Baby on board :)

Darkphaery

Hi everyone

So i'm expecting my 1st baby in March. This may seem a little early but i like to be well organised so i am looking for help with meals once the little one arrives.

I don't want to be relying on take aways which aren't healthy and are costly.

So basically i have 3 weeks annual leave before my due date where i can prepare and bulk cook for the freezer, so i am looking for ideas for this, as well as ideas for really quick and simple meals i can whip up on a night. I also don't really want to worry too much about having to pop to the shop so store cupboard recipes would also be good

Any ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Pink.

Hi Darkphaery,

Congratulations! These threads have lots of advice, suggestions and recipes for bulk cooking in advance.

Cooking for the Freezer..

Batch cooking ideas please

This one has ideas for storecupboard basics that you may want to have in:

Storecupboard

These have ideas for quick and easy meals:

Need very very quick & easy recipes

super quick family meal ideas

What's your 'can't be bothered' dinner/tea?

And I know you didn't ask for this, but the advice on these threads may help too:

Having a baby Old Style???

having a baby Old Style

I'll add your thread to the first link later, once you've had more replies.

Pink

CH27

Congratulations.

I would batch cook lasagnes, spag bols, chillis, sausage casseroles & chicken casseroles.

Waxy_Bean

Good idea - I'm expecting No. 2 in March. I batch cooked before I had DS - I had a freezer full of shepherds pie, lasagne, bolognaise sauce, beef stew, chilli, sausage casserole etc. which was an absolute godsend. He was two weeks early and I was batch cooking the day my waters broke! In fact, I'd made a cream sponge that day which never got eaten (I was in hospital for several days and OH didn't see it in the fridge).

I must batch cook again this time round - only this time I've got to make sure I cook food that is milk, egg and nut free (DS is allergic to them). I've got 7 weeks off before my due date and DS is still going to the childminders 3 days a week so hopefully I'll find time to do it.

Other than that frozen pizza, caesar salads, and jacket potatoes were regular meals in the first few months.

Yum

I didnt batch cook anything...ut then we tend to eat pasta/rice based meals most of the tme which dont take that long anyway. To be honest...I felt like I had all the time in the world once little one arrived, I left work at 39 weeks and compared to working full time I have soooo much time im actually a bit bored. Good luck

LilyMae_2

Hi,

I would start now by cooking a little more and making one or two extra dinners each time, this will soon mount up and will be able to add to your stash, leaving your three weeks to make final tweaks.

My daughters work mate had the same idea, left on the Saturday to enjoy a month before the baby was born, baby arrived Sunday morning!!!.

If freezer space is pressing before Christmas, start in January, you might have left over goodies you can incorporate.

I did this when my daughter was born in January when my DH had DS to look after, who happily told the whole ward Daddy had burnt the potatoes! He was 3 at the time and food was very close to his heart - come to think of it nothing has changed. !!

Enjoy your new baby - the time goes too quickly.

dom300186

hi didnt want to run and read, i am also expecting a baby in march around the 28th but this is my second child, the one perk this time is i have my slow cooker which means as soon as i can prepare i can lob everything init and leave it and chill out, i would say if you dont have one to consider buying one.

i saw a 3.3 ltr in tesco yesterday for £9 BARGAIN!!!!!

i would also do a weekly meal plan so you know what your cooking, so you can go straight in the kitchen and get cracking, freeze any leftovers and label this is what il be doing xxx

good luck with your preganancy and birth.

lisa26_2

If you have a slow cooker you could prepare a freezer bag or container with all the meat, veggies etc for the things you like to cook in it so you just have to defrost it, chuck it all in, add the liquid and leave it.

I am due my first baby at the end of April and I intend to start batch cooking after xmas....if I manage to clear some space in the freezer!!!

JulieGeorgiana

I'm due the first week of January and i'm not planning on batch cooking anything :eek:

After my DS I found cooking was easier with a baby then while pregnant and working.

Right now I am so poorly I couldn't handle batch cooking anyway, DH does most of the cooking at the moment.

I am planning that once the baby is born, I will stick to simple meals which cook in bulk... so I only have to cook once every few days!

I don't have much choice... I don't even have the money to grab a take-away even if I wanted one!

Good luck with your baby x