One of the most frequent requests I’ve had over the past several months is to share my plan and tips for making freezer meals before the baby arrives. Here you were thinking I had a plan all along…hahah…I wish I was that organized! But I can thank you for lighting a fire under me to put this idea into action. With just less than 7 weeks to go, I thought I better get my butt in gear and come up with a game plan! I’ll be making double batches of many of our fave entrées below, and a bunch of smoothie freezer packs. I’m so pumped. Nothing is more exciting than having a freezer stocked with delish, healthy recipes! (Side note: This post addresses new parents, but these freezer-friendly meals are convenient for everyone—students, busy nine-to-fivers, etc.!)
The recipes I’ve selected are below. If time allows over the next few weeks, I hope to post “part 2” with photos, tips, storage methods, and more. Baby, you stay put in there until your due date, mmmkay?! My plan is to start making the freezer recipes at the end of August (right near my book launch, what could go wrong!? heh).
Note for nursing mamas: Many of the main dish recipes below contain a fair amount of spice and legumes, which can be challenging for baby to digest through breast milk. You might need to adjust the recipes. This time around I’m giving baby some infant probiotic drops as I hear they can aid digestion.
- Glowing Spiced Lentil Soup
- Golden Red Lentil Dal
- Enchilada filling
- Enchilada sauce
- Freezer smoothie packs (Mighty Matcha Wheatgrass Protein Smoothie [in the app], Pink Power Detox Smoothie—newest version)
- Overnight Chia Oatmeal (I discovered this freezes well without the mashed banana!)
- Chana Masala (The Oh She Glows Cookbook, p. 163)
- Strawberry Oat Crumble Bars (Oh She Glows Every Day, p. 45)
News + Updates:
1) Have you heard that the 2016 VegNews Awards are going on? We’re thrilled to learn that we’ve been nominated in two categories this year—Favourite App and Favourite Blog! Be sure to vote for your faves here. There are a ton of exciting prizes up for grabs like a Vitamix, vegan ice cream party, shopping spree, and more.
2) Curious about my fave plant-based eats in downtown Oakville? Check out my recent interview with Food Network Canada.
3) Just a quick reminder that Chapters/Indigo is giving away a big basket of my favourite kitchen things (valued at over $500!). Pre-ordering Oh She Glows Every Day through Indigo will automatically enter you in this contest. There’s also a written entry option, too. For more details, see the contest rules here.
4) Don’t forget to snag your copy of my pre-order bonus bundle, available until September 13th, 2016!
First time commenting, so I just wanted to say how much I love your recipes and that I promote them to all my friends.
Just tried freezing your Basil Cashew Cheese Lasagna and it came out of the freezer and into the oven great! I am single, so making a whole pan of the lasagna at once is overkill. So I put it in two 8x8s and froze one. Just made the frozen one last night and loved it just as much as the original! I don’t know if you planned to put this on the “make-ahead” list, but it would work well.
And I recommended the lasagna to a friend, who tries to cook vegan when she can, and her whole family loved it. Her 10-year-old, who never asks for seconds, asked for more! Thanks so much for making the best lasagna I have ever eaten in my life.
Do you have a lactation cookie recipe for after baby arrives? I love all of your recipes and am struggling to find a lactation cookie recipe I like (and feel ok having multiple cookies a day!). Thought about reworking your Jumbo Chocolate Chunk cookies but would love a fool proof recipe if you have one. Thank you!
Rachel,
Most of the lactation cookie recipes (I found on pinterest) contain rolled oats, flax seed and brewer’s yeast – i would think you can just add them to your favorite cookie recipe (maybe replacing some of the flour or almond meal with rolled oats and ground flax, and adding a few tablespoons of brewer’s yeast?) one issue i had is that it took me awhile to get used to the Brewer’s yeast, its pretty bitter. so a lot of the recipes i found have a LOT of sugar and chocolate chips to counteract the bitterness. which was fine with me, and i still ate like 10 a day haha. yep, still haven’t lost the weight…. i wonder why…. :-)
Could you use nutritional yeast instead of brewer’s yeast? The flavor is much better.
I’m definitely not a new mom, but i’m about to go back to college and healthy, plant based freezer friendly recipes will probably be my lifesaver! Last year i made rookies mistakes and gained about 20 pounds in potato chips/muffins/soy lattes/energy drinks, and i am for sure not going to let that happen again! Thank you so much for this post, and all your other freezer and make ahead recipes too!!
You’re so welcome, Jessica! Best of luck with back-to-school. :)
What about the lentil loaf from your cookbook? Has anyone tried freezing it? I’m 32 weeks…one week being Angela. Ha.
I mean, behind Angela. Argh
Hi Paula, Lentil loaves tend to freeze well! Just make sure to fully cool the baked loaves before wrapping and freezing. PS – Congrats on your pregnancy! Wishing you all the best.
Hi Angela! These recipes look delicious! Could you please let your readers know that foods that might cause gas in adults (like legumes) do NOT cause gas for nursing babies? That’s a persistent myth that is not based in science :)
http://kellymom.com/nutrition/mothers-diet/mom-foods/#gassyfood
Thank so much, really enjoy reading your blog!
This is such a great resource Angela! Bookmarked for future use :) I think I’ll need a seriously big freezer when the time comes because I can’t imagine doing much cooking for the first couple months
Hi Angela! I have a question for your Friday FAQ. I’m getting married soon and when I’m getting ready with my bridesmaids I would like to have some snacks for everyone to nibble on throughout the day. Any suggestions for some light snacks that will keep everyone going all day? Thanks!
Congratulations on your upcoming wedding, Sarah! I’m sure everyone will appreciate some snacks to fuel them through what’s sure to be a beautiful (but busy) day. You can’t go wrong with either my Out-the-Door Chia Power Doughnuts (The Oh She Glows Cookbook p. 41) or Crunchy Seed & Oat Flatbread (p. 51). Try spreading the doughnuts with jam, coconut oil, or nut butter, and topping the bread with hummus, avocado, and/or tomato. Some other great options include my Glo Bars (p. 215 and p. 217) or Banana Bread Muffin Tops. Or, for a super simple snack, you can set out a tray with fresh fruit, veggies, and dip/hummus (try the Classic Hummus in The Oh She Glows Cookbook—you can scale back the garlic or omit it entirely if that’s a concern!). Best wishes on your big day!
Love love love this post. Anytime I try to find freezer meals they are ALWAYS heavy on the cheese and a little too casserole-like for my family. Can’t wait to give some of your recipes a try.
Hi Angela, I have just made the Enchilada recipe from your app. Could you tell me if the amount of chilli is correct 1 1/2 tablespoons plus cayenne pepper. I adjusted the chilli but it still blew our heads of it was so hot. We all agreed that is would be delicious with much, much les chilli so I wondered if this is a mistake.
Many thanks,
Elizabeth
Hi Angela, great suggestions! One question… what do you mean by a ‘smoothie pack’??
Hey Allison, By a smoothie pack I mean that I freeze some of the smoothie ingredients in a freezer bag. A fun little trick for make ahead smoothies! :)
Hi Angela, great post! I’m a new reader to your blog so I’ll be back again soon. My friend has just had a baby boy called Reggie. I’ll be sending her this link now! Thanks, Paul :)
Congrats to your friend! And welcome to the blog!! :)
I made your broccoli & cashew cheese – quinoa burritos. Can you tell me if I can freeze the filling?
Hey Debbie, I haven’t tried freezing the filling before, so I can’t say for sure! If you decide to give it a go, I’d love it if you’d report back. :)
Why are these for new parents, lol? I’m happily childfree and I love em.
Being a new college student, I would definitely need these recipes as well! Thanks so much for the help, Angela!
OMG! Everything looks so delicious! I think my children will enjoy the smoothie packs and strawberry oat crumble bars. I need to try them! Thanks for sharing! :)
Hi! I’m a breastfeeding mom and new plant-based foodie. Since switching I have eaten my weight in legumes so I’m curious about what you said about spices and legumes being hard for baby to digest. Do you have any sources for that information?
Is there a part 2? This is so useful xx
I’m sorry there isn’t, but I will put it on my list! :)
Love your ideas.
Just wanted to subscribe. Love your recipes!