After John Francis was born, we were humbled by the generosity of our friends, neighbors, and church community and their outpouring of love by bringing us meals.
I forget much of the early days (don’t we all?) surrounding his birth, but I do remember feeling particularly overwhelmed on nights that Vinny worked and I was left with a toddler and a newborn under my complete care.
In those days of postpartum not having to think of what I would be cooking for dinner was the greatest gift. It allowed me to spend my day learning how to be a mom to two without the added stress of figuring out what groceries I had on hand (or needed to buy) and then the preparation required to feed my family.
Many times we received meals from friends and fellow church members who were moms to six and seven children or expecting their sixth or seventh child, and I remember feeling so humbled by the kind gesture of providing a meal to our family when these moms already had so many little ones to feed.
These gestures of kindness shown to us reminded me of Mary visiting Elizabeth when Elizabeth was awaiting the birth of her son, John the Baptist. I have no doubt that Mary, although expecting her own child, cared for Elizabeth in many ways, including preparing meals for her. Perhaps Mary even stayed with Elizabeth or returned to help her after Elizabeth gave birth. And I’d like to think that Elizabeth returned the gesture after Jesus was born.
Bringing a meal to a new mom or a mom who has a new baby is one of the simplest and most thoughtful ways we can show love. So here are a few ideas and recipes to make for a mom who has just had her first—or sixth— baby.
- Breakfast in a basket: a new mom is always hungry (especially if she’s nursing), so I love to include some healthy granola, fresh fruit, and yogurt to give her a boost of morning energy. I like to include one of my cloth napkins in the bottom of the basket to make it all a little more beautiful and special. ☺️
- Greek chicken bowls: these are great for younger children, who can put on their own toppings. They are especially filling with the inclusion of the rice. https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/greek-chicken-bowls/
- Enchiladas: these feed a crowd very easily. I like to make a big pan of them and then include the cheese on the side with instructions to stick them in a wake oven for a few minutes to melt the cheese. https://naptimekitchen.com/creamy-chicken-enchiladas-to-freeze-some-or-feed-a-crowd/
- Chicken pot pie: my friend brought a homemade chicken pot pie to us after both of our boys were born, and it felt like a warm hug. https://barefootcontessa.com/recipes/chicken-pot-pie
- Tortellini Caprese salad: Paired with a fresh loaf of sourdough and a Caesar salad (you can even grab a bagged salad from the store), this is a crowd pleaser! https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/tortellini-caprese-salad-3764783.amp