No pasta. We always get way too much pasta after having a baby. And while I'm appreciative we couldn't possibly eat that much pasta. And no freaky cassaroles either!. I suggest a roast chicken and some veg/salad. I often make a lentil soup also when I cook for other new moms. And I usually include a bottle of prosecco and a chocolate item of some sort.

I second the pp. After I gave birth I was ready for healthy food. Fruit salad would have been terrific. We got a few large edible arrangements from friends and family and they were SO appreciated. Pretty, healthy, and tasty. That has now become my go to for new moms.

I also had frozen large amounts of food before having the baby, but just wasn't up to/interested in large meals when we got home for the first few weeks.

Currently sitting up with a 6 day old baby. So far, we've gotten three deliveries of food. The first was a bag of convenience groceries that showed up in our fridge before we got home: apples, pears, grapes, challah rolls, juice, etc. The second was a batch of soup, some beef brisket, and a dozen cupcakes. The third was another batch of soup. That third friend ended up also sitting down with me and ordering from Giant Peapod as I dictated to her while I nursed.

My responses and thus advice? First, we are of course grateful for everything that our wonderful friends and family have brought, and most of it will get eaten.

Second, the one-handed healthy snack food has been the most helpful to this first-time mom. Not only is it nice to eat one-handed while nursing (or rocking, soothing, whatever), but I haven't found myself up for whole meals yet. My sleeping and waking schedule is still strange enough that it's not like I'm looking to sit down to a big dinner at 6pm.

Third, keep in mind the post-birth digestive challenges that many of us face. I've been trying to eat things that reliably go down smoothly--fruits, leafy greens, etc. The many variations on pasta-and-cheese are usually my go-to comfort foods, but they seem like terrible choices right now.

Fourth, keep in mind the new mom's dietary needs and preferences. This vegetarian mama won't be eating the beef brisket (or the soup with ham).

Fourth, new mamas need nutrition. Don't bring cupcakes.

So, my best suggestions: apples, grapes, dried fruit, PRUNES, nuts, PB and bread/crackers, cut up veggies and hummus, juice, etc.

I'm a big cook, and I have a freezer stocked with soups, casseroles, etc. that I've been making over the last few months. But all I've eaten for the last few days are nuts and fruit. So, don't make this a gourmet challenge. Bring the simple staples that will really feed a new mom (and family).

Brisket or pot roast mashed potatoes w gravy, green bean casserole, salad, soft white rolls. Apple pie.

Comfort food devoid of dairy.

Anonymous wrote:Something you can eat one handed. It took a while for me to get back to fork-and-knife-on-plate-at-table foods. In the beginning, that baby is in your arms and/or on your breast all the time.

This. Plus I actually really wanted veggies, especially fresh stuff. I felt like carbs and processed foods were easy to overdo but getting out to get fresh veggies and then preparing them was hard.

I also had my dad bring me a dozen hard-boiled eggs. Protein that took no time to shell and eat.

Gift card

I belong to a multiples club and I'm on the committee that helps provide meals for new mothers. I have made meals for many new parents. I usually send an email with a list of several options and the last six straight times they have always picked meatloaf, mashed potatoes, gravy and salad. I make meatloaf and instead of one large meatloaf, I split it into six large portions. Each portion is enough for one large meal or two small meals depending on the appetite of the person eating it. For the one family who had an older toddler, I added corn for the little guy.

Beef stew. Iron is good, no ingredients that are overly exciting, a one-dish meal is good, a freezable meal is good. Lentil soup with lots of veggies. Homemade chocolate chip cookies. Healthyish snacks: Fruit chips, nuts, seeds.

Anonymous wrote:Friend is coming home from hospital with a new baby tomorrow. What food item can I drop off that will be appreciated by her (and husband, small child number one, and various relatives)? These people are serious cooks and have provided us with some delicious sustenance when we were ill/having babies, so I feel like I need to bring my A game.

Extra points for anyone who suggests something other than lasagna.

You could have said delicious food, instead of delicious sustenance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:sustenance lol

Why is this funny?

Sounds so foolish.

A friend brought us quiche, salad, bread, and dessert from WF. Delicious and perfect.

I brought the same to another friend who just had a baby recently, plus some homemade baked goods. Fruit salad is another great idea.

I always make a soup -- chicken or veggie broth, lentils, carrots, celery, quinoa. With a baguette and dessert.

I have friends w a bunch of food restrictions, so I usually stick to this because it's healthy and can be adjusted for those w restrictions.

Could you do a small ham with some easy to heat side dishes and bread? Someone sent us one for Christmas years ago when we had a newborn just home from the NICU. It was amazing. Easy to heat, leftovers were yummy, great for sandwiches, and we made a ham and pea soup with the bone. It was our go to meal for a week.

I once brought a friend salmon packets. Raw salmon in foil with a soy/honey/garlic sauce and sliced veggies individually portioned and packaged for each person, and a side Tupperware of cooked rice. All she had to do was slide the premade packets on a cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes. It was great because the cleanup was also nil-- just throw away the foil and because it was flavorful and different from casseroles.

That said this only worked for one night when I knew they would be eating what I brought and there were not really any leftovers.

Anything easily reheated, that will last a few days. Alternatively a gift certificates to a take away place is good too.