Life is rarely as busy as it is with a newborn, meaning that the more you can accomplish before baby arrives, the better! Instead of tackling every project yourself, gather your besties and close family at a nesting party, and have them chip in. The best place to start? By stocking up on postpartum freezer meals that will tide you and your growing family over when life gets chaotic.
Designed to support new parents, nesting parties are a trendy alternative to more traditional showers or Jack and Jill dos. Sure, they require guests to roll up their sleeves and get a little dirty but they also give loved ones a chance to give the best gift there is — a freezer filled with tasty meals and snacks! The gift that keeps on giving, meals for months to come is the ultimate stress reliever and support for new parents.
When planning a nesting party, it’s important to forgo complicated dishes, instead focusing on comfort foods and easy freezer meals that will be as tasty and satisfying in the future as they are today. Made with no measure, no mess Success® Rice products, casseroles, soups and sweets are simple to prepare, a breeze to reheat, and always incredibly delicious.
So send out the invites and start planning your nesting party today! Events that bring your inner circle together to catch up AND give back, they’re the best way to prep for baby in the company of the people you love best.
Tips for Hosting a Nesting Party with Freezer Meal Prep in Mind
Of all the tasks you can tackle at a nesting party — from assembling furniture to washing baby clothes or installing a car seat — cooking is by far the most fun! Much more than a simple party, these events help build community and make guests feel like part of something special. Follow these tips to ensure you avoid any hiccups in the kitchen the day of the big event.
- When planning a meal-prep nesting party, start by selecting simple recipes that don’t require a lot of steps. Ideally, there will be some ingredient overlap, to avoid waste. Opt for recipes that feature crowd-pleasing staples, like cooked rice, quinoa or couscous, along with ground or shredded meat, legumes, broth and stewed tomatoes.
- Assign different groups one recipe each. Take stock of the equipment you have (pots, spoons, casserole dishes, etc.) and what each group will need to bring. Don’t forget oven gloves and aprons! Ask groups to also bring the ingredients they will require for their dish.
- Before the party, stock up on freezer-safe containers in various sizes. Beyond freezing family-size portions of meals, you may also want individual items that you can reheat for lunches or solo dinners. You’ll also want plenty of freezer-proof labels on hand. This is also a good time to clean out the freezer to make room for a slew of new meals!
- The day of the party, divide the kitchen into cooking/storing stations to avoid confusion. Outside of the kitchen, set up snacks, drinks and plenty of seating. After all, a nesting party is still a party!
- Finally, print copies of each recipe for guests to follow as they cook, and to take with them as a favor. Once they see all of the freezer meal recipes on offer, they’ll be itching to make them at home!
What Ingredients Work Best for Postpartum Freezer Meals
Nesting parties are not the time for prepping salads or dairy-rich pasta dishes, water-rich vegetables (think cucumbers and zucchini) or fried foods. For safety reasons, you should also avoid re-freezing meat, fish or shellfish that was previously frozen. Instead, the best make-ahead freezer meals include soups, stews, casseroles and certain legume-loaded sides. In general, you want to focus on dishes that energize, and those that rely on cooked grains and proteins, hearty vegetables and flavorful sauces, such as Bolognese, pesto, tikka masala and Thai curry. Snacks and individually portioned desserts (think cookies or squares) can also be just as good fresh out of the oven as they are defrosted.
10 Make-Ahead Freezer Meals to Add to Your Prep List
Ready your freezer — and your nesting party — for success with these tried-and-true, family-friendly freezer meals.
Sausage, Egg & Bacon Fried Rice
What’s quicker than making this 20-minute complete breakfast dish? Reheating it from frozen, when every minute counts! Loaded with sausage, bacon, eggs and fragrant jasmine rice, this take on traditional fried rice is a warm, filling and welcome break from the usual bowl of cold cereal.
Breakfast Zucchini Cups with Ham and Cheese
A meal or snack you can eat with one hand (because, trust us, the other one will be busy!), these savory, satisfying morsels can also be customized with your favorite ingredients. Made with eggs, cheese and Success® boil-in-bag quinoa, these are sure to energize, whether you eat them first thing or sneak a few during baby’s nighttime feedings.
Creamy Chicken Pearl Couscous Soup
Few foods comfort quite like chicken noodle soup. Tops on our list of freezer meals for postpartum, this comforting take is rife with fresh vegetables, tender chicken, savory broth and the surprising addition of Success® boil-in-bag pearl couscous. Serve this to a grateful family or save it for yourself — we promise not to tell.
Quinoa Green Bean Casserole
A casserole that eats like a meal, this quinoa-rich little number can take center stage on any table. A tempting blend of nutty quinoa, sautéed vegetables, punchy seasonings and creamy mushroom soup, this is the type of crowd-pleasing casserole you’ll be making long after baby’s all grown up.
Sauerkraut, Sausage, and Rice
An idea that guests at your nesting party are sure to copy, this simple yet satisfying dish is exactly what a busy family needs at the end of the day. For four servings, freeze this meal in one large casserole dish. Then, simply defrost it in the fridge in the morning and pop into the oven, covered with foil, to reheat before dinnertime. Served with crusty bread, a green salad — or on its own — it’s guaranteed to be met with rave reviews!
Edamame Brown Rice & Lentil Salad
A delightful mix of fresh and hearty ingredients turn this brown rice salad into a complete meal. For best results, combine the cooked rice with lentils, edamame, bell pepper, raw onion, almonds and sunflower seeds before freezing. Add the remaining components, including the cucumber, parsley and vinaigrette, just before diving in.
Cheesy Quinoa Bites
Part breakfast, part snack, these tasty tidbits are a welcome treat any hour of the day. Switch up the vegetables, or make them as is, and have a go-to you can heat up in minutes when you need to eat stat!
Quinoa Pizza Bites
Making pizza from scratch can be a daunting task — even without a newborn strapped to your chest! Instead, reach for these zippy, bite-sized pizza copycats and satisfy the craving, without lifting a finger. Tender and savory, loaded with marinara, pepperoni, cheese and quinoa, they’ll disappear as quick as your family’s favorite 12-inch pie.
Brown Rice Energy Balls
Any nesting-party planner worth their salt will know to double (maybe triple!) this popular recipe. Protein-packed and nutrient-dense — thanks to a tasty blend of Success® boil-in-bag brown rice, nut butter, dried fruit and flax — these energy bites are also a little bit naughty, care of honey and dark chocolate chips. Whip up a few different batches, switching up the add-ins to satisfy any craving.
Puffed Quinoa Chocolate
Four ingredients and four simple steps is all it takes to make a veritable mountain of these seductive little sweets. Crisp and snack-sized, filled with mouth-pleasing puffed quinoa, they’re the anytime treat every new parent needs.
