I've been realizing recently that...
less is more.
(You're probably thinking "yeah, yeah, like BLOGGING, right April?!) It's no doubt that my blogging has been spottier than normal, but I've sort of been burning the wick at both ends and something has to give.
ALAS. I'm back today and I'll be back tomorrow and Friday, and today I am sharing a "less is more" meal for a new parent that I dropped off to a girlfriend last week.
Backstory: I used to be a lot more traditional with meals for parents of newborns. Everything had to be organized through a meal delivery service like Take Them A Meal, it had to be a full-on hearty meal that could basically serve a small army. But that equals a TON of prep work, and the new parents are typically freezing so much because of all the food that can be dumped on them. I'm NOT saying it's not appreciated ... but sometimes that huge aluminum pan of stuffed shells is just more than anyone should have to deal with.
So I've simplified it all and tried to keep the meals simpler and easier for everyone!
Last week I took Kristen a pancetta, mozzarella and onion quiche (I use THIS recipe each and every time), some freshly cut fruit, warm chocolate chip cookies, and an organic chia drink.
I like taking a quiche to new parents because it can work for breakfast, lunch OR dinner!
And freshly cut fruit is so nice to have on hand, especially when you have had your fill of heavier meals and are craving something a little healthier. Of course the cookies are there to balance out that wacky healthy craving.
Other add-ons that are my favorites: 1) tossed salad with homemade vinaigrette on the side, 2) cheese and crackers, 3) hummus with carrot sticks, celery, and red pepper strips.
So while it may not be completely newsworthy, I did want to share a simple meal I like bringing a new parent, because I know sometimes we all need some fresh new ideas. And taking care of newborn parents is ALWAYS a swell idea!
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I'd love to hear from you. Comment below with some of the meals you loved receiving when you had a baby, a procedure/surgery, or just needed a little TLC from your loved ones!
Yes to the fruit! Instead of dessert we always take fresh cut fruit (usually a mix of berries) and whipped cream. When I had my youngest someone gave us the same and I practically inhaled it - it was definitely my favorite part of the meal. I think I will do quiche next time I have a new baby meal! Great idea!
ReplyDeleteQuiche is a great idea because I remember being so starving for breakfast and never knowing what to have FAST. Because of that, I often bring loaded bran muffins that can be frozen with the makings for mimosas (of course!) or, I will bring enchiladas (and make some for us) along with chips, salsa and beer. I'm a semi-homemade, keep it fast and easy kinda girl too
ReplyDeleteLess is DEFINITELY more. I love this simple, fresh meal idea- and you are so right- I think most people want to make big, hearty meals- which are great- but it's so nice to have a light option- especially for an easy lunch! I am a big fan of ordering pizza for friends who just need a night off! I ask them what time they want to eat dinner- and either drop by with a salad, some cookies and a couple "take n bakes" from Little Caesar's or have Papa Johns or Dominos delivered right to their door. Easy, no pressure on them to socialize and little to no dinner clean up! :)
ReplyDeleteFruit is SUCH a good call - whenever people would ask, I'd say fruit and veggies because I was otherwise just taking almonds, granola bars, and string cheese to the face. Also, pre bagged smoothie mixes & a fancy almond milk or something. I lived for smoothies on maternity leave!
ReplyDeleteI received chicken divan from my mother in law when I had my baby and I loved it!!
ReplyDeleteJustine @ Charm City Ciemny's
www.lifeasabaltimoregirl.blogspot.com
Breakfast casseroles in small servings! I had plenty of dinner/lunch food but never enough breakfast. Most people do Moravian chicken pies (they are very popular in this part of NC).
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! My go-to is always a big ole' lasagna and you're right - it probably gets frozen. I recently brought a new Mama an Asian chicken rice bowl meal (it was floating around blogland a lot a few months ago) and they loved it!
ReplyDeleteQuiche & fruit or salad is one of my go-to new baby meals!! Also soup sometimes. Regardless, I do think everything is appreciated but to be honest its just hard to cook for my own family sometimes so a simple meal works out well!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I often make a taco bar for new moms. Perfect for lunch or dinner and you can make a ton of different meals-nachos, quesadilla, tacos, taco salad, etc. Jess at Just Jess
ReplyDeleteGreat idea, because sometimes breakfast is the HARDEST after having a new baby! Last year after having our second daughter some of my favorite meals received were a rotisserie chicken with quick mac & cheese side (comfort food) and delivery pizza with a large side salad (fed all of us plus our parents and quick clean up!). I've delivered everything from Moe's to baked ziti to cuban sandwiches with chips on the side. I love getting new ideas!
ReplyDeleteI like to add in some paper plates to whatever it is im taking over so they don't have to cook or clean up!
ReplyDeleteThis is so funny, but I just put up a post about meal delivery options. I love including extra things to help a family out like breakfast things, snacks, or fruit. Here's the link: https://txtanya.blogspot.com/2017/10/meal-delivery-ideas.html
ReplyDeleteWhen I had my firstborn, my best friend and her husband came over. He mowed our lawn and she brought me a gallon freezer bag of oatmeal "power" blueberry muffins (with all kinds of good lactation-boosting ingredients) and a gallon freezer bag of halved english muffins with a sausage and cream cheese mixture, and both bags had sharpie written on them of how to defrost and heat one at a time so they kept for breakfast over several weeks. It was a godsend, and super nice for Drew to not have to mow! (Since let's be honest, the yard hadn't been attended to since the baby shower a few weeks before she was born... haha.) I like to bring new moms a batch of lactation cookies; they can be frozen or eaten as-is, and I definitely ate a zillion batches myself post-partum. When I had my second daughter (and my best friend miraculously had HER daughter the same day at the same hospital), our husbands swapped off going for Starbucks runs to get lattes and breakfast sandwiches. I don't know if I've ever enjoyed a specialty coffee drink as much as I do the morning after I've birthed a baby!!!!
ReplyDeletethis is SO great!!!! i am so glad you shared this, because i've been thinking myself that the new mom meal is overkill sometimes!!! thanks lady!!
ReplyDeleteYum!! One of my favorite meals that was delivered when I had my son was homemade, frozen pancakes. They were in freezer bags ready to pull out and microwave one at a time. It was so nice to have an easy breakfast option for my daughter when I was exhausted in the mornings. My mom also made me some big batches of cooked chicken - sliced, shredded, etc. The main course was done for many meals and I just had to add in some other quick ingredients for an easy dinner - fajitas, soft tacos, nachos, quesadillas, etc. That chicken was easy to freeze and made dinner prep so easy.
ReplyDeleteTotal agreement about breaking outside the traditional mold. I know that I got huge batches of pasta dishes after babies so I go in a different direction these days. Most recently I went to see my college roommate and her newborn and stopped by Trader Joe's on my way and picked up fresh cut fruit,a few good specialty salads, chicken salad and crackers,and a freezer meal. And a bottle of wine and a dessert of course! ha
ReplyDeleteYes! I always bring cut fruit to new parents. I've also started making small sandwich platters. One of my friends did that for me, and half a sandwich was the best for middle of the night nursing sessions in the first couple weeks when I wanted something more substantial than snack foods but didn't want to heat up or prepare anything in the middle of the night!
ReplyDeleteLove the fruit idea--that's awesome. When we had our second daughter, a friend organized a meal train for us b/c we don't have any family in the area. TBH, ALL the meals were my fave because I don't love love to cook, especially when I was trying to figure out how to keep two humans alive instead of just one and balance that with nursing, no sleep and childbirth recovery.
ReplyDeleteThat being said, I especially loved the people who thought of more than one meal and brought things like homemade banana bread that I could feed my toddler as a snack and/or breakfast. Honestly--it's all awesome! Special shout out to one of my bffs who made me DELICIOUS chocolate chip lactation cookies after both of my girls were born. She's an awesome cook and I know this was a labor of love b/c it required trips to whole foods for some of the weird ingredients. They were yummy and even my husband enjoyed them (HA!).
I love this idea! Honestly, when my daughter was born we didn't receive a ton of food, so everything was very appreciated. Nothing like a home cooked meal to take a break from freezer meals!
ReplyDeleteLove this! I have quite a few ladies in my life who are having babies soon and I've been pinning meal ideas like crazy. As someone who has no kids, I'm clueless on what to bring!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness quiche is such a good idea! I had a friend bring a large fruit salad and you are right, it was so nice to have for a quick and healthy snack. Also, freshly baked bread or muffins were so convenient for breakfast or a snack!
ReplyDeleteQuiche is such a good idea! I am definitely doing this the next time I take a meal!
ReplyDeleteI just love all these ideas. I am in a local MOMS club and some girls brought over meals for my family due to a surgery I had. Such a huge help! One of my friends brought a meal for all, plus 2 little special bags of goodies for both my girls (6yrs). They were so excited to get something for just them. It really lit their faces up. I will definitely think of the kiddos at home too next time I deliver something for a family :)
ReplyDeleteMy favorite hack for a new mom meal is to buy the half size disposable casserole dishes from Dollar Tree. They are 3 for $1. Depending on the size of their family, I'll either send half for them and keep half for us or I'll send both halves so that they can eat one now and throw one in the freezer for a few weeks from now when the meals have stopped rolling in or the mom goes back to work. I like Carolina Charm's baked spaghetti, pioneer woman's chicken spaghetti, and another spinach stuffed shells recipe for families that have little kids. My favorite meal when our second was born was a pork tenderloin, veggies, and a delicious salad. It felt healthy and kind of fancy in a season when everything else in our life was anything but! I love adding fresh fruit and a sweet bread from fresh market when I take a meal because it can work for dessert or breakfast the next day.
ReplyDeleteThis is so perfect!! Even just a bunch of the snack type items I bet would be so appreciated ♥️
ReplyDelete