Not me, thanks be. :)

A friend has just delivered a healthy wee bairn of the female persuasion. Yay!

I'm planning to deliver a meal to the family and the only dietary stipulation from the hubby is no dairy milk. Having never been in the situation of having birthed and then recovered, can some of you moms give me a tip or two of what might be best? I'd hate to really upset her system as she's just recovering and getting her milk, etc.

They are veg*n friendly omnis (eat veg food about half the year) and I was thinking of vegan shepherd's pie - hearty and plenty of protein, not too spicy or anything. Yay/nay? Having been the recipient of thoughtful but ultimately unhelpful help in the past, I don't want to add a burden during this special time.

Any advice is appreciated!

I would make 2 smaller dishes, instead of one huge one. For example, a cold pasta salad and a shephard's pie (or a baked pasta dish).

And food is food. If she's not much in the mood for it, the husband will probably be. And he needs to eat, too!

homemade soup would be good along with that shephards pie. :hi:

I know food is food, but I'm a professional fretter so I can't just trust myself to do something well. I've also known of some new moms who have had various issues with certain foods after giving birth and lawdy knows I'd hate to create that situation for anyone.

Soup is a good idea. I'm kind of overdue for a batch of lentil vegetable anyways. Thanks for your input!

Something sweet too? There will be lots of visitors over the next while and I'm sure they'd appreciate something to offer friends too.

I had a friend bring us an entire dinner after I had my first baby. We were omni then, it was an entire hot cooked dinner with salad and dessert! She was lovely, she just knocked on the door, said "I'm not staying, I'll be back to visit in a few days, but I've brought you dinner", gave us a full box and left.

I've actually had a few friends do that to varying degrees. :yes: :love:

I would make 2 smaller dishes, instead of one huge one. For example, a cold pasta salad and a shephard's pie (or a baked pasta dish).

And food is food. If she's not much in the mood for it, the husband will probably be. And he needs to eat, too!

I'd second that. A nice lasagne? Something that can just be reheated quickly or eaten cold.

What a nice friend! :yes:

Oh they will be getting salad and dessert as well, plus perhaps a bag of granola for easy breakfast/snack foods.

I'm excited to take them some food cause even though I won't be staying long, I'll get to meet the wee one. Yippee! I love babies even though I'm happier without any of my own.

shepards pie sounds great! How about pasta shells stuffed w/ soy-ricotta in a marinara sauce (I make the kind that omni's die for! :up: ), also high in protein. A new breastfeedding mom is usually STARVING ALL THE TIME... and I had a lot of cravings to go with it too... so why not give her a call and see what she would kill for? :)

It's VERY nice of you to take them stuff... you have NO IDEA how helpful that will be!

The few times I've called, mama is feeding or meeting with the public nurse, etc. Dad tells me anything is welcome except for milk. I pestered him enough to believe he means anything, too.

Don't all new parents receive food from their friends/family? I hardly feel like I'm doing anything special, just taking a couple of meals over the week. I'm one of many who is bringing them food - it's been arranged for at least a week's worth of deliveries. I hope they're both ravenous!

I'd love a recipe for soy ricotta stuffed shells! If not for my friends, then for me. :) As it is, I wound up going to my co-op to get some food from the deli (orzo, carrots, cucumber salad, spinach cakes, & strawberry rhubarb pie) for tonight's meal. I'm going to do the shepherd's pie next week & some soup if I have the time.

[QUOTE=winking_turtle]The few times I've called, mama is feeding or meeting with the public nurse, etc. Dad tells me anything is welcome except for milk. I pestered him enough to believe he means anything, too.

Don't all new parents receive food from their friends/family?

no, they dont! it is becoming more popular. but some people do not have anyone to bring stuff. i did not have anyone--but i would have turned it down as no one would have made smedley approved food, and i wasnt veg then! i also wanted to do it myself as i had a ton -o- energy, which is not common from what i hear! but you are being a great friend! maybe make enough of whatever to freeze as well. congrats to your friend!

The few times I've called, mama is feeding or meeting with the public nurse, etc. Dad tells me anything is welcome except for milk. I pestered him enough to believe he means anything, too.

Don't all new parents receive food from their friends/family? I hardly feel like I'm doing anything special, just taking a couple of meals over the week. I'm one of many who is bringing them food - it's been arranged for at least a week's worth of deliveries. I hope they're both ravenous!

I'd love a recipe for soy ricotta stuffed shells! If not for my friends, then for me. :) As it is, I wound up going to my co-op to get some food from the deli (orzo, carrots, cucumber salad, spinach cakes, & strawberry rhubarb pie) for tonight's meal. I'm going to do the shepherd's pie next week & some soup if I have the time.

TOFU STUFFED SHELLS
1 package pasta shells (big ones)
1 block good mozzerella (or not, if they're vegan)

1lbs firm or xfirm water-packed tofu
3/4 cup nayomaise
1/4 cup shredded parmesan (or soy parmesan)
1 recipe marinara or 1 jar if you're feelin' lazy!
2 tsp onion granules
1 tsp garlic granules
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp basil

*cook shells / drain/ set aside on a cookie sheet
*slice mozzerella and set aside
*pour marinara on the bottom of a large baking dish
combine last 8 ingrediants and mash/blend until it looks like ricotta!
*stuff tofu mixture into shells. Place shells on top of sauce in baking dish. top w/ mozzerella slices and drizzle a bit of good olive oil on top of dish.
*Bake in a pre-heated 350 oven for about 40 minutes.

ENJOY! :)

[QUOTE=winking_turtle]The few times I've called, mama is feeding or meeting with the public nurse, etc. Dad tells me anything is welcome except for milk. I pestered him enough to believe he means anything, too.

Don't all new parents receive food from their friends/family?

no, they dont! it is becoming more popular. but some people do not have anyone to bring stuff. i did not have anyone--but i would have turned it down as no one would have made smedley approved food, and i wasnt veg then! i also wanted to do it myself as i had a ton -o- energy, which is not common from what i hear! but you are being a great friend! maybe make enough of whatever to freeze as well. congrats to your friend!

Yah, we were living STATES away from family and friends and my dh had JUST opened his new building business and was working all the time... I was so freakin' hungry but so freakin' tired I barely "prepared" anything good. I would have sold my liver for a home cooked meal (done by anyone but ME!). And the friends we did have there had NO IDEA what vegetarians eat :stinkeye: , so they never brought food. They just assumed someone was providing the salads, I guess. lol.

That's so nice of you to be taking a meal to the new parents. They will love you for it!

I think shephard's pie is a fabulous idea. When we first had our baby we had 2 friends bring us meals - one brought us a meat lasagna, and though we were vegetarian, we were so desperate for food and help that we ate it anyway. The other friend made the most delicious veggie lasagna ever...along with corn on the cob, salad, and garlic bread. It was soooo good. But yeah, I know cheese is out.

The granola idea is also great. Nursing moms need to snack a lot and that's a perfect, healthy yet stick-with-you kind of food for her to be eating.

A word of advice, if you want it - don't stay around too long. 30 minutes tops. She might not feel comfortable nursing in front of you and new moms & babies get tired quickly.

Kudos to you for being such a thoughtful and helpful friend! :up: