dinner for new parents

[renshiwo]

I'd like to bring over a dinner for some friends who just had a baby. Not having munchkins myself, are there any foods to avoid? I've heard spicy stuff is no good. What about onions, garlic, peppers? Any suggestions for a portable, newborn friendly meal?

[k_d]

I'll never forget when my dad made spaghetti for me when my first baby came, and he doctored it up with plenty of red pepper flakes. Spicy! I was breastfeeding, and all the books say no onions, garlic, spicy food, etc. I call BS. It never affected Baby #1, and I ended up having four kids. Breastfed them all, and none of the above "bad" ingredients ever affected them. YMMV, of course.

Anyway, to answer your question, I think casseroles are the handiest. Fewer containers, less prep, easy to eat with one hand. I can't stress how important that is. You usually end up with baby on one arm, and only one hand available to manage a fork. If the food is complicated, you're hungry until baby goes down for a nap. Try on: turkey tetrazzini, lasagna, shepherd's pie, pot pie. Tasty, but convenient. Avoid soups (you end up dripping it on the baby's head).

[renshiwo]

Good tips kd! A tasty tetrazzini sounds perfect. I'll just have to make sure I double the recipe so we get to eat it at home, too!

[renshiwo]

Mmmm, and some braised kale as a side. Now I'm getting hungry!

[k_d]

Just make sure your sides are easy to prep for the new parents. Things are very unpredictable during those first few months!

[link_930]

Agreed. Take most of Asia as an example re: garlic and spicy foods.

Things like empanadas, pork buns, gyoza, ravioli, roasted vegetables, and the like are fairly easy to eat with one hand standing up or rushing around (not driving) :)

[LaLa]

A big salad is great too.