Today i’m sharing 15 things to bring to friends with new babies! Or, to pop in the freezer before you have a baby!
I initially wrote this post when my first born, Piero, was just 7 months old. However, since then I have had another baby boy and his name is Enzo. He is now 5 months old, so I have recently gone through the newborn phase again and figured I’d update this post regarding 15 things to bring to friends with new babies.
We were very fortunate to have so many amazing friends and family stop by to meet sweet Piero and drop off breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, coffee, and even wine (because they knew we needed it lol).
I actually can’t even say thank you enough to everyone that came by- it meant the world and seriously helped SO much. We love you!!
In all honestly, I always knew taking lunch/dinner to new parents was a nice gesture, but I didn’t truly appreciate it until we had Piero. It’s not only super nice, it’s a LIFE SAVOR.
Having things to quickly grab in between feedings, during middle of the night pumping sessions, at night when you finally, finally got that babe to sleep (for a few hours at least) is key.
Not only for your health, but for your sanity. The first few weeks back home are most certainly the hardest, especially for first time parents because typically, you’re very sleep deprived and have no clue what you’re doing!!
At least we didn’t!
It’s no secret that the standard meal to take to new parents is a casserole of sorts, and don’t get me wrong, those are great to have, great to pop in the freezer, and super hands off which is amazing.
However, coming from a new mom, receiving a bag of healthy snacks and breakfast items felt like Christmas morning. Think bagels, cream cheese, fresh fruit, cheese cubes, granola bars, bananas, etc. etc. you get the point.
Everyone is in survival mode at that point, so the easier the better!
One last note before we get started: if you are the one about to have a baby: first off, congrats!!! It is such an exciting time in your life. It’s hard to do because it’s all so overwhelming, but try your very hardest to soak it all up and enjoy this season of your life!
I can’t believe my baby is 7 months, going on 8 months old- time is seriously flying by!!
All of the below meals would be great for pre-baby meal prep as well. I’ve indicated which ones are freezer-friendly, but of course let me know if you have any questions!!
My foodie-self couldn’t help it, and I prepped a few of these freezer items before having Piero. I’m not going to lie, that was the best decision and SO nice to have.
So let’s get started!!
- Green Chile Chicken & Kale Enchiladas (Gluten-free and freezer-friendly!) – these Green Chile Chicken & Kale Enchiladas are ALWAYS a hit. They are beyond delicious, easy to prep, and can be frozen until ready to serve! If they plan on eating that evening, write the baking instructions down for them and bring baggies of cilantro, jalapeƱos, limes, and sour cream for serving. *If they plan on freezing, do not bake the enchiladas prior– allow them to cool and seal tightly before freezing. Bake per usual, adding a few minutes as needed.
- Whole 30 Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie (Whole 30, Gluten-Free & Freezer-friendly!)- if you’re looking for comfort food- this is the dish!! It seriously melts in your mouth and is perfect for those cozy nights in with the new baby. It doesn’t matter what time of year it is because lets get real, new parents are usually on house arrest for the time being anyway. *If they plan on freezing, assemble the shepherd’s pie and let cool completely. Seal tightly and pop in the freezer.
- Instant Pot Red Curry Chickpea’s (Vegetarian, freezer-friendly, & gluten-free if modified!) – This is a new recipe on the blog, so if you haven’t tried it yet, I would highly encourage you to! It’s made in the instant pot and is seriously soo easy. It’s loaded with flavor and super comforting! If they are eating that evening, bring over with microwavable rice packets (cauliflower rice if gluten free), cilantro, and frozen naan bread for serving! *If they are freezing, allow to cool completely and pop in the freezer. When they are ready to eat, let thaw completely and heat up accordingly.
- Mexican Beef Casserole (Freezer-friendly!) – This is one of the things I made for myself before I had Piero. It was SO delicious. We also had leftovers which was nice for lunches the next day. If they plan on eating that evening, bring avocado, tomatoes, chopped green onion, and jalepenos for serving. *If they plan on freezing, allow to cool completely, seal tightly and pop in the freezer.
- Ground Beef Sweet Potato Hash (Whole 30 & Gluten-free) – Bring this in a sealed container with a 1/2 carton of eggs and a few avocados on the side and they will love you forever! Having breakfast hash to quickly heat up in the morning is one of the greatest things ever. They have the option to eat as is (so delish) or quickly fry up an egg and slice up an avocado to go with it. Talk about starting the day off with a bang! I also love a simple sweet potato hash and low-fat Ground Turkey Sweet Potato Hash. Depends on what your friends like!
- Instant Pot Chicken Tinga (Gluten-free if modified)- If you haven’t tried this Chicken Tinga, now is the time! Make a double batch– some for you, some for your friend. Package the meat separately and bring over with tortillas, limes, cilantro, tomatoes, avocado, etc.! Gluten-free if you omit quinoa and sub cauliflower rice, or get grain-free tortillas if serving that way. SO GOOD and can double as lunch & dinner!
- Gluten-Free Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread (Gluten-free & Freezer-friendly!)- is there anyone on earth that doesn’t like banana bread? It just never gets old. Put a thin slice of butter on it, heat it up, and go.to.town. I mean, YUM it’s just the best. I froze a loaf of banana bread before having Piero and it was amazing to have around and so simple. Bake it fully, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap, then foil and freeze. When they are ready to eat it, remove from the freezer and let thaw completely! So easy and always delicious.
- Skinny Chicken Salad (Gluten-free) this is something that is probably not the norm to bring to people that just had a baby, but let me tell you something- it’s the BEST. People are always bringing dinner and forget about breakfast and lunch! Depending on their preferences, bring this over with sandwich bread, bagels, crackers to snack on, alongside fresh tomatoes, avocado, and fresh fruit or salad. I promise they will love it!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala (Freezer-friendly!) – never gets old! It’s such a cozy meal, loaded with flavor, makes for delicious leftovers and freezes nicely! If they plan on eating that evening, bring over with a few microwavable rice packs, fresh cilantro, and naan bread. *If they plan on freezing, allow to cool completely then pop in the freezer. When they are ready to enjoy, let thaw completely and heat up accordingly.
- Zuppa Toscana– (Whole 30 if modified, gluten-free, and freezer friendly!) This is one of those soups that seriously never gets old. Literally every single time I make it, I’m saying “mmm” the whole time while also saying “I need to make this more often”. It’s just an ultra delicious soup that can be made ahead, it’s easy to transport, and re-heated when the time comes. I like to serve it with a side salad and it’s just perfect! It can also be frozen if they so desire. Allow soup to cool completely, and store it in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Remove from the freezer 24 hours prior and heat up as you normally would.
- Mushroom Kale Egg Cups (Low-Carb, gluten-free, and freezer friendly!) – Like I mentioned earlier, people often times forget that new parents need to eat breakfast too! It’s honestly so nice to have something to quickly grab those first few weeks. They take about ONE minute to heat up, so having these in the fridge is a total game changer. They can also be frozen and re-heated directly from the freezer. I would suggest doubling the recipe and dropping off with some fresh fruit. They will love!
- No-Bake Lacation Bars– if your friend is nursing, this is seriously the most amazing thing to bring over!! Not only are they way too delicious, they are really thoughtful and will help give her milk supply a little boost! And make sure to let her husband know, they aren’t just for nursing mama’s and he can enjoy them too š
- S’mores Bars– lets get real. Everyone. I repeat- EVERYONE needs a sweet treat in their lives in moments of extreme sleep deprivation. These will most certainly not go un-noticed or eaten and you will instantly move up to #1 on the friend list. Don’t think twice– it’s the right thing to do.
- Freezer Breakfast Burritos (Freezer Friendly!) These breakfast burritos are healthy, delicious, and SO amazing to have around. They will last in the freezer for up to 2 months, and I can assure you, your friends will absolutely love you. Talk about the most convenient thing ever!
- Thai Basil Chicken– (freezer friendly, gluten-free if modified!) This recipe has been a top contender on my blog for years now! It’s something people make over and over again because not only is it so easy, it’s SOOO delicious! It re-heats really nicely, so you could make it ahead of time, and bring it over with microwavable rice packets, fresh basil as garnish, and a side salad. If your friends are gluten-free, simply sub cauliflower rice instead of regular rice. It’s also freezer-friendly, just make sure to let the dish cool completely before freezing. Remove from the freezer 24 hours before you want to eat, and re-heat accordingly!
A few other ideas!
Healthy and easy to grab snacks are ALWAYS amazing to have around!
- Fresh Fruit
- Yogurt
- Granola
- Bagels & Cream Cheese
- Cheese cubes or sticks
- Turkey Deli Meat
- Trail Mix
- Pub Mix (Not the healthiest, but YUM)
- Hummus & Veggies
- Granola bars
- Iced Latte (love a good iced latte drop off š Piero was born in the summertime, so it was still very hot out! Any latte drop off is amazing!
- Muffins
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