Meals and snacks for new mamas
There’s a common theme in my life right now: so many of my friends are pregnant or very recently had their babies.
Does it give me baby fever? Yes. I always thought the octomom was insane, but now I kind of understand it.
Does it make me want to cook for them? Yes yes.
I can’t even tell you how amazing the baby meals were when we first had Livi. So many friends (some from the squadron, some not) came by bearing snacks and meals, and it was the only reason we were able to eat real food (instead of only chocolate-covered acai berries) when Liv was an itty bitty newborn. Tom and I still talk about how amazing and helpful it was, and while I always enjoyed making baby meals for our friends, having received them solidifies the fact that they’re purely awesome.
Since I’ll be making some dinners for friends over the new few months, I thought it would be fun to do a link-up of some meals and snack ideas for new mamas.
If you’re pregnant yourself and feeling ambitious, you could also some meals/snacks and freeze to have on-hand when the baby arrives.
Snacks:
Fruit (bags of clementines, fresh fruit, fruit salad)
Bars (like Pure bars or Barre bars)
Meals:
Butternut squash and goat cheese lasagna
Veggie and meat (optional) stew with potatoes and carrots (this lentil sausage one looks awesome, using chicken sausage instead)
Channa masala + rice (if you’re keeping this for yourself, pick up some of the frozen bags of pre-made rice)
Homemade pizza
Burritos (wrap in foil and freeze)
Fellow mamas, what snacks/meals did you especially enjoy after giving birth? I was so excited for smoked salmon and red wine 🙂
Any other awesome snacks/meal recipes ideas that can be made in advance? I’m excited to see your ideas!
xoxo
Gina
This has nothing to do with this post, but I’d also love to hear your experiences about taking a baby (1.5 years) on an international or cruise vacation. My mom offered to watch Liv and I know she’d have a blast with her nanas, like her own little “vacation.” At the same time, I don’t know if I could last a week without her. (That feels like such a long time, and I miss her while I’m at work for an entire day.) I know this would make the traveling process a lot easier, I also feel like since she’s a part of our family, she should also enjoy vacations with us and everything else we do together. I know I’d love having her with us and being able to make more memories as a family of 3.
Of course, we’ll make the best decision for our family, but I always love to hear about your experiences <3
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Bookmarked! I just got involved with the moms group at our church and am making my first baby meal next week…so excited! I majorly failed in preparing our house for Tripp’s arrival, but he came two weeks early so it wasn’t entirely my fault. 🙂 Next time I’ll start early!
On my list of planned freezer foods was a veggie lasagna, a big crockpot of chili, grilled chicken breasts, a few soups, veggie enchiladas and getting a whooooole lot of frozen fruit for smoothies since it was May and HOT. I’m actually (weirdly) looking forward to being large and in charge again haha. I LOVED being pregnant, riiiight up until maybe two days before the fun started….and even that wasn’t awful, just hot.
Oh and I have no advice for you on the trip, since we’re behind you in age BUT I’ve already travelled cross-country with Tripp 3x and it was nbd. I’m on my way home from my trip to the Bahamas and all I can think about is smothering my little boy with kisses and how I’m so glad I’m taking him to a wedding in two weeks! Leaving the hubs home but that doesn’t really bother me as much haha. I’m used to missing him from his time in the Navy. Babies are a whooooole different ball game. I did enjoy not waking up at 7am and not having to always know what time it is for feeding/changing purposes, but I’m more than excited to jump back into that.
My personal take is that it would be a fun trip as a family and although she probably won’t remember it, you guys will enjoy showing her pictures later and making those memories as a family.
i’m not a momma, but i used to nanny for a family who traveled SO much. the boys were just used to it. the oldest went to barcelona with his parents when he was a lil tyke… he actually had solid food for the first time while he was there ! i’m sure there will be adjustments you have to make while on vacation with a baby, but i will say the boys i used to nanny are just accustomed to traveling now and they are pros!
I feel like you read my mind! I’m 37.5 weeks now, and planning to prep some food this week and next. Thanks for the great ideas 🙂
Oh, and I’ve already told my husband that I require sushi and a glass of wine upon my return from the hospital!!!!
My husband works for Royal Caribbean, and so I’ve cruised with my daughter (now 2 and a half) – and it’s AMAZING with kids. First of all, the buffet is a great way to get healthy kid-size portions of things they’ll eat. Second, there is babysitting aboard: two caregivers come to your room for a very reasonable price. Three, you can go ashore, have an adventure, and come back to the ship anytime. Seriously, I find cruising to be surprising relaxing!