Nourishing Make Ahead Meals For Postpartum That Aren’t Lasagna
These recipes are perfect for postpartum meal prep, to have a variety of balanced and nourishing meals that don’t require much effort or clean up for easy postpartum meals.
Lasagna can be a great meal option but I feel like it’s the first thing people think of making for postpartum meals- that, or some sort of casserole. Both options tend to be high in carbs or fat and might not offer the protein, nutrients or fiber you’re hoping to incorporate. But during this demanding time, planning and cooking meals takes a backseat, so easy and comforting often wins out.
Supportive meals during a demanding season of life are nourishing and satisfying but lower in effort. Making things ahead that can be frozen, and retain their flavor and texture when reheated, can be a life saver for new parents. But what recipes should you make?
When I’m working with clients, I share my freezer friendly meal prep recommendations, which focus on versatile ingredients and a variety of personalized meal options. I also share the variety of meal options you can make from a single prepped item, and special things to consider for food during the fourth trimester. I thought it would be helpful to give a glimpse into what this looks like, and share some interesting and satisfying freezer prep meal ideas.
Freezer Breakfast Burritos
There’s nothing like an emotional support burrito when you’re fatigued and feeling sensitive. Even better when you just need to reheat in the oven or microwave to serve (with a strong coffee). These hearty breakfast burritos are packed with protein from the sausage, eggs and beans, as well as fiber and minerals from the potatoes and beans. If you’re wanting to make them a bit healthier, you could cook your own (diced or grated) potatoes for the filling, rather than using store bought tots or hash browns (these tend to have refined seed oils). Pairing with some avocado and salsa to serve can make these even more satisfying.
Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
You might automatically think meatballs are for pasta, but they’re also perfect for grain bowls and pita sandwiches. This is an interesting variation of the go-to Italian style meatball, and are delicious on a Greek or Mediterranean grain bowl. You could sub breadcrumbs for the stale bread if you don’t have it, and omit the mint if you don’t care for it. Meatballs are easy to make ahead to freeze and reheat, so another great postpartum meal prep option.
Spiced Red Lentil and Root Vegetable Soup
This is one of my favorite soup recipes, and is perfect for postpartum freezer meal prep. It’s plant based but offers good protein (I use chicken bone broth for a protein and health boost). It’s spiced with anti inflammatory turmeric and curry powder, is loaded with fiber and super satisfying too with the addition of coconut milk (dairy free- great option if you’re breast feeding a baby with an allergy to dairy). It’s a great one handed meal option that you can sip from a mug too.