Mom Hacks – Freezer Meals: A Mama’s Secret Helper

I’m no supermom, but I can say with pride that my family sits down to a device-free family meal at least five nights a week, and that at least five of our weekly meals are homemade by yours truly.

How am I able to accomplish this, given that I parent two busy girls, and work a full-time job? The best-kept secret of happy households everywhere:

Freezer meals.

Once I discovered big-batch cooking, I became almost frenzied about finding meals that could be made at home, using whole ingredients, for the purpose of freezing for later. Pinterest is amazing for identifying, and keeping track of, these delicious recipes. I actually now love spending a morning or afternoon making one dish that will feed my family of five 6 or 8 times over the coming few months!

The night before days which promise, according to our work and personal calendars, to be busy, I go “shopping” in my chest freezer for a meal to thaw, in preparation for the following night. Most of the time the preparation the next day is minimal, and is always clearly marked in Sharpie on the label, just in case I forget (hey, I’m 43!)

Here are my fave tried-and-true freezer meals:

• Chili (I use veggie ground round instead of meat)
• Butternut squash soup
• Cauliflower and cheese soup
• Tomato, carrot & red lentil soup
• Vegetable soup
• Pasta sauce
• Spinach & black bean burritos
• Eggplant parmesan
• Spinach quiche
• Beef stew (although I use Gardein Beefless Tips)
• Shrimp and spinach risotto
• Mac and Cheese casserole
• Chick pea curry
• Lasagne

Anyway, so that’s my not-so-secret secret, which I’m happy to share with moms everywhere who feel the pressure to “do it all” but know this is not remotely possible, and admit that everyone needs a little help.

Photo Credit: Getty Images 

Natalie Rea

Mom to two amazing daughters - a feisty teen in middle school, and an ambitious young adult in university. Originally from Montréal's West Island, I now explore the beautiful trails of Hamilton, Ontario. Proud Canadian, vegetarian, dog-adopter, & bleeding-heart liberal. I smile a lot because I have Resting Bitch Face.