How to Eat Healthy with a New Baby
The most invaluable thing that was lost for me when the baby arrived was time. Time to shop, time to cook, time to do just about anything with two free hands became nearly impossible. But while this challenge made it harder to make healthy choices, it certainly was not impossible. I had nine months to plan and prepare, so I tried to make the most of it. The following five tips are all strategies that worked well for me, and hopefully will for you, too!
- 1Have Homemade Freezer Meals On The Ready.
It’s no secret that highly processed, store bought freezer meals are not great for our health. Luckily it’s pretty simple to DIY for a balanced, nutritious alternative. Just before my daughter was born, I meal prepped a whack load of highly nutritious meals to be stored in the freezer. Once they are made, it’s as simple as transferring the meal from the freezer to the fridge the day before and warming it up before consuming. If you forget to take it out of the freezer the day before (because let’s face it, your brain might feel like mush as you adjust to new parent life), you can defrost it right from frozen if you’re in a pinch.My favorite freezer meals include soups, curries, and shredded chicken with rice and veggies. Having small appliances like an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker made it easy to batch cook in large quantities, followed by an assembly line of food containers to transfer the food into.
- 2
Tag Team With Your Spouse.
I’m lucky to have a very supportive partner when it comes to prioritizing health and wellness with a new baby and sharing the responsibilities around the house. We had many conversations before our daughter was born about who would do what. We also came to terms with the fact that we could get twice as much done if we didn’t do everything together. Working out a nighttime system was essential for us to maximize sleep, which allows us to have the energy to be more productive in a day.Maintaining a high level of communication has been key for us, and that’s not something that comes easy all the time. But we worked at it before and after the baby came to ensure we didn’t rip each others heads off, and that has been very helpful throughout this journey.
My wife Catrina and I with our daughter Oakley - 3Keep It Convenient.
There are ways to cut down on time and effort without resorting to fast food or highly processed food. Some examples include buying a fruit or veggie tray instead of taking the time to wash, peel, and chop your produce. Buying a bagged salad instead of doing it from scratch is faster and a much better choice than the drive through. Or grabbing a can of tuna or low-sodium beans instead of Kraft Dinner from the cupboard.For me, something as simple as switching to bagged baby carrots that are ready to go saved plenty of time while still incorporating nutrient-dense options. Sometimes it’s just about making small tweaks to your normal routine that really add up at the end of the day.
- 4
Be Strategic About Meal Prep.
Regardless of the fact that you’re at home all the time, meal prep is a crucial part of staying one step ahead of the game. Because the reality is, you will not have the energy or motivation to cook fresh meals several times a day with a baby. For us, we stuck with meal prep Sunday as a weekly ritual in addition to topping up our meals as needed mid-week. One thing that we modified when the baby came was simplifying our meals. Instead of getting creative with time-consuming, extravagant options, we stuck with recipes that were easy, used minimal ingredients, and took less time.Preparing snack packs were a healthy and convenient option for me, and easy to eat with one hand if I was holding the baby!
- 5Ask For Help.
Family has been a lifesaver, and Grannie comes over every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00pm to relieve me of baby duty so I can get things done. These are ideal times for things like hitting the grocery store, planning more meals, or doing some cooking. I also will schedule my wellness appointments during these times like massage, chiro, or acupuncture so that I’m taking care of myself in the best, holistic way possible.
Oakley
My daughter at 2 weeks old!
Bottom Line: healthy eating habits don’t have to go out the window when you’re little bundle of joy arrives. Planning, communication, and prioritizing are all key to staying on track. And remember – when you take good care of yourself, it’s not selfish. A healthy mind and body allows you to better care for your little one. These tips can help parents with kids of any age, and applying them as they get older will help set a good example for them, too.
For easy, fast, healthy, and delicious recipes, get the Infinity App!
How to Eat Healthy with a New Baby
The most invaluable thing that was lost for me when the baby arrived was time. Time to shop, time to cook, time to do just about anything with two free hands became nearly impossible. But while this challenge made it harder to make healthy choices, it certainly was not impossible. I had nine months to plan and prepare, so I tried to make the most of it. The following five tips are all strategies that worked well for me, and hopefully will for you, too!
- 1Have Homemade Freezer Meals On The Ready.
It’s no secret that highly processed, store bought freezer meals are not great for our health. Luckily it’s pretty simple to DIY for a balanced, nutritious alternative. Just before my daughter was born, I meal prepped a whack load of highly nutritious meals to be stored in the freezer. Once they are made, it’s as simple as transferring the meal from the freezer to the fridge the day before and warming it up before consuming. If you forget to take it out of the freezer the day before (because let’s face it, your brain might feel like mush as you adjust to new parent life), you can defrost it right from frozen if you’re in a pinch.My favorite freezer meals include soups, curries, and shredded chicken with rice and veggies. Having small appliances like an Instant Pot or Slow Cooker made it easy to batch cook in large quantities, followed by an assembly line of food containers to transfer the food into.
- 2
Tag Team With Your Spouse.
I’m lucky to have a very supportive partner when it comes to prioritizing health and wellness with a new baby and sharing the responsibilities around the house. We had many conversations before our daughter was born about who would do what. We also came to terms with the fact that we could get twice as much done if we didn’t do everything together. Working out a nighttime system was essential for us to maximize sleep, which allows us to have the energy to be more productive in a day.Maintaining a high level of communication has been key for us, and that’s not something that comes easy all the time. But we worked at it before and after the baby came to ensure we didn’t rip each others heads off, and that has been very helpful throughout this journey.
My wife Catrina and I with our daughter Oakley - 3Keep It Convenient.
There are ways to cut down on time and effort without resorting to fast food or highly processed food. Some examples include buying a fruit or veggie tray instead of taking the time to wash, peel, and chop your produce. Buying a bagged salad instead of doing it from scratch is faster and a much better choice than the drive through. Or grabbing a can of tuna or low-sodium beans instead of Kraft Dinner from the cupboard.For me, something as simple as switching to bagged baby carrots that are ready to go saved plenty of time while still incorporating nutrient-dense options. Sometimes it’s just about making small tweaks to your normal routine that really add up at the end of the day.
- 4
Be Strategic About Meal Prep.
Regardless of the fact that you’re at home all the time, meal prep is a crucial part of staying one step ahead of the game. Because the reality is, you will not have the energy or motivation to cook fresh meals several times a day with a baby. For us, we stuck with meal prep Sunday as a weekly ritual in addition to topping up our meals as needed mid-week. One thing that we modified when the baby came was simplifying our meals. Instead of getting creative with time-consuming, extravagant options, we stuck with recipes that were easy, used minimal ingredients, and took less time.Preparing snack packs were a healthy and convenient option for me, and easy to eat with one hand if I was holding the baby!
- 5Ask For Help.
Family has been a lifesaver, and Grannie comes over every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:00pm to relieve me of baby duty so I can get things done. These are ideal times for things like hitting the grocery store, planning more meals, or doing some cooking. I also will schedule my wellness appointments during these times like massage, chiro, or acupuncture so that I’m taking care of myself in the best, holistic way possible.
Oakley
My daughter at 2 weeks old!
Bottom Line: healthy eating habits don’t have to go out the window when you’re little bundle of joy arrives. Planning, communication, and prioritizing are all key to staying on track. And remember – when you take good care of yourself, it’s not selfish. A healthy mind and body allows you to better care for your little one. These tips can help parents with kids of any age, and applying them as they get older will help set a good example for them, too.
For easy, fast, healthy, and delicious recipes, get the Infinity App!
