3 Healthy Freezer Meals for New Moms to Prep Ahead of Time

A Little Planning Can Go a Long Way After Baby Arrives

We get it, mama – Things have gotten real! The last several weeks before your due date are often a busy time, filled with baby showers, nursery preparation, sending out thank you notes, getting your perfect breastfeeding space ready, coordinating parental leave, and perhaps even taking your official hospital or birthing center tour. With that in mind, try to carve out a weekend, afternoon, or evening to prep some freezer meals for those first couple of weeks postpartum. Though it may seem like a lower priority during this busy time, a few easy meals require just a few hours and will likely be a huge favor to your future self.

Whether this is your first baby or you’ve had children before, most moms know that time and rest are at a premium once your newborn bundle of joy arrives. Be gentle with yourself during this sensitive time and give yourself a break – look for simple freezer meals that can be quickly popped into the oven, so cooking and meal prep can be one less thing to consider during that early postpartum period! To get started, check out our healthy freezer meals for new moms below:

For a Classic Taste: Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• Ground beef or ground turkey, 2 pounds
• Milk, 2 cups
• Worcestershire sauce, 2 tablespoons
• Salt, 2 teaspoons
• Sage, 2 teaspoons
• Ground mustard, 1 teaspoon
• Pepper, 1 teaspoon
• Chopped garlic, 4 cloves
• Eggs, 2
• Bread crumbs, 1 cup
• Diced onion, 1

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl and divide into two ungreased 9x5-inch loaf pans.
• Wrap in plastic wrap and then foil.
• Use a marker to record today’s date on the foil and store in freezer for up to 6 months.
• When you’re ready to cook the meatloaf, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
• Bake uncovered for about an hour or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.
• Cool to room temperature and serve.

For the Sweet Tooth: Waffles

Ingredients:

• Flour, 2 cups
• Baking powder, 4 teaspoons
• Salt, ¼ teaspoon
• Milk, 1 and ¾ cups
• Eggs, 2
• Sugar, 1 tablespoon
• Vegetable oil or coconut oil, ½ cup
• Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon

Instructions:

• Preheat waffle iron.
• Beat eggs in a large mixing bowl until fluffy, and add the rest of the ingredients.
• Mix everything until smooth.
• Spray your waffle iron with nonstick spray, then add batter onto iron and cook until golden-brown (about 5 minutes).
• Freeze cooked waffles on a cookie sheet for a few hours, with parchment paper between each waffle if needed.
• Place waffles into freezer bags once completely frozen.
• To reheat, simply pop the frozen waffles into your toaster!

For Extra-Hungry Days: Sloppy Joes

Ingredients:

• Ground beef or ground turkey, 3 pounds
• Diced onions, 2
• Garlic powder, 5 tablespoons
• Chili powder, 2 ½ teaspoons
• Dry mustard, 2 teaspoons
• Paprika, 1 teaspoon
• Salt, 1 teaspoon
• Ground ginger, ½ teaspoon
• Ketchup, 1 and 1/3 cup
• Worcestershire sauce, ¼ cup
• Water, ½ cup

Instructions:

• Sauté your ground meat and onion until browned, and then stir in the rest of the ingredients above.
• Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until almost all the liquid has disappeared (about 15 minutes).
• Let cool and divide into two freezer bags, noting that each bag makes about six sandwiches.
• Use a marker to date your freezer bags if needed and place in freezer.
• To prepare the Sloppy Joes once frozen, defrost and then pour the contents of one bag into a skillet.
• Heat to a low boil, and then serve on hamburger buns.

Have One Less Worry with These Healthy Freezer Meals for New Moms

You got this, Mama! Prep these healthy freezer meals for new moms now, so you can enjoy as much time as possible bonding with and loving on your newborn once he or she makes their appearance. Those early postpartum weeks are for you and your little one – not for thinking about household tasks or what to cook that day. Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to share your go-to freezer meals and other tips, tricks, and hacks to prepare for that postpartum period. The Medela family is here to support your breast milk feeding and parenthood journeys – Let us know if there’s anything we can help with!