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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Freezer meals for when baby arrives

37 replies

Mrsb999 · 01/03/2013 08:26

First day of maternity leave and I'm thinking of starting to cook up batches of meals and freeze them to have in the first few weeks of babies arrivals - I don't want to be surviving on takeaways!

Any suggestions on healthyeals that freeze well? I'm also planning on breastfeeding so am a bit unsure as to whether certain meals on my list e.g curry and chilli will affect my milk?

So far my ideas are

Mild chicken curry
Chilli con carne
Lasagne
Sauce for bolognase
Cottage pie
Stew

Also I have already bought a load of the silver foil takeaway type containers, stupid question but can the meals be cooked from frozen in these or should I take them out the freezer and defrost first?

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Littlemissexpecting · 01/03/2013 08:29

What about some soup? Quick to defrost and reheat and you can eat it from a mug if you need your hands free.
Not sure about cooking from frozen, I normally defrost first but hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along soon.

StrawberrytallCAKE · 01/03/2013 08:35

Lamb or chicken tagine with lots of (much needed after birth) apricots.

Spanish chicken stew with borlotti and cannelini beans.

Sausage cassoulet with beans and veggies - Jamie Oliver one is good.

If you would like recipes I can post...just going for a nap while the baby sleeps!!

Oodsigma · 01/03/2013 08:38

One handed eating meals are good. Something that doesn't take a lot of chopping to eat.

Hot pot?
Stew?

seeker · 01/03/2013 08:42

Whatever it is, make sure you can eat it one handed!

You can just chuck the foil containers in the oven, but it takes a level of planning in advance that I certainly couldn't manage in the early days. I would get some microwaveable containers- you can either just microwave them and eat or defrost then transfer to an oven dish to finish off.

Make sure you put lots of vegetables in everything. Then you'll have had a decent meal even of you don't get round to cooking any extra veg.

worsestershiresauce · 01/03/2013 08:42

Just cook meals you like that can be eaten easily with one hand, and try to include a good variety of meat, chicken, fish and veggies. There is no point cooking things you won't enjoy even if they are good for you

It is fine to reheat from frozen, but you do need to be careful that the centre of the food is really hot. That can take a lot longer than you'd think.

Original poster

Mrsb999 · 01/03/2013 08:43

Great suggestions thank you!

strawberry I really like the sound of the sausage cassoulet if you could post the recipe I would really appreciate it

OP posts:

Longfufu · 01/03/2013 08:48

Another good tip is to buy disposable plates, cups and knives and folks. I didn't have a dishwasher with DS1 so this made life for the first week or so a little bit easier.

I also organised a family member to come collect our washing every few days. People offer help, take them up on it.

Bejeena · 01/03/2013 09:22

Stews, vegetable curries, chickpea and spinach casserole, kale and chorizo broth, beef hotpot.

I sometimes have the foil containers and what I do is when I take it out of the freezer and 'pop' it out, whilst still frozen into one of those large pyrex microwavable bowls with a lid. Then I defrost on low and when defrosted put microwave up to warmer temperature and heat it up.

I feel a bit sad when I read about being able to eat it one handed. I mean I know the baby is going to take up a lot of time and attention, not to mention the work. But I do hope to be able to sit down for 10 minutes with a knife and fork at least once a day. Same with taking a shower I guess.

forevergreek · 01/03/2013 09:33

We use those foil dishes . Cook from frozen, 30 mins with lid on, 15 mins with lid off

Beef dishes and adding spinach and mushrooms are good incase you end up low in iron

surroundedbyblondes · 01/03/2013 09:36

I did this with both DD and it was a godsend!
Depending on need or timing, I sometimes let them defrost then microwaved. If it was an 'emergency' I did what someone else said... put the whole thing into a big pyrex dish with a lid then defrosted with the microwave first before wacking the heat up.

My list was similar to yours. Chicken & sausage casserole were much appreciated by both DH and I as being warming, comfort food. I also really like pancakes filled with things like cheese & ham, spinach, chicken & mushroom etc so I had portions of these. Also beef stew & chicken in white sauce that I could flap a shop-bought pastry top on and turn into a pie.

Good luck!

Original poster

Mrsb999 · 01/03/2013 09:46

I just need to make sure there is enough room in the freezer for it all before I start. Think I'm also going to buy some packs of the steam fresh veg so I know I'm getting some veggies too. A chip shop has just opened around the corner from our house and I do not want to become their number 1 customer!!

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Original poster

Mrsb999 · 01/03/2013 09:50

Final list as it stands is

Chilli con carne
Basic bolognase sauce
Lasagne
Shepherds pie
Chicken casserole
Sausage and bean hotpot
Chicken curry (courtesy of MIL - it's very mild)

I'm also going to get a few jars of pasta bake, we often add a few mushrooms and other veg to it before we bung it in the oven

OP posts:

StrawberrytallCAKE · 01/03/2013 09:51

this is the one I don't put the bread on until I'm cooking to eat though but it's just as nice without, I would also definitely add the spinach to get some iron too.

I have found its not that I haven't had time to eat but as soon as my dinner is ready the baby wakes up! Don't worry it doesn't last forever, only about 9 weeks in my case both times and now I miss all of the snuggling and having a newborn asleep on my chest for most of the day, that will never come back I can now mostly eat lunch and dinner at the table though

ButteryJam · 01/03/2013 09:51

I would try and take the food out in the morning, so that it is defrosted by night.

Rice dishes stay well frozen too, I tend to make an all in one rice dish like biryani.

Curries are good to freeze too, and so are things like kebabs, pies, etc. as long as it is all labelled well so you know where everything is and don't take the wrong one out :)

Jemimapuddleduk · 01/03/2013 09:52

Hello, I am also doing similar at the moment. I also plan to do a big gammon joint, slice it and freeze in portions. Can then have with jackets, salad or chips.
You can cook the shepherd pies and things from frozen, think its about 170 deg fan for 40 minutes.
Good luck

Original poster

Mrsb999 · 01/03/2013 09:52

Yummy! Thanks strawberry

OP posts:

ButteryJam · 01/03/2013 09:54

Pasta sauce is a life saver :) you could per-cook the sauce with mince/veg/chicken etc or place the mince/veg/chicken into small freezer packs, all ready to put in the sauce on the day you need to make it

Rockchick1984 · 01/03/2013 10:08

As well as batch cooking I also bought in some filled pasta to keep in the fridge - its always got quite long dates on it so no need to freeze (we don't have a very big freezer) and it literally cooks in 5 mins so perfect if you've not had time to stop and think about food! Once DH went back to work he would make his sandwiches for lunch, and would also make me some so that I didn't have to do it during the day as he knew I either wouldn't get round to eating or would just have crisps and chocolate!

Bejeena it's not about having no time to sit down for 10 mins with a knife and fork, but if baby wakes up when your meal is ready and is crying/hungry/grumpy it's a choice between eating one handed or eating cold food once they have settled. Showering is entirely different as long as you're flexible with when you have the shower, don't assume you can always do it at the same time each day and you will be fine :)

Brugmansia · 01/03/2013 10:48

My main tip is to make sure you get the cooking done at the start of your mat leave, otherwise you may end up like I did and finishing making a batch of fish pies in between contractions.

Bejeena · 01/03/2013 11:41

Bejeena it's not about having no time to sit down for 10 mins with a knife and fork, but if baby wakes up when your meal is ready and is crying/hungry/grumpy it's a choice between eating one handed or eating cold food once they have settled. Showering is entirely different as long as you're flexible with when you have the shower, don't assume you can always do it at the same time each day and you will be fine

Ah right well see what you mean, of course I had banked on this and was just going to microwave whatever the meal is again once baby is settled and eat it warm (all these things mentioned above are things that can be reheated anyway)

StrawberrytallCAKE · 01/03/2013 11:45

Haha poor you Brugmansia just imagining the panting in between contractions.....must...chop...more...parsley...

Rockchick1984 · 01/03/2013 11:47

So long as you're aware that sometimes that may be an hour or more rather than 10 mins - obviously in a restaurant you don't have that option remembers first ever breastfeed in public whilst trying to eat a baked potato :)

louschmoo · 01/03/2013 15:08

Before i had DS i made and froze bolognaise, chicken casserole and lentil soup. I also froze a batch of blueberry muffins to snack on which was lovely. But what i found was the best food after DS was born was toasted sandwiches! Cheese, vegetables, bit of ham - lovely. Takes 5 mins to prepare and easily eaten one-handed while breastfeeding or cuddling baby. And quite filling and comforting :).

notsoold · 01/03/2013 17:00

All sorts of soups and some of th I frozen in singular portions ( for me during the day.
I loved the list ...I prepared pretty mich the same. Frozen fruits for nice smothies with milk ( no ice cream ).frozen vegetables. Some tinned ( such as tuna, beans,etc).

lolalotta · 01/03/2013 18:37

Soups!!!!!

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