Postpartum Freezer-Friendly Meals
Did you read my last post about postpartum nutrition? (If you didn’t, here’s the link to go check it out!)
In the blog, I admitted that having delicious, nourishing meals during postpartum is easier said than done. With sleepless nights and seemingly constant feedings and changings, putting together a balanced meal can feel like an impossible task.
So how do we prioritize nutrition during postpartum in a way that doesn’t add to your exhaustion?
One small, but impactful thing we can do is planning out some meals ahead of time for the postpartum period. Setting yourself up with easy-to-eat snacks and freezer meals can be a big lifesaver in the recovery period.
How should I prep for freezer meals?
Make Extra - An easy way to stockpile some freezer meals is to double or triple the amount you make while you’re already cooking throughout your pregnancy. You’re already going through the effort to put together the meal so it only adds a bit more work to increase the amount you make. Throw the extra in the freezer to save for postpartum. If you do this once per week during pregnancy, you could have up to 35 freezer meals all prepped out!
Weekend Prep - Dedicate a weekend or two to prepping some favorite meals to throw in the freezer. Make things a bit easier and more cost-effective by buying ingredients in bulk and picking ingredients that can be repurposed in multiple meals.
Throw a Freezer Meal Party - Set aside a day and invite friends over to batch a bunch of different freezer meals. You could have everyone bring their own recipes and ingredients and spend the day with friends cooking and packing everything away. Alternatively, if you’re limited on kitchen space, you could have everyone make large batches of their favorite freezer meals at home and plan to split up and share during the party. Just remember to communicate any dietary restrictions or allergies with the rest of the group!
Baby Shower Meals - Similar to the point above, you could request friends and family to bring a freezer meal in lieu of a gift or card to your baby shower. This may be a great idea if this isn’t your first pregnancy or you don’t have any need for new baby items.
What are some nourishing meal ideas for postpartum?
Hearty Soups With Bone Broth
Add veggies you have on hand (fresh or frozen are both great) and a protein-rich food like beef, chicken, beans, or lentils to a tasty broth. Bone broth is amazing to help with healing because of its collagen and glycine content, but you can sub in vegetable broth as well if you prefer!
Breakfast Burritos
Cook up scrambled eggs, peppers, onions, or any other veggies you'd like to include. Add some black beans for additional fiber and protein. Wrap it all up in a tortilla and freeze for an easy-to-reheat breakfast!
Smoothie Packs
Though the focus in postpartum is traditionally on "warming" foods, this is a great option that you can drink one-handed. Throw in any combination of ingredients: fruits, leafy greens (spinach and kale work great), greek yogurt (for extra protein), milk (either dairy or plant-based), nut butters, avocado, chia seeds. The list goes on! Experiment with what you like best.
Lentil Curries
Combine a variety of vegetables with lentils and spices and/or a curry paste. Cook up and freeze for an easy meal to reheat or throw all your ingredients in a freezer-safe container to make it crock-pot ready.
Pasta Bakes
Combine pasta (wheat or chickpea pasta) with vegetables and a protein source (chicken, ground beef, lentils, beans). Mix in a yummy sauce of your choice and top with cheese.
Tips for storing and Reheating
If you made enough for 2 or more meals, consider dividing them up into family meal-sized portions before freezing.
Always label your meals with the date it was made/frozen and what it is. It may be helpful to add reheating instructions as well, especially if it’s a new recipe or you have family helping out with meals.
Even if you always use glass for your food storage containers, it may be helpful to use disposable aluminum pans for freezer meals. They won’t take away from your usual storage supplies and they’re also lighter, easy to bake in, and quick to clean up. While they aren’t the most sustainable choice, if they decrease the burden of clean up, you may find them worth it.
Defrost larger meals by putting them in the fridge 24-48 hours before you plan to reheat them.
Smaller items like baked goods and breakfast burritos can either be thawed fairly quickly or reheated from frozen. Experiment with different reheating methods to find what works best for that particular food.
Be cautious with reheating based on how the food was stored. Remove all aluminum before microwaving and let glass temper a bit at room temperature before placing it in a hot oven.
It’s also very important to remember that we’re not looking for perfection when it comes to postpartum nutrition. Not all of your meals will be perfectly balanced and sometimes you’ll find yourself grabbing for anything that sounds good. I always encourage my clients to focus on eating enough first and foremost. Beyond that, we focus on easy and delicious ways to include foods that provide much needed nutrients during postpartum.
Preparing some freezer meals ahead of time will ensure you have several delicious and nourishing meals on hand that you don’t have to spend your precious time preparing and cooking.
And if you’re already feeling overwhelmed or stressed out thinking about how to prepare for postpartum, send me a email or use the link below to book a discovery call! I’m here to support you however you need, whether that’s with your fertility, pregnancy, or postpartum journey.
Interested to learn more? Check out these related posts!
*The information on this website is provided for educational purposes only and should not be treated as medical advice. Cultivated Nutrition, PLLC makes no guarantees regarding the information provided or how products and foods may work for any individual. If you suffer from a health condition, you should consult your health care practitioner for medical advice before introducing any new products or foods into your health care regimen. Always speak to a qualified practitioner before making any changes to your diet or nutrition. For more information, please read our terms and conditions.
