https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 29 Apr 2026 10:59:30 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427641 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:45:14 +0000 Corduroy 2427641@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do any freezer meals the second time. I never planned far enough ahead to defrost and heat. I stocked up on some refrigerated meals from Costco and frozen rice from TJs. Not my normal fare but it got me through the newborn time just fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427634 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:37:06 +0000 Mrs D 2427634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Plus I think it will be an interesting shift in my normal cooking routine. Right now I make my big family meal and back up DD meal (casserole) on Sunday. I cook smaller meals M, T, Th. We usually get pizza Friday and eat out Saturday.</p> <p>I suspect when DD2 arrives the weekends will be more chaotic...so probably pizza Saturday, pre-prepared meal Sunday, mild cooking meal M/W/F when I'll have time at home with just the newborn... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427631 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:33:51 +0000 Mrs D 2427631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So far I have the following on my short list...most of these items can be made with things purchased ahead of time and stored in the pantry/fridge:</p> <p>Breakfast: Overnight Oatmeal (almond or coconut milk - expiration date is usually somewhat long); steel cut oats (can make a big pot one day and eat for 3-5 days); Eggs and English Muffin; frozen smoothie bags (with almond or coconut milk).</p> <p>Snacks: Protein Shake (almond milk); nuts (packaged in proper portions); Lara Bar bites (I love these); Smoothie Bags; rice cakes.</p> <p>Lunch: TJ's boxed soup, Rice, Freezer Soups, maybe some single serve crustless quiche?, frozen prepared stuffed chicken breasts (straight from the butcher), Salad toppings/cheese.</p> <p>Dinner: Frozen Veggies, Fridge Mashed Potatos, Rice Roni/Rice.</p> <p>That hopefully leaves my weekly grocery shopping to salad base, fresh fruits &amp; veggies, eggs and maybe dairy. Thats all doable - I think...plus I mean if I only need a handful of fresh things thats a trip I can do with an infant once the weather breaks...and I can pawn grocery delivery service on relatives for the first few weeks I think!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427629 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:32:34 +0000 gingerbebe 2427629@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I was pregnant with DS1, the last trimester I aimed for cooking 3-4 times a week and made double batches of whatever I cooked. I then individually portioned the meals fully cooked into reusable freezer containers like these:</p> <p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-Rectangular-Storage-Containers-Black/dp/B00UI3UC52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1453228032&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=reditainer+28+oz" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/Reditainer-Rectangular-Storage-Containers-Black/dp/B00UI3UC52/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&#038;qid=1453228032&#038;sr=8-1&#038;keywords=reditainer+28+oz</a></p> <p>And then I labeled them and popped them into our deep freezer. I also made chili and spaghetti sauce and froze them flat in gallon size ziploc bags so they stored neatly. I also made lactation cookie dough balls and froze them.</p> <p>The meals were often things I could slap a scoop of brown rice or pasta and a scoop of frozen veggies into for the sides, unless it was an all-in-one meal like shepherd's pie. Then it was just a matter of pulling a few meals out to thaw on the counter or overnight in the fridge for dinner.</p> <p>I don't really like freezer meals I have to thaw and THEN cook because it takes almost as much time as just cooking from scratch. </p> <p>DH has a lot of dietary restrictions, so this was sanity saving for me when dinner time came around. I ended up having to be on such a strict diet for breastfeeding that I didn't get to eat many of the meals I cooked, but it just stretched those meals further for DH and I didn't have to worry about dinner for months. I have a toddler this time around, so I just need to make sure I have stocks of kid-friendly meals this time around, but as for dinners, I will probably try to do the same as last time, although I will probably have less time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427613 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:26:03 +0000 Mrs D 2427613@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@BandDmommy: DH has similar feelings to freezer crock pot meals. He thinks they tend to all taste similar and/or have limited flavor. I have a few that have passed his test so those are on my short list - but I definitely cant load the freezer with crock pot meals this time around!</p> <p>@dagret: I agree - I will need a whole separate plan for meals once I return to work - thankfully for us that will be in the summer time when we grill most nights and DH does most of that work...I just need to have the food purchased!!!</p> <p>@Happygal: ya - this is definitely where my focus is...dinner will be dinner - and I have faith in dream dinners and some of the online resources. I am focusing more on how to make my alone time at home healthy and easy!</p> <p>@autumnleaves: good call on frozen smoothies...hadnt thought of that! Right now I just do protein powder and almond milk but I could add smoothie freezer bags to it...</p> <p>@brownepiano: I agree - I started really prepping food about 2 months out last time...I just didnt want it hanging out in there for so long! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427605 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:21:16 +0000 MrsSRS 2427605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pregnancies and the way I prepped for them are impossible to compare because everything was different, but second time around the most helpful thing was to have meals prepped for the last month of pregnancy! And prepackaged snacks for LO1 stocked up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427596 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 13:17:50 +0000 brownepiano 2427596@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: no grill 😢 I'm hoping we get a waffle iron so I can make and freeze waffles. </p> <p>Frozen crockpot meals last time were OK but I didn't always remember to thaw stuf overnight and then we were stuck! I've been scouring Pinterest and I found stuff for diy stir fry mix, I might do that. I have the energy now to start, but I don't want to keep stuff in the freezer for 6 months! Next month I'll hopefully start and chip away at my list. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427546 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:44:43 +0000 autumnleaves 2427546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Happygal: Yes I found a recipe for breakfast burritos the other week that I plan to try. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427545 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:43:35 +0000 autumnleaves 2427545@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last time I froze a lot of muffins, some soups and dinners. This time I am planning to make more dinners expecting that less meals will be delivered by friends.<br /> I went through my recipes, what I've pinned, HB and have a list of what are the possibilities and plan to start tackling it 6-8 weeks before my due date.<br /> I am planning to make less muffins this time. We do not have a big blender but I have let DH know that could be a could gift for me when LO arrives or for Mother's Day. I freeze some smoothie ingredients now and could do more of that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427538 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:39:48 +0000 Happygal 2427538@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This time around, I plan on making things for breakfast and snacks and not worrying so much about dinner. I would wake up so tired and since I was constantly nursing, it was hard to get a good breakfast in. Muffins, breakfast burritos, things to snack on while nursing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427524 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:32:06 +0000 dagret 2427524@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, it was easier to cook with #2 because she was an easier baby - if she was as difficult as #1 was I would have been deep in it. </p> <p>I prepped lots of freezer meals and outlined meals/stocked up on meals that I could make out of cupboard on maternity leave. TBH the freezer meals are most useful for when I headed back to work anyway. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427497 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:11:14 +0000 BandDmommy 2427497@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did a ton of freezer meals and they ended up not being used. DH is not a freezer meal fan. I find it easier just to make simple meals. When DS2 arrives, DS1 will be in preschool full time and DD will be in daycare part time so not impossible to cook. I may actually put DD in daycare FT for the first month or so if I need the extra help. I actually find the infant stage not bad and never struggled finding time to cook. Not sure I will say the same when I'm juggling 3 kids though. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427487 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 12:03:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 2427487@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it differently second time around because I didn't have time or energy to cook much. Last time I started my maternity leave two weeks before baby was born so I had plenty of time to cook and stock the freezer- though I ran into the same problem as @brownepiano: in that I didn't want the casseroles and heavy things in the summer so much. </p> <p>This time I had a winter baby but SAH with a toddler so not much time. I doubled some recipes which has helped. I wish I had more healthy-ish snacks though- homemade muffins that aren't loaded with sugar and the like. I did stock up on the toddlers snacks and foods though. </p> <p>I also wish i had done more freezer slow cooker meals- like bag up everything so all I need to do is thaw and dump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427473 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:49:01 +0000 Mrs D 2427473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@brownepiano: Fortunately K is staying in daycare fulltime while I am home and DH does not take a lunch (thought I wish he would). So I only need to 'worry' about dinner for the family...lunch and dinner are just me.</p> <p>Do you BBQ in the summer? You could pre-marinate and freeze a bunch of meet to cook on the grill! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427456 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:33:23 +0000 brownepiano 2427456@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm also curious about this. Last time I doubled some recipes without trying them first, that was a mistake! I planned out meals for the last two weeks before I was due and printed out all the recipes and then the baby didn't come till two weeks after that! Having the recipes helped my family be able to cook for me though. </p> <p>This time I am going to stock up on breakfast food for DH and DS. I'll mix up the dry ingredients for baked oatmeal and write down the directions for the rest. People brought us a lot of suppers but not snacks and breakfast. </p> <p>Having lunches for DH was really helpful once he went back to work a week later so I'll do that again. </p> <p>I'm stumped on meals though cause last time I had a winter baby (soups and casseroles) but this time I'm having a summer baby and I hate soup in the summer. I might freeze some lighter meals and stock pile ingredients for our favorite easy meals and make sure the recipes are printed. I'm also going to stock up on my toddler's favorite snacks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/meal-prepfreezer-stocking-what-did-you-do-different-for-second-children#post-2427425 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 11:16:46 +0000 Mrs D 2427425@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So - for K I loaded the freezer with food before she was born...breads/muffins, cookie dough, meals, etc...</p> <p>This time...I am thinking about switching it up a bit. I have learned that making a meal with a newborn is not as daunting a task as I thought - so it wasnt about survival. Some of the food I prepped was not the healthiest (just wanted to have food around) and I think may have contributed to less than perfect eating habits on Maternity Leave.</p> <p>With DD2 due sometime in early March I am thinking of taking a different approach. Cut the sweets/breads...no need to have that stuff at easy reach...</p> <p>I am making a list of healthy breakfasts I can make with non perishable (ish) ingredients...aka I can stock up on in advance. Same with snacks...</p> <p>Lunches I am thinking will be mostly soup or salads. For soups I can/will make and freeze them ahead of time. For salads - I am making a list of my faves and their ingredients (see below).</p> <p>Dinners - I am trying out HelloFresh this next week...fingers crossed. I am also thinking of finally trying out dream dinners. My goal is to have 4 weeks of dinners in the freezer (main portion) even if that means having sides elsewhere (rice roni, refridgerated mashed potatos, bag salad, frozen veg, etc).</p> <p>I am making pre-made grocery lists...for easy reference when DH says "can I pick something up" or my mom offers to do a mini grocery shopping trip for me. Both my mom and dad were great about this - but I feel I always just said "no we're good" because I was flustered.</p> <p>I guess this time I am just trying to take a healthier prep approach...and not a "OMG I need to just survive" approach...</p> <p>Anyone else do it differently for your second plus kid? </p>