Pre-cook frozen meals for the postpartum period

by Doula Shanay Rocker

• Chicken broth or vegetable broth: can be used as a base for pasta sauces or risotto, for example – or can be defrosted in a cup to drink.
• (Vegetable) Lasagna: freezes well and sometimes tastes even better when thawed.
• Quiche: Can be frozen piece by piece and there are no limits to your imagination when it comes to ingredients.
• Pasta sauces: can be easily filled into freezer bags and frozen to save space. For example, lentil bolognese - simply boil the lentils of your choice together with tomatoes, onions and herbs and simmer until the lentils are cooked - season to taste, done.
• Just as space-saving for freezing: Vegetarian curries, e.g. made from soaked chickpeas, spinach, sweet potato, potato and carrot.
• Stews, dahls and soups of all kinds: super nutritious and filling with potatoes, lentils, seasonal vegetables, vegan, vegetarian or with meat.
• Chili (without chili peppers): filling, stimulates digestion, tastes excellent. It's best not to season it too hot during the postpartum period, as this can be really unpleasant, especially if you have hemorrhoids.
• Slow cooked fennel chicken and other meat-based dishes and stews: simply add couscous or rice after defrosting.
• Bliss Balls made from dates and apricots: easy to freeze and can be made from all sorts of ingredients - oats, dates, other dried fruits, flax seeds (great for digestion) - and whatever else you can think of. Simply puree all the ingredients together, form balls, roll them in cocoa or coconut flakes if you like, and you're done.
• Homemade smoothie packs for breastfeeding: a smoothie is a super delicious and nutrient-rich snack for in between meals - it tastes best when it is at room temperature. To freeze, simply prepare the smoothie and fill portions into freezer bags, for example with fruit and vegetables, water or plant-based milk, honey, nuts and whatever your heart desires
• Oat Bake: Mix oat flakes with (plant-based) milk and season with cinnamon, sugar, nuts, fresh or dried fruit, nut butter or cocoa powder of your choice and pour into a casserole dish, then bake in the oven at 180 degrees for about 40 minutes - it also freezes well.