Preparing for a new baby is such an exciting time. Whether you are a first-time parent or if this is old hat to you, there are lots of things to think about when preparing for your little one’s arrival. Not only do you need to be taking care of yourself while you are pregnant (or thinking about getting pregnant), you need to also take care of your growing baby as well as the rest of your family.
Prepare Yourself Inside and Out for a New Baby
While it is important to prepare your home for a new baby, it is also important to prepare your body as well. This means starting to take prenatal vitamins six months before trying to get pregnant and through the duration of your pregnancy. This is important, because adequate folic acid in healthful diets may reduce a woman’s risk of having a child with a neural tube defect.
This is why I am choosing Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA vitamins from Sam’s Club as I prepare to try and get pregnant again. These vitamins are great, because Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA (200mg) 150ct. softgels are guaranteed to meet our high quality standards – it is made from carefully selected ingredients under strict manufacturing processes. It provides clinically proven absorption of folic acid and iron, one per day dosage and comes in an easy-to-swallow softgel. Plus, it provides 200mg DHA which may help support fetal brain and eye development †.
You can purchase Nature Made® Prenatal Multi + DHA prenatal vitamins in the supplement section of your local Sam’s Club.
Prepare Your Home for a New Baby
Cooking is always my biggest challenge with a new baby. Not only are you not feeling your best after having a baby, but there are so many other needs around the house that getting the energy to cook can be next to nonexistent. This is one of the reasons that I love freezer cooking as a way to prepare for your new arrival. Before your little one’s arrival, take a weekend to prepare lots of meals that are easy to freeze, so that after the baby arrives you can easily grab the meal and put it in the oven.
I compiled a list of my top 21 freezer meal ideas in order to get you started:
- Taco Casserole
- Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
- Spaghetti
- Meatballs
- Meatloaf
- Breakfast Sandwiches
- Baked Ziti
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Lasagna
- Chili
- Ravioli Casserole
- Irish Stew
- Shrimp Alfredo
- Black Bean Soup
- Shredded Beef Tacos
- Fajitas
- Macaroni and Cheese
- Taco Soup
- Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Shepard’s Pie
- Cheesy Chicken Casserole
The Cheesy Chicken Casserole is one of my favorites as it not only is perfect for making and freezing, but it is also the perfect comfort food after giving birth. Plus, it is easy to double (or even triple) the recipe, in order to make more casseroles to freeze.
Making Freezer-Friendly Cheesy Chicken Casserole
You will need the following ingredients for this recipe.
3 chicken breasts (cooked and cooled)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can golden mushroom soup
1 cup mayonnaise 1/2 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup bread crumbs
Melted Butter
In a large mixing bowl, mix all of the ingredients except for the last three. Once the mixture is fully mixed together, place it in a 9×13 glass casserole dish. After the mixture has been spread evenly in the dish, sprinkle buttered bread crumbs and shredded cheese on the top.
Place the dish in the oven on 350 degrees until bubbly (this will take approximately half an hour).
Once the casserole is bubbly, remove from the oven and enjoy! As I said, this is the perfect freezer meal for when you are preparing for a new baby.
†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
