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Mamas and caretakers, this post is for you! If you or someone you love is expecting a baby soon, stocking your freezer with easy, healthy meals is going to be a lifesaver for the new parents as they adjust to a brand new life. Here are 40 freezer meal ideas, plus helpful tips for postpartum moms!
As I write this post, I am 36 weeks pregnant and anxiously awaiting baby boy (although I realize now that by the time this actually gets published, baby boy will already be here!). 🙂
One thing that I am making sure I do as part of my “nesting” is build up my stash of easy freezer meals. I don’t want to have to think about food during the first 6-8 weeks after birth and one of my favorite ways to make sure I’m eating nourishing food, but not having to slave away in the kitchen, is batch cooking and freezing.
I have written about both meal planning and batch cooking on this site a number of times. If you’re new to these topics, I’d suggest the following blog posts since I won’t be getting into the specifics of these strategies here:
- Batch Cooking: Cook A Lot Now, Save Time Later
- 10 Batch Cooking Tips for Those Who Hate to Cook
If you are interested in meal planning but don’t know where to start, I recommend checking out Real Plans. They offer custom meal planning for all diets, schedules, and tastes.
Preparing for the Fourth Trimester
When it comes to the fourth trimester (the 3 months after labor and delivery), mamas need all the help they can get. As a first-time mom myself, I am heeding the advice of so many of my friends and colleagues — ASK FOR HELP!!! As a “do it all myself” type of personality, it could get really easy for me to think I can handle it all on my own. But I’ve been told by a million and one people that this is not the case. Nor, should I even attempt to. I should be spending those first 6-8 weeks soaking up all of the newborn baby love.
Which I fully intend to do.
Thankfully my mom is going to stay with us for a while right after our baby boy is born. My hubby is taking at least 2 weeks off of work, possibly even 4 weeks. And then when he goes back to work, my sister might come to stay with me for a while. And then there’s hubby’s side of the family too, most of whom are all local and I know will be willing to help if needed.
I feel very fortunate that I will have lots of support. I just need to speak up and ask for help!! Not easy for me to do, but I’ll do it!
Since I am putting together my own batch cooking plan for my postpartum, I thought it might be helpful to share that with you too. So, if you are expecting, or know anyone who is, I hope this helps stock your freezer with lots of delicious foods so you don’t have to think about cooking while you’re experiencing new baby bliss. 🙂
40 Freezer Meal Ideas for Postpartum Mothers
I’m going to break these into sections of breakfast, lunch/dinner, and snacks. But quite honestly, from what I’ve been told (especially if you are breastfeeding), you will just need to eat what you can, when you can. Formal meal times will become a thing of the past for a while.All of the recipes I’ve selected for this project freeze and reheat very well. I’m also including tips specific to each recipe below in case there’s something extra I want you to know.
Bonus Tip: Consider asking family and/or friends to help you. You can pay for the groceries and provide the recipes, but perhaps they would be willing to donate their time to cook/bake a few different recipes for you to help alleviate some of the load off your shoulders. It never hurts to ask and more times than not, the answer will be yes. 🙂
9 Breakfast Freezer Meal Ideas
- Paleo Cinnamon Raisin Zucchini Breakfast CookiesandHigh-Protein Superfood Breakfast BrowniesandApple Cinnamon Sweet Potato Waffles
- TIP:Make these and let them cool completely. Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to an airtight container or bag. When you’re ready to eat, grab one out of the freezer and reheat in a toaster or skillet.
- Chai Spice Zucchini Bread
- TIP:Make this recipe and then let the loaf cool completely. Slice and wrap each individual slice. Freeze and then when you’re ready to eat, pull a slice out andreheat in a toaster or skillet.
- Taco Egg Muffins
- TIP: Make these muffins and let them cool completely. Freeze them on a sheet pan until solid and then transfer to an airtight container. When you’re ready to eat, grab one (or two) and reheat in the toaster or oven.
- Grain-Free Apple Cinnamon MuffinsandLemon Coconut Blueberry Macadamia Nut MuffinsandPaleo Biscuits
- TIP:Make these and let them cool completely. Spread out on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to an airtight container or bag. When you’re ready to eat, grab one out of the freezer and reheat in a toaster or the oven.
- Fluffy Crustless Quiche
- TIP: Make this recipe in smaller individual portions, rather than a large pan. That way you can just grab what you need and reheat. I love using small glass storage containers like these (they’re oven, microwave, dishwasher, and freezer safe).
18 Lunch/Dinner Freezer Meal Ideas
- Hearty Beef and Cabbage Soup andRecovery Soup andSlow Cooker Beef Chili andSlow Cooker Paleo Chicken Stew andThai Chicken Coconut Soup
- TIP: Soups and stews are some of the best make-ahead foods out there. They typically taste a lot better after they’ve been frozen and reheated. You can also pack a lot of nutrition into one single bowl. The recovery soup is a very simple soup, great for mamas who are feeling under the weather and can’t eat much. Make these all in big batches and then portion up in individual servings.
- Stuffed Cabbage Rolls (Cabbage Dolmas)
- TIP: These cabbage rolls freeze and reheat amazingly well. Portion them up in individual servings and store in airtight containers (like these glass storage containers). Reheat in the oven or microwave.
- andBasic Grass-fed Beef MeatballsandRoasted Red Pepper and Artichoke Lentil Burgers
- TIP: On the Kebabs and Lentil Burgers, skip the yogurt sauce part of the recipe and just make the meat patties. Freeze them on a sheet pan and then toss them in an airtight container. That way you can grab them out one at a time for a fast boost of protein and pair with whatever else you have time for. Do the same with the meatballs and then have hubby toss a jar of spaghetti sauce in a pot for a fast meal.
- Easiest (and Most Delicious) Crock Pot Taco Meat EverandBasic Grass-fed Beef Meatloaf
- TIP: Bothof these recipes can be made in bulk and then portioned up into smaller sizes. They taste excellent when reheated and are full of protein and nutrition for tired mamas. Pair them with some frozen veggies, chips, salsa, or just eat plain.
- Chicken Fajitas and Skirt Steak FajitasandPaleo Bulgogi (BBQ Beef)
- TIP: All of these meats freeze and reheat really well, just make sure you portion them up air-tight so they don’t get freezer-burned. You can then toss them on some pre-washed salad, into a tortilla, or next to some scrambled eggs for a fast, protein-packed meal.
- Vegetarian Freezer Enchiladas and Cottage Pie
- TIP: You can make these as big casseroles and then just defrost the whole thing and eat on it for days. Or, you can portion them into smaller individual portions and then reheat each one as you want it. If you want some extra protein, feel free to add some ground beef or shredded chicken to the enchiladas.
- Simple Chicken Vegetable Curry and Curried Chickpeas
- TIP: Curries are another type of dish that always freeze and reheat well. Both of these are no different. They are filled with flavor and nourishing ingredients. Portion them up in small sizes, or make a couple of large batches and then you and the family can just eat out of the big container for a few days.
14 Snack Freezer Meal Ideas
A lot of these snack ideas do not necessarily have to be stored in the freezer. Everything here can easily be doubled or tripled and it all stores great in an airtight container in your fridge, freezer, or another cool place in your house. I chose things that will give you lots of nutrition and sustained energy in small portions. Because Mama, you’re going to need it!
- Paleo Coconut Cinnamon Cereal,andPumpkin and Spice Granola, andStrawberry Granola Cereal
- TIP: Eat these tasty snacks as-is, with milk, toss in your yogurt, or add to your smoothies or salads.
- Creamsicle Macaroons, andCoconut Plantain Snickeroons, andGerman Chocolate Freezer Cookies
- TIP: Fast energy with these easy cookies. Plus they all have healthy fats and some protein in them to keep you sustained longer.
- Chocolate Covered Nut Butter Cups, and, and (these are all great for when you have a sweet tooth!)
- TIP: I’m guessing that mamas are going to have a sweet tooth now and then, so these quick candies are easy to make and can easily be portioned up and frozen. I’d cut the halva and fudge into squares and freeze them on a sheet pan before transferring them to an airtight container.
- Real Food Fudgesicles (with a secret ingredient) and Peach Lime Creamsicles (for mamas going through postpartum in the warmer months)
- TIP: If you’re going through postpartum during the warm months, you might appreciate these cold treats. Full of healthy fats, they’ll give you energy without crashing your blood sugar completely. Plus they’ll probably taste extra refreshing when the weather is hot.
- Coconut Date Snacks, andAlmond Butter Protein Snacks, andChocolate Energy Bars Recipe (“LaraBars”)
- TIP: I feel that these three recipes all store best in the fridge. I’ve never attempted to freeze them, although I think you probably could with no issues. They’re great for when you need quick energy with some protein and fat.
Pre-Made Freezer Meal Ideas for Postpartum Mamas
If you’re out of time or just don’t have the energy to do a lot of batch cooking, then there are a few great options for you that offer healthy, pre-made meals. All of these companies are paleo/real food based and offer a lot of options for different food sensitivities and dietary requirements.
I’ve heard from countless mamas who have said that what they appreciated more than gifts for the baby postpartum period was the gift of food. Whether that was homemade food that friends and family brought over, gift certificates to places like Chipotle or other healthier fast-casual places, or gift certificates/deliveries from companies like I’m mentioning below. Sure, things for babies are nice, but when feeding yourself becomes a challenge because you are so busy adjusting to life with a new baby, having easy, healthy meals on hand is going to go to the top of the list. Or maybe the second item is right below sleep. 🙂
Paleo On The Go
I was first introduced to this company when my Dad died in 2019. One of my friends organized a food delivery for me, my mom, and my sister so that we had easy things to eat while going through that initial mourning period. I can’t tell you how much we appreciated it.
Paleo on the Go offers a great selection of meals that are suitable for the autoimmune protocol (or anyone who is avoiding the top allergens for health reasons), as well as Whole30 and low carb options. You can order individual meals, or meal bundles, or do a subscribe and save membership. Check them out here. SAVINGS ALERT: You can use coupon code DELICIOUS15 to save $15 on your first order!
Balanced Bites Meal Delivery
Most of you guys have probably heard of Diane Sanfillipo. She’s a very well-known author and real food advocate. She created her own line of healthy, gourmet meals that fit a wide range of dietary styles. She focuses on high-quality, whole-food ingredients so you can rest assured that you’ll recognize every ingredient on the label.
All of Diane’s meals are cooked fresh on Sundays and then shipped out right after. You can choose from one of their curated boxes, or build your own to suit your tastes. Most of the portions are pretty huge so you may be able to get two servings from each meal.Check them out here. SAVINGS ALERT: If you decide to order from them, you can use coupon code JESSICA to save $15 off your first order!
Pete’s Paleo
Pete’s Paleo also offers a great range of allergen-friendly meals and they really focus on the seasons. So their menu is always rotating, depending on what is in season and available. This is a great way to add a lot of variety and nutrition without having to do all the work of shopping and cooking. They really pride themselves on offering sustainable dishes that support their local farmers.
You can choose from a subscription service or a one time “as you need them” purchase. As long as your order goes in by Monday, you’ll have your meals by Friday. Check them out here.
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