I just had a baby, and I find it hard to make dinner because I
really don't have a lot of spare time. Do you have any quick dinner suggestions for busy new moms?
Congratulations on your new baby. Believe it or not, this is a
great time to make some changes in the way you shop for and prepare meals.
It doesn't have to take as much time as you think.
Here are a few tricks for new moms, or anyone who's feeling pressed for time when it comes to preparing family meals:
• Plan two to three meals in advance. Make sure at least one of those meals is a big pot of soup or a stew that doesn't need a lot of tending while it cooks.
Serve one of the two meals, then freeze the rest for a day when you really can't get to the store or the stove. The microwave works well in these circumstances.
Beef and barley is a hearty, simple soup to make. So is split pea, bean soup, and chicken soup.
Soups improve with time. So think about making dinner in the morning, cooling it, keeping it in the fridge, and reheating it when mealtime arrives. This is a great way to get the cooking in before too much baby laundry and child care tires you out.
• Shop on the weekends.
Plan your grocery shopping trips for the weekend. Bring your friend, spouse, or significant other along with you. Baby can come, too, in an infant carrier.
As you shop, talk to your baby. The sound of your voice is calming and pleasantly distracting for them.
• Make sure to "include" your new baby when you prepare meals, too.
Place the infant in a seat nearby where you can see each other. Keep talking as you work. You are beginning to reinforce the fact that dinner time is a time your family spends together.
Someday, the two of you can prepare dinner together.
• Work with your baby's schedules.
Keep a journal of meals and feeding times. As a new mom, this will help you track which foods cause your baby to experience indigestion.
It will also help you keep track of when you'll be feeding and when you'll have time to get a few things accomplished.
• Plan a family or friend cooking night once a week.
Look through cookbooks, and pick out something special that you might not have time to cook alone. This will keep you from getting into a menu rut, and make sure that you are eating a variety of nutritious foods.
