Meals for New Parents

Macaroni and cheese with lobster -- baked as a casserole- look on www.allrecipes.com -- with a salad and dessert. Always appreciated :)

Things I've made are:

Tacos with all the fixins with a side of cut up fruit bowl.
Various chicken dishes
Chili and cornbread
I've ordered the family a pizza and garlic bread to be delivered.
Hawaiian haystacks with all the fixins already cut up.
Ham and asparagus quiche with a side spinach salad with a fruity dressing.

Do they eat meat?

Chick roast with potatoes & carrots & onion in the crockpot.
Meat loaf, mashed potatoes, veggie & salad
Chicken/broccoli casserole
Baked, breaded chicken tenderloins
Tacos (just cook & season the meat & provide all other toppings)
Hot sausage & peppers and buns
Pulled beef & buns

chicken is always a hit. bake some chicken breasts and baked potato's they travel well. also soups are great as you can freeze them in smaller containers to pull out as needed. chili, beef stew, chicken and rice casseroles, stir fry all are good. you can also go the pasta route but do an alfredo or white sauce instead of red sauce.

Enchiladas
Pot Roast with potatos and carrots
Spaghetti
Chili and corn bread
Beef Stew

Any crock pot meals like spaghetti sauce, or tuna noodle casserole, even a stack of frozen pizzas and garlic bread. Make a big batch of taco meat preseasoned and send along a package of shredded cheese, tortillas and salsa. Batch of sloppy joes.

K. B
mom to 5 including triplets

I've done:
Stuffed shells
Beef BBQ and potato casserole
Rotiserie chicken, mased potatoes, salad

Stuff you can eat with one hand!

What about a sandwich kit with lunchmeat, cheeses, bread, mustard/mayo, maybe some big tomoatoes and a head of lettuce? Fun for dinner, plus the leftovers will be easy to finish off later.

Not really homemade but I loved it when I had my baby & got a gift card to various restaurants.

ooo we had some of these left over (frozen) from a party, and we would pop them in the toaster oven and they were so yummy! And you can just make a few at a time and they freeze so well!

Mini Rye Bread Pizza

http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,161,159186-225205,00.html

Here's my standard reply :)
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Below are some of my most requested/thanked recipes. I often tweak them based on the recipient. I've also had some new moms request things like KFC (because they're craving it and didn't eat it while pregnant) - when those come up, I happily oblige, but add a homemade touch (like zucchini bread, cornbread, etc).

1.) Fierro Chicken, over cooked rice: for new moms, I leave out the cayenne pepper and deliver a can of the chilis along with the meal. Without those two things, its a very mild, but flavorful meal. If they desire the kick, or if the dad would like his own version, they can still kick up the heat. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Fierro-Chicken/Detail.aspx

2.) This is great for anyone with their own crockpot. I buy a whole chicken, follow the recipe, then deliver it (uncooked) in one of those Reynolds cooking bags. They can slow cook it whenever they want. We make it at home all the time, its soooooo good! http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-rotisser...

3.) Sometimes, especially folks with older kids, want something informal and fun, so I make one of these two homemade Sloppy Joe recipes (the first for those who like a little change, the second for those who want it to taste just like it was out of a jar, haha). Then I pack up buns, steamed veggies and tater tots (they reheat better than french fries). http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Sloppy-Joes-2/Detail.aspx OR http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Grandmas-Sloppy-Joes/Detail....

4.) For those asking for lighter fare, I just add cooked/cut up chicken (and pack the dressing separately): http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Harvest-Salad/Detail.aspx

5.) This is one of those recipes I was afraid to try and we LOVE it - so far, its also been a big hit with deliveries: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Pork-Chops-with-Raspberry-Sa...

6.) Another Mexican item, where I bag up things separately (chips, then topping, then cheese), so nothing gets soggy. I also pick up a container of coffee ice cream, which seems to be the perfect ending: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Restaurant-Style-Chicken-Nac.... I usually add some fresh avacodo if I can find any.

7.) Not everyone wants dinner, and if I'm dropping off breakfast, I usually make a frittata or strata, then throw these in: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Overnight-Bubble-Bread/Detai...

8.) I've also added cooked/chopped shrimp to mac & cheese, to switch things up.

9.) Pizza kits are usually a hit (crust, cheese, sauce, several toppings).

10.) This is a great treat, and you don't need an ice cream maker to make it: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Five-Ingredient-Ice-Cream/De.... This is great for summer treats, and only a food processor is needed - I've made it with just about every fruit: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Five-Minute-Ice-Cream/Detail...

11.) Something for the colder months: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chicken-Pot-Pie-IX/Detail.aspx

Finally, everything listed can be made Gluten-Free. I have Celiacs and adapt each recipe as needed. If someone has Celiacs, simply read them the ingredients and they can tell you what to change.

I hope that's been helpful! Good luck :)))

When I had my daughter I was grateful for anything. For the first month, my husband and I spent a fortune at a nearby restaurant that delivered.

I would just suggest anything that could be easily reheated and you could also make a fresh fruit tray too.

Thank you for the kindness to your cooworker. Although the baby is adopted, it's just as hard being a new mom.

This is going to sound strange, but I've brought ribs (they reheat great in a foil packed with a little beer (or water)...adn pasta salad.