Meal ideas for new parents

[RockCrushesLizard]

I'm going to visit some friends this week, who have a four week old baby. I'm planning on running the Hoover round, or whatever they ask, but I'd also like to take a meal with me, that they can reheat for dinner. The problem is that I'm a bit stuck for ideas.

The criteria:
easily reheatable
Transportable in ice cream tubs (don't want to leave them with dishes to worry about)
Hearty (he's a big eater, she's breastfeeding!)

I'd be grateful for any inspiration!

I made a selection of curries for someone when they had a new baby. I put them into those disposable tin foil containers, like those from a takeaway, so they could just put them straight in the oven. You can buy them cheaply in pound shops, Home Bargains etc.

Hi there, what a kind thought.

how about .... Individual portions of lasagne? Pasta sauce/curry sauce/chilli con carne, with extra portions for the freezer? (they would just need to cook pasta/rice). Cottage/shepherds pie. Macaroni cheese?

Something you can stick in the microwave, pour into a bowl and then eat with just a fork!

Thurlow: that was exactly my thought!

Cottage/shepherds pie might not be appropriate, because they made it for us last time we were there, so might be weird!
And I am truly rubbish at lasagne.

I was thinking maybe a chicken casserole and big bowl of mash? What do you put in your casseroles?

Get to supermarket and by the foil containers with cardboard lids.

Cook a variety of the following to the point you would put them in the oven

Lasagne
Curry - take some frozen / microwave rice for them too
macaroni and cheese
any form of casserole or stew
any form of soup
etc.etc.

Put in foil container label with content and cooking instructions on lid with sharpie or similar and put in freezer.

Take to friends in carrier bag and had to her DP to put in the freezer.

Good easy meals for the days when they are both exhausted etc and no washing up.

Yes not wonderfully environmentally friendly but oh so handy to have the freezer when you have a baby

That's exactly my plan! Mac and cheese is a good idea too

I remember when I had DD, we seemed to live on takeaways, because neither of us had the energy to cook, so I thought it'd be helpful.

Chilli is a good one too, can serve with microwaveable rice and then it's really easy.

This www.mumsnet.com/food/recipe/866-Sauages-and-green-lentils is a fantastic recipe - dead easy to make, filling, nutritious and tasty. And gets even better if made ahead and left in the fridge for a day or two.

This is a super tasty one pot filling dish,

www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pork-recipes/spiced-sausage-cassoulet

What about a goulash and you could leave a few pockets of basmati microwave rice?

Braised steak and mash would be lovely

Pork chops marinated with roasted veg and baby potatoes

Those are great ideas - I'll definitely be trying the sausage and lentils.

I made chilli, with microwave rice in the end, and cookies!

I made a load of meals for friends with new babies recently.

They had fish pie, lasagne, sausage casserole, lamb casserole, chicken and mushrooms in creamy sauce, beef stifado, chilli, bolognaise.

I bought some foil containers from home bargains for the fish pie and lasagne, and we had friends over for a Chinese so I saved the plastic containers from that for lots if the others.

I would make it a complete meal, sending ready prepared veg, wraps, sour cream and rice for with the chilli etc.

It seemed to go down well.

Just a thought that I'd be careful with curries etc with strong flavours in case it unsettles the baby after breastfeeding.

I was all about the mince, stews, and mild curries when filling the freezer. I also loved the 2 min rice for when I'd been cluster feeding and it was suddenly 9pm and I was starving.