Meal Prep for a New Mom

Oven Baked Panko Chicken + Caesar Salad + Veggie Couscous Salad + Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies + Greek Yogurt Waffles

One of the best things you can do for new parents is to make them some homemade food and drop it at their door without asking to hold their baby. I call it being a food fairy and its the best feeling. There will be plenty of time to go back and hold that smushy baby when the parents aren't exhausted and in no shape to entertain. BUT they do need that food so drop it and run!

One of my friends just had her second baby. She now has 2 under 2 so I wanted to make sure I made some toddler friendly items for her daughter! This is what I made for her and her husband and dropped at their door.

I brought them:

• ​Crispy Oven Baked Panko Chicken ​(FULL RECIPE)- the EASIEST way to make a big batch of chicken cutlets!! Toddler friendly as well. Our son likes them cut into strips and served with multiple sauces for dipping.

• ​Caesar Salad Makings ​(I USED THIS DRESSING) - my friend and I have been friends for over 20 years and there was a time when the only thing she ordered at restaurants was a chicken caesar salad so I knew that this is her type of comfort food. The simple dressing is an easy shortcut that is anchovie free.

• ​Veggie Couscous Salad (FULL RECIPE) ​- my friends husband said this was the best pasta salad hes ever had… I mean what an endorsement!! I like this one because it sneaks a lot of veggies in without a lot of work.

• ​Greek Yogurt Waffles (FULL RECIPE) - a great breakfast for mom, dad and the toddler! They have limited sugar so you don’t have to worry about that and the best part is that you can freeze them and reheat from frozen.

• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies (FULL RECIPE)​ - I knew my friend was attempting to exclusively breastfeed her new son so I wanted to load her up with some oats for milk supply. These cookies are also just simply amazing for anyone who loves the peanut butter and chocolate combo.

Printer friendly recipes available below for paid subscribers.

A few other tips: bring everything in disposable containers so that they don't have to return anything to you or clean any dishes. Include reheating/freezing instructions. If they had older kids I might also include a few kid friendly snacks!

Game Plan: I like to start with the breakfast sandwiches. Then, I move on to the stuffed shells. I prep the cookies and while they are baking I make the dressing and salad ingredients.