{"id":11079,"date":"2012-03-23T10:30:01","date_gmt":"2012-03-23T15:30:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/crankymouse.com\/?p=11079"},"modified":"2012-03-23T11:20:35","modified_gmt":"2012-03-23T16:20:35","slug":"food-for-new-parents-to-eat-well-and-spend-less-giveaway","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/crankymouse.com\/index.php\/2012\/03\/23\/food-for-new-parents-to-eat-well-and-spend-less-giveaway\/","title":{"rendered":"Food for New Parents to Eat Well and Spend Less {Giveaway}"},"content":{"rendered":"

Those first weeks after the baby can be difficult to find the time and energy to eat well. Here are a few tips to eat well and spend less without relying on the drive-thru or takeout. Plus a Parents Need to Eat Too giveaway.<\/em>
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\nThis month we’re talking about feeding babies here on Eat Well, Spend Less. Between the lot of us, we have 35 kids, so I’d say this is a subject we’re pretty well equipped to take on, but more than that, in the last few weeks we’ve welcomed three brand new babies into that count. Aimee welcomed Clara into her home, Tammy and family rejoiced when Channah arrived, and Carrie said hello to a new Baby Bargains.
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It’s been a few years since my fourth baby made an appearance. Still, I had plenty of practice with those first few week, the following months, and the toddler years with the four kids, and there is no mistaking that they aren’t the slowest time in your life.
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Still, this isn’t the time to start relying on takeout boxes and pizza delivery. As a mom, your body is healing from a nine-month marathon, complete with a mile-long sprint to the finish line. You need the best nutrition you can get to heal and provide the energy to get through those first newborn days and nights, as well as for milk production if you’re breastfeeding.<\/p>\n

A Well-Stocked Pantry<\/font><\/h2>\n

Having a pantry stocked and full<\/a> can be a lifesaver in those early days when you just might not have the will to head to the grocery store to stock up. In addition to spices and pantry basics, aim to stock up on food that is easy to prepare and that provides a source of energy: dried whole wheat pastas, quinoa, rolled oats, polenta, dried or canned beans, seeds, nuts, nuts, and more nuts.<\/strong> Debbie does a wonderful job covering this topic in her book, detailing what to keep on hand and also providing easy recipes on what to do with it now that it’s there.
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Freezer Meals<\/font><\/h2>\n

If you can, have a few meals prepared and ready to go in the freezer that can just be taken out and popped into the oven. This will take the stress out of family dinner as everyone gets used to the new schedules and the shift in family life. A few good freezer meals to stock (or to give to new parents):

\n::Cream of Turkey\/Chicken Wild Rice Soup<\/a>
\n::Baked Manicotti Florentine<\/a>
\n::Basil Pesto<\/a>
\n::Chicken Empanadas<\/a>
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Produce<\/font><\/h2>\n

Eating a balanced diet means that you need to include plenty of produce, but the problem here is that if you are busy and harried, as so many are during the first few months of adjusting to a new family member, then it’s also easy to forget that gorgeous zucchini, the bundle of asparagus, or the bowl of just ripe peaches. Aim to purchase produce with a bit of a longer shelf life and that can be eaten without much prep work. Some ideas:<\/p>\n