Over the past few weeks, I have been taking time to prepare for the arrival of my first baby. Early on in my pregnancy I knew that I wanted to prepare freezer meals and items to help make life just a little bit easier with a newborn.
Whether you are expecting a baby, busy on the go, or just want to speed up those weeknight dinners, prepping ahead is a great way to save time and enjoy meals cooked at home. Planning freezer meals takes a little bit of planning, prepping, and time but it’s a great way to help ease stress during the week.
When I first started thinking about making freezer meals and snacks ahead of time I thought about what foods my husband and I like and what would freeze well. I made a list of dinners I would typically make throughout the week and then looked for different ideas and recipes.
Once I had some ideas in mind my mom and I headed out to the grocery store to get the items we needed to spend the day prepping. We started by cooking a few pounds of chicken breast that we shredded up and can use for fajitas, BBQ chicken sandwiches, or to put on salads.
Next, we mixed up and divided out ground beef and made a few bags of hamburger patties that can easily be taken out of the freezer and prepared. We also cooked and drained a few pounds of ground beef that can be used for tacos or pasta dishes.
Making soups and casseroles ahead of time and freezing into small portions is another great meal to prep and take out as needed over time. We made a stock pot of chili and divided it into small containers that will be easy to grab for lunch.
Over the past few weeks, I have enjoyed spending time in my kitchen making different kinds of muffins and bread. One easy thing I did was any time I made muffins I would double the recipe and freeze the second batch to be able to take out and enjoy later. I was able to make pumpkin and blueberry muffins along with a loaf of banana bread.
The last thing my mom and I prepped were some energy bites. Listed below is the recipe I used, these tend to freeze well, and I take out a few at a time to let thaw in the refrigerator.
No-Bake Energy Bites
Ingredients:
- 1 cup rolled oats
- ½ mini chocolate chips
- ½ cup ground flax seed
- ½ cup crunchy peanut butter
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Directions:
- Gather and mix all ingredients
- Roll dough into balls with your hands
- Place in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer
Energy bites are one of my favorite snacks to prep ahead of time and can be made using so many different ingredients. I like to switch up the ingredients depending on what I have on hand. In place of the flax seed, I used chia seeds since I already had them.
When preparing freezer meals think about what your family likes and uses the most. Depending on the freezer space you have available you can prepare for the month or even a few at a time.
Kaitlynn Tonn is an OSU Extension Family & Consumer Sciences Educator and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or tonn.13@osu.edu
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This article was previously published in The Daily Record.