5 Tips from RICARDO Staff Members on Meal Prepping for Parental Leave

1. Have snacks handy

“Plan batches of muffins to freeze. I underestimated the need to eat snacks regularly.” 

- Josianne, Studio and Traffic Coordinator

To Freeze

Zucchini, Apple and Raisin Muffins

2. Stock up the freezer

“My mom surprised me by filling up my freezer with meals while I was in the hospital. There were meatloaves, pasta, muffins, etc. It’s very practical having ready-made dishes for when the other parent goes back to work.” 

- Marie-Pier, Senior Editor

Lactose-free

Mini Meatloaves with Ketchup

3. Rely on prepared, store-bought foods

“Stock up on prepared foods like frozen pizza, dumplings, spring rolls, etc. And later on, when it comes time to make baby’s first meals (tofu sticks, roasted veggie sticks, etc.) be sure to use the air fryer!” 

- Maude, Content and Creative Director

Food products

Prepared Food

4. Hacks that save you time

“I figured out a way to make a large lasagna that requires just 15 minutes of prep and 20 minutes of cooking. All you need is a box of no-cook lasagna noodles, a jar of pasta sauce, cottage cheese, and I add some Italian sausage meat to the sauce. It’s quick, comforting and there are few dishes to wash at the end. My daughter, now that she’s a bit older, and girlfriend love it!” 

- David, Digital Product Specialist

5. Think quick dinners

“I always had nutritious snacks on hand like nuts, yogurt and fruit. And cooking-wise, once we had depleted our pre-cooked and frozen meals, we tried our best to cook dishes that were quick to make (re: 30 minutes) and required few ingredients. We often relied on bagged frozen veggies to save us some chopping time.” 

- Vicki, Multiplatform Editor

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5-Ingredient Recipes

Looking to batch cook and freeze a few dishes prior to your little one’s arrival? Be sure to consult our selection of recipes:

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Batch Cooking