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Baby Showers

A Meal Prep Baby Shower

Stocking the Mom-to-be's Freezer Before Baby Arrives

By Renee Roberson

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When planning this type of shower, it's best to be mindful of your guests' budgets and time when asking them to bring specific types of gifts. Melanie Davis, a mom from Birmingham, Ala., once attended a shower where guests were asked to bring both a meal that could be frozen as well as a traditional gift.

"It takes time to prepare those meals and then you had to go buy a gift," Davis says. "I didn't mind doing one or the other, but both was a little extreme in my taste. I actually would have enjoyed having one of those dishes after my son was born. You just don't have the time to cook or even feel up to it. It's easier for your husband or family who are helping out."

To save your guests the time and energy of cooking and shopping for ingredients for meals, and to add an element of camaraderie to your party, you can choose to host the shower at one of the many meal preparation businesses that are cropping up all over the nation.

"I'm in the process of putting together a meal prep baby shower for my niece," says Atlanta, Ga., resident Susan Hawkins, who is co-hosting the shower at the franchise My Girlfriend's Kitchen (www.mygirlfriendskitchen.com) with two other hosts. "I've already scoped out the location, and I've got a list of the meals available in June so my niece can pick the ones she'd like us to prepare."

With the shower Hawkins is helping organize, the hosts are paying for the first 10 meals prepped, and they've also invited guests to make additional meals at their own expense if they choose to. Everyone can pitch in and help prep the meals as part of the festivities. Since this is the expectant mother's first child, the hosts also included her traditional registry information in their invitations, in case guests want to bring baby clothing or gear for a gift instead.

The most important thing to consider is how much freezer space the expectant parents have for the frozen meals. If they only have a small freezer, you might want to consider presenting the mom-to-be with an organized list of meals that will be prepared and brought by guests on specific dates. You can still do a recipe swap that way, too. Also be sure to ask if there are any vegetarian family members, food sensitivities or allergies in the family, or any dishes and ingredients that Mom and Dad just don't care for. That way, none of the meals will go to waste.

With a little planning ahead and organization, the new parents will relish these thoughtful "gifts" for months as they help their new addition settle into a comfortable routine without having to scramble to put together dinner (or head to the nearest take-out joint) every night.

Meal Prep Shower Planning Tips

Holly Calabro, co-owner of Let's Dish (www.letsdish.com), a meal prep store located in Greensboro, N.C., offers step-by-step tips to help organize an effective and efficient baby shower:

Plan ahead. Call the store to ensure the date and time you're interested in is available. Saturday mornings are usually the busiest days for meal prep businesses; Saturday afternoons are ideal. Menus change each month so, if you can, select the month that has the menu that appeals the most to the mother-to-be.
Make the guests aware of the type of shower you are holding and ask for donations to pay for the mom-to-be's meals. Gauge guests' interest in preparing meals for themselves. Some meal prep stores require a minimum purchase in order to keep the store closed to the public. You'll probably need to have menu choices selected and turned in to the store a few days prior to the party.
Ask if you can bring decorations, play games and bring in food for snacks. Most stores will offer food samples and a beverage or two, but if you'd like to serve more at the shower, ask if it's OK to bring additional food. See if they have glasses, plates and/or silverware for you to use and if it's OK to bring wine or other drinks. If you can't decorate the entire store, ask if it's all right to decorate a certain area.
Inquire about party perks. Meal prep stores often give "rewards" for parties that meet a certain criteria. Find out the criteria and the accompanying rewards – you might even earn a gift certificate worth another month's worth of meals for the mom-to-be.
Call to confirm the day prior to the shower to tie up any loose ends and to confirm the number of guests and orders.
Show up the day of your party with your camera – you'll want to record the fun!

Chicken Tetrazzini

Looking for a quick and easy meal to take to a meal prep baby shower? Try this one!

10 ounces dry spaghetti
3 cups grated cheese (Monterey Jack or cheddar)
3 tablespoons margarine
1 1/2 cups finely chopped onion
1 can (10 ounces) cream of mushroom soup
1 can (10 ounces) cream of chicken soup
1 soup can of milk
3 cups cooked, diced chicken
Salt and pepper, to taste

Cook spaghetti as directed, drain. Saute onions in margarine. Mix onions and remaining ingredients with spaghetti in large bowl. Put mixture in two different containers and freeze. To prepare for serving, thaw tetrazzini and put in baking dish. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees F about 30 to 40 minutes until bubbly. Makes two casseroles.

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WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT...

A Meal Prep Baby Shower

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joanna says

May 2, 2009

I am very pleased with the thought and don%u2019t feel like adding anything in it. It%u2019s a perfect answer.
Joanna Eden
Baby Shower

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