Filling the freezer: Food hacks for new parents

Nourished parent, happy baby. As your due date approaches, it's the perfect time to consider the little things you can do to take care of your future self.

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M&S Food

Those early days with a newborn can feel like a whirlwind. You'll barely have time to think, let alone plan meals and cook. That's where your freezer becomes your best friend. You will need sustenance and you will have less time to shop, to plan, to cook, to think.

If you enjoy batch cooking, you may want to fill your freezer with home-cooked dinners to whip out at a moment’s notice, but we have some much lower effort freezer hacks up our sleeves, too.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

Remember: this is optional

You are about to welcome a whole new person into your home, with all the joy and chaos that brings. If you are the pregnant parent, your body is going the extra mile now.

If you’re not, you have plenty on your plate, and taking some time to be still while you can is essential for body and mind.

Filling your freezer is an investment in future calm and some people are soothed by the presence of Tupperwares in their freezer, but it’s not for everyone.

So, if it’s becoming a stressful thought, scale it back. Skip to the frozen pantry section of this article and don’t worry about adding extra cooking to your to-do list.

If you’re ready and willing to don your apron, read on.

Elaborate, three-pot meals

What are the meals you love to cook when you have a whole day at home? Think of the stews and ragus you come back to – these are likely to be the dinners you’ll appreciate at your most exhausted. Time is on your side, and time is flavour: try this slow cooker beef goulash, or this aromatic chicken noodle soup. Comforting trays that can go straight in the oven (once defrosted) are of course your friends – consider macaroni cheese, dauphinoise potatoes, lasagne, cottage pie or fish pie. These dishes tend to require multiple pans and a big, saucy clear-up, so it makes sense to get them out of the way now.

You might want to try something new, like a lamb tikka shepherds pie or a pizza chicken traybake – the early days of parenthood are likely to be lacking in culinary adventures (but full to bursting with other ones).

Browse more recipes

Replenishing dinners

This is a good time to factor in some extra nourishment for when you’ll need it most.

If baby is arriving in the colder months, you will be grateful for revitalising vegetable soups like this cosy minestrone or this rich pumpkin soup with hazelnut and sage.

Pack some extra goodness into your mealtimes, via this lentil and mushroom shepherds pie, this warming dahl with crispy chickpeas and kale, or this sausage and cannelini bean stew.

You’ll thank yourself on the day you realise you’ve eaten little other than toast, yogurt and biscuits.

Make a shortlist

The frozen pantry

The freezer has come a long way from petits pois and cubes of frozen spinach (though these are still indispensable). Now, the frozen vegetables at your disposal include diced onions, chopped garlic, cubed butternut squash, mushrooms and edamame beans.

Our frozen soffrito mix (diced onion, carrot and celery) is a culinary cornerstone that will save you so much precious time. Likewise, bags of frozen bone broth are portioned into little rounds, ready whenever you are to bring some extra umami.

You want ingredients that breathe extra life into a meal, like herbs (parsley, coriander, basil) or peppercorn butter for celebratory steak nights. For breakfast, stock up on sliced sourdough and smoothie mixes: green, or banana, blueberry and kefir – both pack a fortifying punch.

Fill your freezer

A few of your favourite things

You need little nuggets of joy. Frozen cookie dough can be a game changer – make the dough and then portion it into balls. Put these on a tray into the freezer and, once they’re firm, move them into Tupperwares or freezer bags and store them alongside some good ice cream. When you’re ready to bake, add two minutes to the cooking time. Here’s a recipe for double-chocolate sesame cookies if you need it.

Think about what else fills your cup. A ready meal you love? An excellent fish finger sandwich? Gyozas or tempura vegetables for zhuzhing your noodle bowl? An M&S raspberry and mascarpone meringue roulade? You're ready.

More frozen inspiration

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Published 8.15.2024

Filling the freezer: Food hacks for new parents

Remember: this is optional

Elaborate, three-pot meals

Replenishing dinners

The frozen pantry

A few of your favourite things

The exhausted parent's guide to self-care

The new parent pantry

Parenting hacks

Your weaning journey