We spent the last 2 days in Berkeley with Baby Abby -- such fun! A precious peanut! But while I was there, I was worried about Baby Cora! So, I needed to make sure that everyone would be well fed while I was gone. I arranged meals for Baby Cora's parents while we were away, and I brought up all the ingredients for three hearty home-made dinners for Baby Abby's parents when we visited up there. Whew! It takes a lot of organizing!
That's why it's a good idea to plan ahead when babies are coming, or when you know a friend or family will need special care.
Frozen meal plans are a great idea because you do all the meal prep, and all the family has to do is defrost and heat. I probably made 25 or so meals for Jenny and Biff. Some were repeats; for example, I made a large pot of posole, so I divided that into 2 - 3 meals. I think I did the same with the Mulligatawny soup. Small meal sized portions are better than large portions, because then the user can just pop in the microwave and have a home cooked meal.
The Meal Train idea is also really wonderful. (It's free!) And it's not just for when babies are born. I have been part of meal trains for families that are grieving, or need help with food stability in the situation of a long term illness. These days it's easy enough to order in yourself, but there is something comforting in knowing that someone else is taking care of you - whether it's ordering for you, or bringing a meal to your doorstep.
I'm going to spend the weekend in the garden, and try to stop worrying about my eyesight. It's always something. But we just have to take it day by day.
Enjoy the weekend!