Freezing food for my Dad

Pitlanepiglet

My Dad is getting on a bit and finding life hard going so we're upping sticks back to take on his house and are building him a "grandad flat" alongside so that we're all close together.

We'll be in a fairly remote area and the nearest decent supermarket is 30 miles away so I'm improving my shopping/freezing habits but I wonder how best to freeze and store food for Dad?

Our plan is that he will be self sufficient for the next few years, his mobility is poor but he's not ready to give up his independence and I'm not planning to take it away from him BUT his culinary skills leave a vast amount to be desired

What I want to be able to do is make sure that I can put a meal in to his kitchen (that he's chosen) for him every day that he can just reheat - he's type 2 diabetic and at the moment exists on sandwiches and frozen pork chops (with added freezer burn because he won't wrap food properly) and he really does need to eat better.

For us now I just freeze portions of bolagnaise, chilli, stew etc. and then we cook pasta/rice/pots etc. to go with it but really he's going to need a everything all in one so that he can just bung it in the oven and reheat it.

Has anyone done anything similar - a bit like DIY meals on wheels I guess. I'm not even entirely sure what the problems are going to be? I've just never frozen whole meals before, only bits. What should I use to store food in, what about veg?

Any help would be gratefully received, I want him to be able to look after himself for as long as he can but I do want to make sure he eats well.

ClaireLR

I freeze whole cottage/shephers pies, spag bol/lasagne, curries/stews/chillies in the plastic carton things you get chinese food in. When you want one you can just bung it in the microwave and defrost it then nuke it until it's hot throughout. Veg might be a problem as cooked and then frozen veg can go soggy. How about buying frozen veg from the supermarket, could you dad manage to boil that up to go with whatever he's eating? You can also make roast/mash pots and freeze in portions so that he could choose which he'd like.

Barneysmom

Hiu Pitlanepiglet I bought a big load of Lock & Lock containers from QVC last year, they really are paying for themselves. You can put stew, chillis, bolognaises etc in them and freeze them. The all your dad has to do is remove the lid and microwave them.
You can freeze just about any meal really.
I bought a couple of Pyrex dishes today with plastic lids on, so I could cook double the amount of shepherd's pie and freeze half. But I didn't notice till I got home that they aren't for use in a conventional oven, only a microwave, so be careful what you buy?
Portmeirion do some lovely freezer-oven dishes but they are very expensive for everyday use.

Pitlanepiglet

Thanks for your reply Claire & Barneysmom, I think it's the veg aspect that's bothering me, he could cook frozen veg, I'm just not sure he would

I wondered about getting a vacuum packing machine (I've fancied one anyway) and bagging veg so that he could "boil in the bag". I guess it's just easier to bully him into eating veg!

Olliebeak

Maybe things like cottage/shepherd's pie, fish pie, home made casseroles, home made soups would all be good ideas - especially as the vegetables would be in with the meal itself.

What about things like smoked haddock? Put into individual portions these are very easily steamed between two plates over a saucepan containing potatoes/vegetables.

I freeze in the rectangular containers from the chinese chippy sometimes but very often just in margarine tubs (various sizes). You could also check out any local charity shops - they very often have odd pyrex casserole dishes that would be useful for one person. I've had quite a few from them.

chocolate.orange_2

We do something similar for my grandad who is 84 and still lives at home alone. ( Although his house is a few minutes walk from my mums)
We use the plastic chineese shop/ indian containers with lids. Tupperwear. Lock lid ones and small pyrex or ovenproof casserole dishes or lids.
My mum and i found that the best way to make sure Grandad was eating his veg was to either put them in with the meal (think shepphards pie with added green beans etc ) Or to plate up a normal looking meal with veg at the side ready to be microwaved after its been defrosted.
Although if he does actually eat the veg is another thing.. They can still push it to the side of their plate no matter how easy it is to cook.

Poor grandad now is unindated with lots of freezer food, ( he just had a new freezer so we had to fill it ) He has homemade bread, cakes, meals, puddings and snacks. We package it all up for him and make sure its labelled so he can see what is inside.Then after his breakfast he decides what he wants and moves it to his fridge.

Would your dad find it easier to operate a microwave ? We decided that it would be easier and quicker for grandad

Pitlanepiglet

Morning all (just still morning!)

Thanks for the ideas, Dad uses his microwave quite a lot so that might be easier than the oven for some things.

Chocolateorange do you have all of the meal on one plate for your grandad to microwave? I wondered if I did that how the meat content would be hot enough without the veggie content being overdone?

whatatwit

I think that if the veg was just blanched then it would be ok, but older people tend to like their veg well done. If you can still count the sprouts, then they are not cooked
I bought a load of the plastic tubs and lids and also a load of the foil trays and lids. I got them from a wholesaler, but who also sells to the public, especially if you buy 100 of something.
If you are friendly with a sandwich shop/small deli, ask them who they order from and if the supplier won't deal with you direct, then ask if they could order for you, but on a separate invoice.
If you are in the NorthWest, PM me and I'll give you my suppliers.

butterflykat

I also use the plastic cartons that chinese food comes in (can buy from a chinese suppermarket cheapl), I store anything from lasange, to spag bol, to stews, to pasta bakes, basically everything!!

A tip for great vegetables in the micro - you know the plastic bags that you put veg or fruit into at the supermarkets the little bags by the produce I always stock up on a handful!! Prepare your veg, cut up, then put into a bag tie a knot in the top, then using a sharp knife pierce a few holes in the bottom, pop in the micro for about 5 mins comes out lovely, steamed so its healthy as well! (can use this for all veg)
Hope this helps and good luck.