What To Bring A New Mom (And Some Other Rules)

By Jennie

This is the first of a couple posts I have planned about food for new moms (I'm defining "new mom" as having a "new baby," since these tips apply to moms of one baby or five). Both what to bring to a friend or family member and easy things to whip up as a new mom. 

Today, we're kicking things off with what to bring to a new mom. Before we get into specific recipes, a few general rules:

Bring simple dishes. Dishes with as few ingredients as possible so there's a less likely chance you'll be up against food allergies or distaste for a strange ingredient. Think casseroles, pizza, soups, pastas, etc. 

Bring cooked meals. Not to say that bringing a bottle of wine or a package of delicious cookies is a bad idea (I would never say that in a million years), but don't bring anything that the new parents have to fuss with or prepare themselves. 

Throwaway dishes. Bake in aluminum pans (I find them cheap in the baking aisle of my grocery store), bring plastic silverware, paper plates, and such. The last thing a new mom needs is extra dishes she'll need to remember to wash and then return in a timely fashion.

It doesn't have to be homemade. A deli tray, a fruit/veggie platter, a take-out pizza, a favorite meal that the third trimester heartburn wouldn't let her enjoy (I wanted Chipotle for a week after my son was born). Just because it was easy for you, doesn't mean it's any less thoughtful. 

Bring a salad, fruit, chopped up veggies. Too much heavy, comfort food can get a little old, so prepare a salad, chop up some veggies or fruit, etc. 

Drop and run. One of the kindest things anyone did for me after I had my son was bring us a meal and then hit the road. My friend brought a fully cooked meal, set it up for me, insisted I sit right where I was, hugged me, snuggled Kyle, and then left. She was there maybe a half hour. Long enough to show she cared but not so long that I needed to entertain her. I still love that gesture so much.

Suggested recipes, if you DO want to cook:

Spinach Lasagna

Tortilla Pie

These delicious brownies from our very own Elisabeth

Lightened Up Shepherd's Pie

Jen's Breakfast Casserole

Chicken Enchilada Pasta

The Pioneer Woman's Regular and Veggie Lasagnas 

(Photo from thepioneerwoman.com)

Do you have any additional tips or specific recipes to share? Leave them in the comments!

Comments

[carrie @plums in the icebox]

i came across this on one of my FAVE food blogs, apron strings. i don't know if every new mom is into tofu, but maybe a good option for vegetarian moms.

http://www.apronstringsblog.com/desserts/spinach-tofu-and-tomato-casserole-my-babymoon-bake/

[Erin]

If they are planning to breastfeed, mild, simple dishes! And be clear on the ingredients! I would avoid spicy stuff especially. When we were still getting the hang of breastfeeding (and of dealing with a scream-y baby) I was terrified to eat anything that might upset his tummy (turns out he was kind of scream-y in general and it didn't matter what I ate, ha. But it was helpful to be able to eliminate certain foods and know for sure exactly what I ate.) We got a lot of mexican casseroles and breakfast casseroles with spicy sausage that I was too afraid to eat. They still came in handy because my husband could eat them, but you know.

Someone sent us an edible arrangement and I loved that! It was so nice to have fresh fruit already cut up and ready for healthy snacking. Also snacks that can be held in one hand were awesome for eating and nursing at the same time. I think I lived on granola bars for a while there.

[HereWeGoAJen]

I always take everything over as separate as possible because I have a very picky eater for a husband. So if I take a salad, I take little baggies filled with each separate thing and let them assemble as they like.

I also second the bring prepared food recommendation. I had someone bring me a box of uncooked pasta and someone else bring me a frozen garlic bread. Which was still nice of them, but I didn't have the energy to cook.

Also, with the picky husband, I was absolutely delighted to get take out. We got a couple of deli rotisserie chickens and one of my friends ordered from our favorite Mexican restaurant for us. We would have been thrilled with a delivery pizza or a deli tray too.

If they have older children, I also take over a couple of those lunchable meals. I figure that will cover a picky child for dinner or a non-picky child for a future snack or meal.

[april]

I also bring a bottle of wine, for when they can partake. 9 months of not being able to have it!

[agirlandaboy]

We always made fun of Edible Arrangements, but when someone brought us one after my son was born, it was seriously the best thing ever (after the sushi and champagne I had brought to me in the hospital). You don't necessarily need to spend the dough on something fancy, but YES to the fresh fruits and veggies. Yes yes yes.

[Danielle]

Someone brought me a sandwich tray from a local deli. It fed me lunch for a week and I likely wouldn't have eaten lunch that first week otherwise.

[jennielynn]

I'm a bit lazy. I get gift cards and menus from places that deliver or have curbside service. That way, they get what they want and don't have any prep or clean up.

[Jen L.]

I would like Elisabeth to bring me the brownies. I mean, not enough to have another baby for it, but still.

Here in the south, take-out fried chicken is always a winner!

[Maureen]

These are some great suggestions! Have you ever heard or or used www.takethemameal.com before? It's a super easy to use, free website that takes all of the back and forth out of coordinating meals for new moms or anyone in need. It's a fantastic resource!