Best food to take to a family with a newborn

[rubyhorse]

My friend has just had a baby and I'm going to visit her next week. When I visit friends at the newborn stage I always try to take food along with me, generally

• a good chunky soup which will do for new Mum's lunches and
• a whole meal for the parents to share - preferably something which has everything necessary already in it so it can just be warmed up, although I've taken pasta sauces along before now.

Both of which can be frozen .

Now, all of this is good in theory but I've no inspiration this time about what to take! Anyone help me out with some suggestions, please?

Aw you are lovely to do that
I'm thinking a pasta bake possibly?
Something that can be eaten with just a fork as possibly cuddling baby all the time.

Some kind of one pot meal - easily freezable as it is, and little washing up to do after.

cottage pie
casserole (vegie or meat depending)
curry

Watercress soup? (though I blend it to smooth) without cream (tastes nicer imo and keeps better) is good as high in iron.

lasagna
cake

Some iced cup cakes for pudding?

God I wish you were my friend. Second pasta bake, or any bake tbh. Flapjacks are good snacks too - lots of energy.

TBH I would have been grateful for anything, just the idea of not having to worry about food would be nice! Even sandwiches would do!

chilli? curry? TBH i'd be grateful for anything like. it's very thoughtful

Fish pie? Takes sodding ages to make, I'd love it if someone bothered to do that for me.

Oooh yes cottage pie - yum.

Lasagne and a bag of nice salad?

Or to be honest, I'd be tempted to take just some 'posh' crackers, or lovely fresh bread and some cheese - maybe a camembert in the box, so they can bake it to go all melty? That and a bag of lovely fresh radishes is what I'd like best!

Oh - and maybe some muffins?

It is a lovely idea and I'm sure they'll appreciate it, whatever you take.

Yes to flapjacks - I think I read that oats are A Good Thing and help healing somewhere too.

I second cake. Lots of cake.

My MIL made a load of meals which we stuck in the freezer and could reheat easily. Things like casserole, curry, stew, soups, lasagne.

When I was recovering from the labour, I just wanted lots of stodgy food - pasta, rice based dishes with loads of meat and cheese.

Also snacks that can be eaten one handed. Bits of cheese, biscuits, sausage rolls etc etc?

Can you tell I'm hungry??

Lots of nice treats from M and S would be good too. I know homemade is best but nice cream cakes, dips, cheeses, samosas, salads and all that nice stuff they do - anti-pasti etc.

Yes to sausage rolls too! God I'm hungry too I think.

Thanks everyone.

You're making me hungry now! Great ideas.

Cake is, of course, a given . I'm going around lunchtime, so I was thinking of the nice bread / cheese / M&S treats stuff then.

Pasta bake excellent idea. Also a very good point about the fish pie, actually - will think about that. Curries and chillies good, too, but - I have a sneaking suspicion that she may be doing everything By The Book so may worry about spicy food making the baby fussy?

One handed eating also an excellent consideration. It's amazing how quickly you forget!

Those M&S flapjack pots..... Yum.

Waitrose do a really nice readymade fishpie if you think it's too faffy to make one.

And if you're feeling really nice you could put it in a disposable foil tray - goes from freezer to oven and no washing up!

Quiche, pasta bake, chicken and broccoli bake, pasta salad with a nice dressing. I always do this too for my friends. It's happening a lot atm!

Quiche, brie, pasta salad - all good calls.

I didn't get a diamond ring after the birth of my first baby, but DH did go straight out and get me a bagel and a squidgy goat's cheese, and at the time that felt a million times better!

At this rate I'm going to be staggering to the door with a month's supply of goodies!

Sandwiches freeze ok and can be eaten one handed with no danger of dripping hot food onto the baby which you are breastfeeding at the same time