13x9s are not required.
Casseroles, hot dishes, bakes—whatever you call them, these one-dish dinners are easy to put together, convenient to transport, and often freeze like a charm (find scads of freezer meals here). But these big dishes take up a lot of room in the fridge. Consider cutting the recipe in half and bringing it in a smaller pan. Or skip casseroles altogether and pack up a hearty grain salad, muffin tin meat loaves, soup (like this incredible General Tso’s-inspired recipe) or one of these make-and-take meals for new parents in need.
New moms and dads need to eat more than just dinner.
One morning soon after my son was born, my mom-in-law came over to help for the day (so awesome). She looked at me for a minute and then asked, “When was the last time you ate?” I realized I was famished. See, we had some great dinner options in the house, but nothing I felt like eating at 8 a.m. Lucky for me, she’d brought her famous scones and jam. I feasted.
Consider sharing granola with milk on the side, frozen microwaveable breakfast burritos, a loaded hoagie or a deconstructed green salad the parents can toss together when they’re hungry. Snacks like veggies and dip, brownies or Chex mix will be much appreciated, too. Help them stock up with these make-ahead meals for busy people. Extra credit if the foods can be eaten with one hand, or if they’re good hot or cold.
Call ahead.
Let the new mom and dad know you’d like to make a delivery. First, find out a good time to come. It’d be such a shame if the neighbor’s dog discovered the meal sitting on their doorstep. Here are some other good questions to ask:
- What foods are they craving?
- Are there any ingredients to avoid? (Here are our favorite allergy-free treats.)
- What are some items they’ve already received? (Because, how much tuna casserole can one possibly eat?)
