Preparing meals can be a challenge during the postpartum period. Using some of the third trimester nesting energy to stock your freezer is something you won’t regret. Here are some ideas for meals that are frozen and easy to heat and eat.
If you’re reading this too late and your little one has already arrived, ask your postpartum doula to help with meal preparation!
FROZEN BURRITOS
These can be customized countless different ways, depending on your preferences and dietary restrictions. Make a few different kinds so you can pick what sounds good that day and don’t get sick of the same recipe. As with most dishes that will be frozen, all ingredients must be cooked and cooled before assembly. Wrap them up in a big flour tortilla, cover each with foil and freeze with several in a freezer safe bag, labeled with the ingredients and date.
To reheat, pop in the oven at 450 degrees for 45-50 minutes from frozen. Or thaw overnight to reduce cooking time.
Burrito Ideas
-Ham, scrambled eggs, fried potatoes with onion and garlic, steamed broccoli and shredded cheddar cheese
-Skirt steak (grilled and chopped), shredded pepper jack cheese, pinto beans, peppers, onions, garlic, rice, cilantro, lime
-Black beans, cheese, quinoa, soy chorizo, mushrooms, onions, garlic, peppers, cilantro
SOUPS
Soup freeze well in most cases. Make double batches of several different types of soups in the months leading to your little one’s arrival. Eat some that day and freeze the rest in single portion containers for later. Don’t forget to label what kind of soup it is and the date was cooked. Choose recipes based on what produce is in season at the time.
Delicious soups to try:
–Creamy Asparagus Soup
–Cheeseburger Potato Soup
–Watermelon Gazpacho
–Italian Wedding Soup
-Chicken Tortilla Soup
-Tomato Pepper Bisque
-Cauliflower Soup
-Corn Chowder
-Butternut Squash Soup
STIR FRY
Stir fry a quick and delicious meal!
Make a big batch of rice, quinoa or a mixture of both. After cooling, add a portion to several freezer safe gallon size bags. Prepare the protein and steam the veggies, then let cool before adding to the rice. Or buy your veggies frozen and add them to the bag that way. Label each bag with the ingredients and date, then squeeze all the air out before freezing. When reheating, thaw in the fridge overnight and heat on the stove, with butter or oil. Enjoy with soy sauce or your favorite stir fry sauce.
Try: edamame, chopped carrots, broccoli, peas, peppers, mushrooms, scrambled eggs, tofu
STUFFED SHELLS
Big pasta shells stuffed with meat, veggies and cheese then smothered with sauce, (comfort food!) These freeze and reheat very well. Assemble everything cold in disposable aluminium pans. Don’t bake, just label and freeze. Reheat from frozen at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Try these:
-Beef & Cheese
-Spinach and Mushroom Shells
-Chicken Alfredo Shells
-Barbeque Pork Shells
PASTIES
Pasties are a British dish that is basically a pie crust folded over meat, gravy and root vegetable. Like a shepard’s pie in an empanada, kind of. The ingredients all need to be prepared and cooled ahead of time. Then assembled, baked and cooled before freezing. It is a lot of work so I usually plan it over a few days, but it’s totally worth it if you make a dozen or more at a time. Experiment with different flavors, the possibilities are endless.
-Chicken Pasties
-Beef Pasties
–Pork & Apple Pasties
QUICHE
This is another extremely versatile dish that can be made with or without meat, cheese, whatever veggies you like, eggs and a pie crust. Make two or more, one to eat that day and another for postpartum. Bake and cool before freezing, then thaw overnight before reheating.
Try:
– Broccoli & Ham
-Sausage & Spinach
– Veggie Mediterranean
MUFFINS
Muffins can be made from most fruit and many vegetables so, I try to make these when produce is over ripe but not quite spoiled. You can add chia seeds for protein boost. If you have a sweet tooth, toss in some chocolate or peanut butter chips. Freeze in gallon size bags with a dozen per bag and thaw before eating.
Try:
– Spiced Pear Muffins
– Sweet Potato Muffins
– Lemon Chia Seed Muffins
COOKIES
Once you are used to fresh baked cookies, store bought versions can hardly compete. Make a double batch of your favorite recipe and roll them into balls, about an inch to an inch and half thick. Freeze on cookie trays, then toss them all in a big labeled freezer bag. Most cookies reheat from frozen at 375-400 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Try:
– Honey Cookies
– Ginger Molasses Cookies
– Peanut Butter Cookies
Enjoy!
Written by Ashley
