It was often hard for me to eat, particularly early on in our NICU stay. I wanted to be by my baby’s side for every precious moment possible, but as the weeks progressed into months, and we both regained our strength, I started wanting to eat healthier, have ready to heat food at home, and to prepare for our future.
Once I felt like things were relatively stable, and I could spare the mental energy, I’d pick just a couple of recipes a week, make a double batch, and then freeze the leftovers for later. Cooking was a way for me to take a break, focus, and before we knew it, the freezer was stocked!
Even now that we’ve been home for a few years, I’ve found that keeping at least a few options in the freezer can be extremely helpful for quick meal planning during a busy day.
Homemade
Some of my family’s favorite tried and true recipes to stash in the freezer include:
- Soups and Chili (stored in plastic quart size containers, or mason jars)
- Chili w/ hamburger meat and beans
- Chicken enchilada soup
- Broccoli soup
- Potato soup
- Chicken and noodle soup
- Sloppy Joe meat (stored in plastic zippy bags, frozen flat)
- Taco Meat (stored in plastic zippy bags, frozen flat)
- Meat loaf (I used mini loaf baking pans, which were the perfect size for hubby and I to share)
- Sandwiches
- Muffins, such as these banana muffins
- Multiple varieties of Mac ‘n’ Cheese (made from a box, with additional things added)
- Taco meat, salsa, caramelized onion and peppers
- Chicken and broccoli (or peas and carrots)
- Hamburger meat, diced tomatoes, diced peppers, and chili powder
- Tuna and peas
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Sour Cream Noodle Bake
- Pulled Pork
- Twice baked potatoes
Store Bought
Some easy buy and freeze options include:
- Rotisserie Chicken (removed from the bone)
- Sandwich bread, buns, tortillas, pita, and English muffins – you can defrost by the bag, or simply toast a single slice from the freezer
- Pizza
- Burritos
- Tamales
- Fruits and Vegetables (lots and lots of vegetables)
- Family packs of meat which we portion out, marinate, and freeze raw.
Before he came home, we stocked the fridge, freezers, and pantry as much as possible. We did a lot of our shopping for household and pantry staples on-line through Web sites such as Costco, Amazon, and Vitacost. Within a couple of months, we were also blessed to have grocery delivery services, Door Dash, and even Instacart available to our home! We could simply shop on-line, and have our order delivered w/ in a couple of hours, which was great for getting fresh produce or a quick meal while still trying to maintain our reverse quarantine as much as possible.