15 Freezer Meals to Take to New Moms

Roasted Garlic Lasagna Boats

This great make-ahead meal looks pretty darn cute when it’s finished. You’re guests will leave satisfied and impressed that you were able to whip up such a fancy meal. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Pad Thai

Now you can eat as much pad thai as you want and not feel bad about it. You won’t even notice the difference. Go on, try it and see for yourself. (via Lexi’s Clean Kitchen)

“Pasta” and Sauce

Pick a sauce and dig in. Heck, you can even eat all three and no one would blame you. (via Brit + Co)

Quinoa and Parmesan Fritters

Fry up full-sized fritters and serve alongside a garden salad for a full meal, or make smaller patties for totally poppable bite-sized appetizers. (via Julia’s Album)

Skinny Baked Shrimp Scampi

Made with only two tablespoons of butter, this dish is both healthy and delish. It’s also easy to throw together during the week, but still decadent enough for a weekend dinner party served alongside a good bottle of white wine. (via Pineapple and Coconut)

Gremolata

This bright and beautiful gremolata is chocked full of lemon zest, garlic and chopped herbs. Toss it with a few fresh tomatoes and you’re good to go. (via A Family Feast)

Spinach, Tomato and Goat Cheese

When cut in half lengthwise, this squash makes two perfectly cute (and edible) bowls. Use it to your advantage and stuff that baby with spinach, tomatoes and creamy goat cheese. Top it all off with roasted seeds for extra crunch. (via BS’ in the Kitchen)

Roasted With Chickpeas and Kale

Slow-roasted spaghetti squash strands are tossed with olive oil, rosemary, garlic and lemon before colliding with sauteed kale and chickpeas for a meal packed with flavor and protein. (via Love and Lemons)

Asparagus Quiche

Use the squash in a totally unexpected way, like the crust for this asparagus quiche. It might just be better than the real thing. (via Tasty Kitchen)

Avocado and Egg Boats

Baked egg and avocado take this already delicious squash to a whole other level. It might look fancy, but if you can crack an egg you can definitely handle this one. (via iFoodreal)

Garlic and Herbs

Take a step back and go with simply classic flavors like toasted pine nuts and fresh parsley. The point isn’t to cover up the taste of the squash, but to make it shine. (via Pinch of Yum)

Burrito Bowls

Okay, so it might not be Chipotle, but if you’re going to eat squash you might as well stuff it with beans and smother it in melty Mexican cheeses. (via Making Thyme for Health)

Spinach and Artichoke Alfredo

In the mood for something warm and comforting but still want to fit into your skinny jeans tomorrow? You’ll be able to have seconds with this easy-peasy recipe. (via Taste and Tell)

Curried and Stuffed

If tofu isn’t your thing, substitute it out for boneless chicken breast. Either way you won’t be disappointed. (via Vegetarian Times)

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna is one of my favorite Italian meals ever! Think of the flavor of lasagna in a low-carb, gluten-free, diet-friendly disposable hot bowl of cheesy goodness! There’s not much more to think about. If you haven’t tried spaghetti squash in place of spaghetti yet, this is a great way to start! (via Feel Good Foodie)

Buffalo Chicken

The saying must be true. You can really put Frank’s Red Hot Sauce on everything. (via Sweet Treats and More)

Pasta Primavera

Make this pasta with shrimp, chicken or both if you’re feeling extra crazy. Just make sure there’s more than enough to go around. You’ll thank us later. (via Lexi’s Clean Kitchen)

Maple Syrup and Shallots

If there’s someone we trust when it comes to comfort food, it’s The Pioneer Woman. And if she says it’s good, then that’s the end of it. (via The Pioneer Woman)

Enchilada Stuffed

Guess what? Cutting this squash in half widthwise makes for a deeper bowl with room for MORE filling. This versatile recipe can be made vegan, vegetarian, or with chicken (or ground beef) for all you meat lovers. Be sure to make room in your weekly dinner rotations for this bad boy. (via Feasting at Home)

Twice Baked

This one takes a bit of time… but good things come to those who wait, right? It’s safe to say that this squash is twice as delicious. (via A Sweet Life)

Parfait Breakfast Popsicles

This breakfast-dessert hybrid is nutritious as can be. It's made with a protein-rich Greek yogurt base, and from there, you can customize the flavor with any medley of diced fruits. (via Brit + Co)

Cinnamon Pear Baked Oatmeal

This big dish of baked oatmeal will last you the whole week. It's filled with delicious notes of pear and cinnamon to usher in the fall season seamlessly. (via Brit + Co)

Easy Sheet Pan Pancakes

Shoutout to the genius that came up with sheet pan pancakes! Prepping your pancakes on a sheet pan and baking them in the oven not only saves you time in the long run, but saves you from doing an endless pile of dishes. Top these with your favorite inclusions then dig in. (via The Real Food Dietitians)

Overnight Breakfast Casserole

For a savory breakfast meal prep option, make sure to bookmark this hearty casserole. It'll fill you up well, too, since it's packed with protein from eggs and meat. (via Vikalinka)

High Protein Oatmeal

Your typical bowl o' oatmeal gets a nice boost from protein powder to keep you fuller for longer, and supply you with enough energy to make it to lunchtime. The best part about this recipe is you can section it out into individual meal prep containers to keep in the fridge until you're ready to chow down. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Whole Wheat Cheddar Biscuits

Nothing is better than a warm biscuit in the morning. With this dish, you can bake them, then store them in either the fridge or freezer for safe keeping. When breakfast rolls around, simply heat one or two up in the toaster oven. (via Completely Delicious)

Vegetarian Breakfast Enchiladas

Breakfast enchiladas sound so good right about now. As opposed to your traditional enchilada build, these are stuffed with eggs and black beans for a vegetarian protein fix. (via Hello Little Home)

Brownie Baked Oatmeal

Mmm, chocolate. Start your day off with this equally nutritious and delicious baked oatmeal! After you make it, you'll be left with plenty of leftovers to devour all week long. (via Kathryn's Kitchen)

Vegan Breakfast Banana Nut Muffins

Banana nut muffins make the perfect pairing with your morning coffee. Bake 'em once, then you'll have an entire dozen to stow away in the fridge. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Zucchini Baked Oatmeal Cups with Chocolate

These chocolatey oatmeal cups have some hidden nutrients in them, thanks to the addition of zucchini. You'd never guess it, though – each component blends together super seamlessly. (via The First Mess)

Vegetarian Breakfast Burritos

Meal prep these veggie-filled breakfast burritos, wrap them in foil, then keep them in the freezer so they'll last. You can easily heat them up before you leave the house in the microwave or air fryer for just a few minutes! (via Whole and Heavenly Oven)

Broccoli and Cheese Quiche

Quiches rock. This one is prepped with pieces of broccoli and cheese, and will always taste fresh the entire week long. For a longer-lasting dish, store the leftovers in your freezer. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Pumpkin Overnight Oats

Pumpkin season is upon us! Usher in fall time with these pumpkin-y overnight oats for a nice breakfast meal prep sesh. (via Two Peas & Their Pod)

Spinach & Feta Muffins

These egg muffins taste similar to Starbucks' famous Spinach Feta Wrap, but you won't have to hit the drive-thru to indulge. (via The Fast Recipe)

Make-Ahead Breakfast Tacos

Like breakfast burritos, breakfast tacos are equally easy to meal prep. Pack some tortillas full of your favorite toppings like eggs, cheese, bacon, or sausage, and boom, breakfast for a week is ready! (via Bowl of Delicious)

Blueberry Yogurt Granola Bars

If you've never made your own granola bars, now's the time. These delicious grab-and-go bites are ideal for busy school mornings as well as afternoon snacking! (via Half Baked Harvest)

Banana Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats

Banana and chocolate make the most heavenly flavor combo. Mix the two into a cup of overnight oats, and it'll feel like you're literally eating dessert for breakfast. (via Earthly Provisions)

Green Goddess Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Sandwich

This is one stacked breakfast sandwich. Egg, bacon, and cheese are layered in between a tasty bun with some green goddess spread. Prep a dozen sammies to keep in the freezer to feed you and your fam all week. (via Cozy Cravings)

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

• Gifts for Him
• Gifts for Her
• Gifts for Foodies
• DIY + Handmade Gifts
• White Elephant Gifts
• Gift Sets

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!