7 Slow Cooker Recipes for Postpartum Meal Prep or Meal Trains
If you are cooking for a meal train of a loved one, or even doing some meal prep of your own, you might be looking for delicious and hearty recipes to sustain and nourish a new family. In this blog post, I've curated 7 fantastic slow cooker recipes that are perfect for postpartum meal preparation or as ideas for family and friends who want to contribute to a meal train. Each recipe has been personalized with my own tweaks to make them even more special. So let's get started on creating comforting meals that will help new parents through this wonderful but demanding time.
What is a Meal Train?
If you're not sure what a meal train is, it's a wonderful way to coordinate meal drop-offs between friends, family, and colleagues when someone is going through a big transition and would benefit from additional support. It's particularly helpful upon the arrival of a new baby, the death of a loved one, or the onset of illness. A meal train can be set up easily and for free using websites like https://www.mealtrain.com/ which offers a quick and easy way to organize the logistics of meal deliveries. It allows you to provide information about preferred days/times for drop-offs, delivery instructions, favorite meals of the family, allergies, and any specific dietary restrictions or preferences. Additionally, the meal train platform also has a feature that allows you to upload updates, keeping everyone involved in the meal train informed about the family's progress, if desired.
Why Set Up a Meal Train for New Parents?
If you are expecting a baby or have a loved one who is expecting, setting up a meal train can be a tremendous help and greatly appreciated. Here's why a meal train is beneficial during the postpartum period:
1. Time and Energy Saver: Adjusting to life with a newborn requires a significant amount of time and energy. Preparing meals can become challenging, and having ready-made meals delivered by friends and family can alleviate the stress of cooking.
2. Nutritional Support: Proper nutrition is crucial for postpartum recovery and overall well-being. Meal trains ensure that new parents receive nourishing and wholesome meals, providing them with the essential nutrients they need.
3. Emotional Support: Meal trains are not just about the food; they also offer emotional support. Knowing that friends and loved ones are there to help and provide meals can uplift new parents during a vulnerable and overwhelming time.
Now that we understand the importance of a meal train, let's dive into the delicious slow cooker recipes that are perfect for postpartum meal prep or meal trains.
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Recipe 1: Hearty Chicken & Vegetable Soup
This comforting and nourishing Hearty Chicken and Vegetable Soup is perfect for those looking for a wholesome meal during the postpartum period or for contributing to a meal train. Packed with a variety of vegetables, tender chicken, and a mix of flavors, this slow cooker recipe will warm both the body and the soul.
Personal Tweaks: I make a few swaps just as a personal pref: I use chicken breast instead of chicken legs, Italian soup mix instead of dry soup mix & sweet potato instead of swede. I also throw it all in the slow cooker on high for 4 hours and put the chicken breasts in whole. After the cooking time is completed I take the breasts out, shred them, then add them back in to the soup & serve with crispy sourdough.
Enjoy the rich and aromatic flavors of this easy-to-make Creamy Coconut Lentil Curry. Packed with wholesome ingredients and vibrant Indian spices, this vegan recipe is perfect for a satisfying postpartum dinner.
Personal Tweaks: I love this recipe so much - however I do tend to add additional veggies into it such as roasted sweet potato, green beans & spinach for some extra nutrients. If I’ve got the time I also love to make yogurt flat breads to go with it, SO GOOD, I’ve made it for so many people :)
This irresistible combination of tender, fall-off-the-bone chicken thighs & breast smothered in a garlicky Parmesan sauce and seasoned with a Cajun spice blend is a simple and satisfying recipe from ‘Bored of Lunch’. Serviced alongside buttery potatoes and steamed green beans its a winner.
Personal Tweaks: We use a mixture of chicken thigh and breast because I prefer breast and my partner prefer’s thigh. We served this dish with steamed green beans and broccolini (aka tenderstem) on top of a bed of spinach. TASTY!
Inspired by a memorable experience in Ko Phi Phi, this curry/stew crossover dish from Bored of Lunch offers a harmonious blend of mild heat, tender beef, and aromatic spices.
Personal Tweaks: We cheated when we made this one and added a store bought massaman curry paste, it was good, but it probably would have been even better if we made our own as listed in the recipe. We also added some carrot and red pepper for good measure, and served with rice, a delicious naan or roti and crunchy toppings such as fresh coriander, chopped peanuts and crispy dried onion.
Recipe 5: Lemongrass Chicken Noodles
This one is another from the Bored of Lunch, slow cooker book, on page 44. I haven’t been able to find the recipe online to share but the book is available for purchase on amazon if you’re keen to give it a whirl.
Personal Tweaks: We added some red pepper, and carrot into the mix to give it some more variety on the vegetable front and served with lime, chopped peanuts and coriander on a bed of rice noodles, which we cooked in the 5 mins prior to serving.
Layered with vibrant ratatouille, diced courgettes, sliced peppers, and juicy tomatoes, this lasagne provides a generous dose of your five-a-day. The vegetable medley is seasoned with aromatic garlic, basil, and vegetable bouillon, creating a savory and wholesome filling.
Personal Tweaks: Again we served this on top of a bed of spinach and added some chilli, but other than that, we didn’t do much differently, its a delicious vegetarian option to pop into your week.
Recipe 7: Beef, Black Bean & Sweet Potato Taco’s
The shredded beef for these taco’s is link above in the recipe title, but the rest we kind of just made up as we went along to satisfy a craving.
Personal Tweaks: We added sweet potato to the slow cooker with the beef for fun and served the shredded beef and sweet potato mixture in corn tortilla’s with a fresh salsa containing diced cherry tomato’s, cucumber, red onion, salt and olive oil, black beans and fresh coriander. We had fresh lime and kewpie mayo on hand in case we wanted it but it was delicious and perfectly hit the spot without.
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By utilizing these 7 slow cooker recipes, you can create delicious and nourishing meals for postpartum meal prep or contribute to a meal train for new parents. Remember, setting up a meal train can be a tremendous support for families during this special time, providing them with much-needed comfort and care. So, go ahead and start planning your meal train or meal prep today, and enjoy the joy of sharing delicious food with loved ones.
