and he refused bottles

JoborPlay · 21/07/2021 08:12

@Elune

Honestly I think it's so off-putting to make breastfeeding sound like you are absolutely chained to your baby and can't ever have any respite or a break. I breastfed my DD but I could still easily take 10 mins to eat my dinner while DH held her. Your husband really couldn't hold your baby for 10 mins while you ate your dinner so you had to breastfeed and try to eat at the same time for every meal? Really, truly? Mmhmm.
With DC1 I did. He fed almost constantly, and the evenings were the worst. DC2 was a feed and put down child.
namechangefornaming1 · 21/07/2021 08:33

I'd do as many meals as you have time for OP and fill up your freezer, leaving a little room for breads and milk so you've always got those to hand. I made about 100 meals (50 days for DH and I) and will soon use up them all. Ive been so glad of them. Working term time only when not on maternity leave, I do a lot of batch cooking, I tend to do it all over 2 or 3 days every few weeks. I make a mixture of things so we don't get fed up, and some part made things that need fresh ingredients adding for a bit more texture.

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Wjevtvha · 21/07/2021 08:45

Sounds like a great idea! My family made us a load of melas for the freezer and they were particularly useful when DH went back to work as then I could hand him baby so I could sleep or just have time while he looked after her without either of us having to bother with cooking (also takes away the hassle of meal planning and shopping).
Also any of that food can be eaten one handed while feeding the baby as you just cut it up before you eat or get your DP too.

Luciey · 21/07/2021 09:37

I batch cooked and froze about 3 months worth of dinners. We didn't eat them day after day, we cooked fresh when we could be bothered. Batch cooking suits me and I still do it now.

I would also suggest individual portions for lunches as well as snacks. Breastfeeding hunger is worse than pregnancy hunger.

EdithGrantham · 21/07/2021 10:14

Has anyone got any good meals that freeze well that aren't sloppy ones e.g. pasta sauces/chilli/curry/stews?

grey12 · 21/07/2021 11:05

@MyDcAreMarvel

I wouldn’t make lasagna or pie, you need food you can eat with a fork only.
You figure it out Wink

Look, whatever fits in your freezer! I didn't do it for my 2nd and 3rd cause I didn't have enough space. Tbh I had a worse recovery from the 1st so that was good

namechangefornaming1 · 21/07/2021 12:52

@EdithGrantham

Has anyone got any good meals that freeze well that aren't sloppy ones e.g. pasta sauces/chilli/curry/stews?
That can be a problem. I make some things that have extra easy bits added before serving or finishing off. For example I make a meatball mix ( think it's bbc good food Italian meatballs or something) in a tomato sauce that you sandwich between grilled garlic ciabatta at the end, tesco even sell the ciabatta in the garlic bread section. Takes about 7 mins to throw together. When you see a recipe online or in a magazine it might not be labelled as freezable but if you think about it certain elements are, normally the most time consuming bits.

Also I make lots of sloppy type things and bung them in the oven when ready to eat so they have a crispy top (eg pies with puff pastry on top) and serve with freshly cooked frozen veg or the like

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