6 Tips for Taking a Meal to a New Mom

Here are 6 tips for bringing dinner to a new momAfter the births of each of my babies, members of my church brought my family dinner for two weeks. It was wonderful. Not only did they provide us with many fabulous meals, I looked forward to visiting with familiar faces and having them ooh and aah over my little one. My husband still jokes that those meals just might be worth having a fourth child!

I've had the opportunity to provide meals for several friends in return, and I have definitely picked up a few tips along the way. Here are some basics for bringing meals to a family with a new little one.

1. Timing is everything
Families with a new baby often experience a rush of visitors- and generosity- in the first week after the baby's birth. I know that I appreciated meals being brought in after all of the excitement had died down a bit. That's when I really started feeling overwhelmed, so knowing that dinner was already taken care of was a tremendous blessing.

Related: 6 things I didn't know about my husband until he became a dad

2. The basics
When scheduling your meal, you'll want to inquire about any allergies, preferences, or dietary restrictions. Remember that breastfeeding babies are sensitive to strongly flavored foods- bland is best!

3. Keep the menu simple
An entree, salad, side/bread, and dessert is more than enough, and don't feel like you have to be a gourmet cook. Most new moms are just happy for a healthy, home-cooked meal that they didn't have to prepare. Ideas include:

- Minestrone soup, breadsticks, salad, and whole grain muffins

- Chicken Noodle Casserole, green beans, and chocolate chip cookies

- Stuffed pasta shells, spinach salad, and dinner rolls

- Baked potato, taco, or salad bars with all the fixins!

- Vegetable soup, fruit salad and cornbread

Related: 6 tips for surviving an all-nighter with your baby

4. Disposable containers
The last thing a new mother needs to worry about is washing your casserole dish and getting it back to you in a timely manner. There are so many great, affordable options for disposable or reusable containers available, so do your friend a favor and pick one up!

5. Think freezer friendly
New mothers sometimes have lots of visitors. It's possible that the family already has leftovers or other meals waiting on the day you provide dinner. Make your meal freezer friendly so that it can be saved for another day when it will definitely be needed and appreciated!

6. Foods that do double-duty
Things like banana bread, pound cake with fruit, or muffins are great because they can double up as breakfast and snack foods as well.

- By Mary Lauren Weimer
Follow Mary Lauren on Disney Baby

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