Navigating the postpartum period can be both exciting and exhausting. While there is so much joy in welcoming a new baby, finding time and energy to prepare nutritious and healing meals can feel impossible. But…this is where postpartum meal prep comes in handy. It’s a lot of work – I know. But prepping meals in advance really does make sure you and your family eat well and it frees up precious time to bond with your sweet new babe. Believe me, your 2 week postpartum self really will thank your 38 week pregnant self for doing the work!
In this blog post, I’m sharing some of my favorite postpartum meal prep recipes, covering all kinds of dishes, including:
- Postpartum breakfast ideas
- Postpartum lunch & dinner ideas
- Postpartum freezer meal ideas
- Postpartum soup ideas
But before we dive into my favorite postpartum meal prep recipes – Who is The Labor Mama and Why Am I Here?
Hey friend! I’m Lo – also known around here and social media as The Labor Mama. I’ve spent my nursing career in labor, delivery, and postpartum, have birthed 4 of my own babies, have labored thousands of mamas at the bedside, have taught thousands of students online, and have even delivered a few speedy little babies with my bare hands (oops).
Here at TLM, I offer online classes about birth, postpartum, newborn care, and breastfeeding to empower you the way everyone should be. The education + support I offer gives you experience, evidence, and empathy; you’re getting all of my years of “clinical” RN knowledge, honestly combined with my real experiences as a mama and a nurse. These are not your average hospital classes (those won’t do it, I promise), and honestly, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding don’t follow a textbook or protocol anyway. You need to know so much more than that!
If you want to connect with me further, head to Instagram. There are hundreds of thousands of us over there learning together daily.
A note: This post may include affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase after clicking a link, I will earn a small commission (thank you)! Rest assured, this comes at no additional cost to you. You can read TLM’s full disclosure here.
Breakfast Recipes For Postpartum Meal Prep
Starting your day with a nutritious and filling breakfast is essential, especially during the postpartum period when you absolutely need extra energy and nourishment. I have found that I am often SO tired after those long nights, and the only way I actually eat breakfast is if someone makes me something or I can quickly grab something I’ve prepared. Having a variety of ready-to-eat breakfast options on hand can make mornings much easier and more enjoyable. Here are some delicious and easy-to-prep breakfast recipes that will keep you fueled throughout the day.
Sausage and Cheese Biscuits
Image Source: www.cleverlysimple.com
My whole family loved these, including my kids! They were really easy to pull out of the freezer, just took a few minutes in the microwave, and good to go. Could also easily add sour cream, salsa, avocado to make it more hearty or throw it all into a tortilla for an even more filling breakfast. Get the recipe here.
Breakfast Burritos
Image Source: www.cleverlysimple.com
I didn’t get the chance to make these, but I wanted to and wish I did. This is one of my favorite quick breakfasts and I love that they’re freezer friendly. Get the recipe here.
Lunch & Dinner Recipes For Postpartum Meal Prep
Preparing lunch and dinner meals ahead of time can significantly reduce the stress of daily meal planning and cooking during the postpartum period, I promise. Having a variety of pre-prepped lunch and dinner meals in your freezer ensures you’ll actually eat postpartum (not just takeout, leftovers, or whatever your other kids didn’t finish)! Here are some delicious lunch and dinner recipes that are perfect for postpartum meal prep.
Healthy Baked Ziti
Image Source: organizeyourselfskinny.com
This is a big recipe, so I think it’d be smart to prepare it and freeze it in 2 halves. She includes instructions for freezing, defrosting, and cooking later, so that’s what I did! Get the recipe here.
Chicken Divan
Image Source: allrecipes.com
My husband and I LOVE this recipe. My mama used to make it growing up – so here are some modifications per her recipe. We use chicken soup x 2 (not the mushroom kind). We also mix in 2-3 tsp curry powder (I promise, it’s so good). And for cheese, we use Swiss! Stir some in and top with a bit as well!
My mama alway served it over white rice; in my house, we serve it on top of quinoa. To freeze? Prep the chicken divan and cook your rice or quinoa. Spread your cooked rice/quinoa across the bottom of your pan (I’d divide this into 2 smaller portions, but up to you) and then spread the chicken divan on top. Top with additional swiss cheese. Then freeze, defrost when ready, and bake to heat and melt cheese! Get the recipe here.
Chicken Pot Pie
I know, there are fancier recipes with more ingredients. But this recipe? It’s my mamas – and I cannot tell you the number of times she made it for us growing up. It’s a classic, simple, chicken pot pie and it is one of my absolute favorite things to bring to a new mama or prep for my own family. My mama was queen of classic, homemade crust (yes, with Crisco), but I cheat often and use store bought! It’s not as good as hers, but it’s close enough and sometimes, easy is exactly right. Get the recipe here.
Enchiladas
Image source: gimmesomeoven.com
Make sure you peek at the recipe notes on this one! She includes instructions for making ahead, which is what I did so this could become a prepped postpartum freezer meal. I also separated this recipe out for two meals; I prepped it in 2 of the 8×8 disposable foil pans. Get the recipe here.
Freezer Bag Meals For Postpartum Meal Prep
Freezer bag meals are a postpartum lifesaver. These meals are so easy to prep and store, and they can be quickly cooked in a slow cooker or instant pot, making mealtime an absolute breeze. Simply prepare the ingredients, place them in a freezer bag, and store them until you’re ready to cook. If you can only prep a couple things, choose these freezer bag meal options, seriously.
Thai Peanut Chicken
Image Source: smartnutrition.ca
This recipe is built for you to make FOUR freezer bags that you can pull out and then pop into an instant pot or crockpot. I halved it and did two since I was prepping a bunch of other meals too. When I pulled it out for dinner, I made some rice, some extra peanut sauce, and we were good to go! Get the recipe here.
Balsamic Dijon Pot Roast
Image source: simplyscratch.com
Comfort food to the max – I love recipes like this. I also loved that she includes the “day of” needs and instructions so clearly. The freedom to just dump a bunch of stuff in the crockpot and have a meal a few hours later really is the best. Get the recipe here.
Mississippi Pot Roast
Image Source: belleofthekitchen.com
Ok, this recipe isn’t freezer bag specific, but I turned it into one, easy! Also, I cheat and use barely ANY ingredients (even less than the recipe calls for) and we love it! I simply added the roast and a jar of pepperoncinis to a gallon ziploc and froze them together for later. Day of, I added a cup of beef broth to the crockpot, 2 minced garlic cloves, and then the defrosted roast/pepperoncinis to the crockpot. I don’t even use ranch or au jus, but you definitely can add those in day of or before you freeze it all together!
We eat this as a sandwich, with toasty white bread (like a hoagie or focaccia), some sort of white cheese (like provolone or sharp white), and I make a quick aioli with mayo, lemon, garlic. I also loved eating it over mashed potatoes!
Soups For Postpartum Meal Prep
Pasta Fagioli
This soup freezes so well and it is so hearty and filling as you heal and recover! If you want to eat it with the ditalini pasta, I’d suggest making that pasta fresh (the day you want to eat the soup) and adding it in then (with some parmesan on top). Get the recipe here.
Chili
My mama made this for my husband (then boyfriend) years ago and he loved it! So from that day on, it’s been named Kelvin’s Chili. It has a bit of kick, which I Iove, but you can easily lessen the cayenne if you’re a no spice person! For me, this soup is all about toppings too; give me all the cheese, sour cream, and jalapenos! Get the recipe here.
To wrap up this post about my favorite postpartum meal prep recipes…
Postpartum meal prep can be a game-changer for new parents, providing nourishing meals with minimal effort during a time when energy is often in short supply. By preparing and freezing meals in advance, you can ensure that you and your family continue to eat well, even during the busiest days. These recipes are not only delicious and nutritious but also designed to be easy to prepare and store. As a mama of four who has been through postpartum many times, I encourage you to grab your spouse, your mama, or your friend and spend a day together in the kitchen meal prepping! I promise, future you will be so glad you did!
Feeling a little overwhelmed or nervous with the thoughts of postpartum, mama? Don’t worry. I got you!
What if you could walk into your postpartum with confidence? What if you deeply understood how your body was recovering and healing? What if you felt secure and self-assured in the knowledge and skills you need to take care of that brand new baby?
With Beyond The Birth, you can. An online course to walk next to you from the instant baby is born (yep, right in the hospital) and through all those weeks and months at home (meal prep and transition-to-home tips included)!
What are some of your favorite postpartum meals? Let me know below and drop the link so that I can add them to my list to share with new mamas! Xx – Lo
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If you liked this post, here’s some others you may like..
- Postpartum Meals Series: Zuppa Toscana
- Postpartum Meals Series: Chop Chop Salad
- The Best Lactation Cookies & Energy Balls For Milk Supply
More resources (and freebies!) for you to take a peek at:
