New Momma Take-In Tray
Do you ever wonder what to take in to a new mother? Check out this New Momma Take-In Tray post and you will have one happy mom!
A few years ago when I had my fourth baby boy, my friend, Lesli, brought me dinner. When she walked in my first thought was, “Who else is she taking dinner to tonight?” She had an armful of food and goodies. When it was all unloaded, I realized it was all for me and my family. I can’t tell you what a blessing it was that night (and days after as we used the things she brought). Since then, I’ve taken Lesli’s example and used it for when I need to take dinner to a new mother. This idea could be extrapolated to any type of situation that requires a meal being brought to a person or family in need.
Enter the New Momma Take-In Tray. What you see here is what I always include on my list to take to a new mother. I thought I’d share the information since I know many of you are bustling around taking dinner to friends and neighbors and family, too.
Let’s break it down, shall we?
1. Main Dish: In this case it was Baked Penne with Chicken, Broccoli and Smoked Mozz. Here is a category filled with other great ideas for take-in meals.
2. Side #1: I usually like to include a bread of sorts, since you never know how other people’s kids eat (assuming the new mother has other children at home besides the new babe). In the event these so-called children want to gag at the thought of what the main dish is (perhaps the parents are gagging too), a bread is sure to fill up their bellies. Pictured here is my favorite french bread recipe, this time made with 100% whole wheat flour and 1 cup of ground flax meal in place of the all-purpose flour. Other great ideas for a bread are cornbread, rolls, breadsticks, etc.
3. Side #2: Usually I keep this pretty boring. In this case, it was a salad with homemade croutons and a tupperware of dressing from my fridge. Other times it is just a bag of frozen peas, broccoli, fresh cut up veggies, something like that.
4. Dessert: What we’ve got here is a simple stack of chocolate chip cookies tied up with a pipe cleaner because I’m classy like that. Cookies or brownies make a great take-in dessert, mostly because I usually have them in my freezer already baked and ready to go so it means I don’t have to fuss about it while assembling the other parts of dinner.
5. Oatmeal Pancake Mix: I like to throw a bag of my go-to whole wheat oatmeal pancake mix on the tray for the family to enjoy later (maybe even for another dinner!).
6. Buttermilk: Because not everyone has buttermilk on hand for the aforementioned pancake mix, I’ll usually add a small carton of buttermilk to the tray to make life easier.
7. Playdough: If the new mom has other children at home besides the new baby, I always whip up some of this homemade playdough. I can’t tell you what a great diversion playdough is for my kids – worth every minute it takes to sweep up the mess. Hopefully the moms aren’t cursing me for this addition…I should pin a coupon on it to say I’ll come clean up the mess after their kids get done playing with it.
8. Paper Plates/Utensils: To minimize work for the new mom, I always try to include paper plates, napkins and utensils. And I try to give everything to the family in disposable type containers that they don’t need to worry about returning to me. As if they don’t have enough things to worry about with a new baby, right?
I hope this list will help you as you prepare to take dinner into someone near you.
As for me, now I’ve just got to work on convincing my friends here to have more babies so I can put a tray together for them. And seriously, while I’m at it, I should probably look into getting some real hobbies.
Great idea to be so considerate of the whole family!
I once read a book about southern cooking and culture. One of the meals that got delivered in this small town was for a grieving widow or widower. Well, in the old timey days, they did not have zip locks or glad containers; but there was some wisdom in giving a covered dish in an actual dish. When the initial grieving period is done, the return of the dish created a situation where the widow(er) had to have some small human contact in the form of returning the casserole dish to the people who did the cooking.
I understand a new mama is not grieving and may not have time for returning dishes, but I like the idea of a social visit built into the returning of a dish.
Someone brought us dinner after my fourth and she added a small salad bar. She took one of those disposable baking pans for a cake/lasagna. Filled 1/2 with salad/lettace mix. The other 1/2 had disposable cups filled with things like cheese, chinese noodles, raisins, tomatoes, goldfish, croutons etc. and some dressing. My kids loved it!! It didn’t really take that much effort since most of it was open and pour. It was fun and made the complaints at dinner much less!
I live in Utah and man these ladies know how to bring dinners! We had a meal brought to us after our second son with a thing of lemonade with it. That was awesome because we hadn’t gone out to the store since the hospital and only had water. Just thought it was a great addition..
I LOVE your blog!! I was wondering what kind of bag you use when you package up your bread? thanks!
Hi Hayley – I use these bread bags:
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/items/single-bread-bags
I just love blessing a family with a take in tray like this. I’m definately going to add the pancake mix idea next time I deliver a meal to anyone with kids! I recently added a treasure hunt activity for the siblings of the new baby where the prize was Mel’s giant cookie. It went over REALLY well so I thought I’d share. Kid’s just LOVE them a giant chocolate chip cookie π Just in case anyone wants to create a hunt of their own I listed my clues which you could base yours off of. Of course you would customize for the family you’re delivering the meal to…
Edi and Liam itβs time for some fun.
But what should it be? There is no sun!
Itβs time for an adventure.
Itβs time to find some treasure!
To find it, you will follow many clues.
Look for the first clue where you keep your shoes.
Shout βHoorayβ for baby Eleanor!
Find your next clue by the front door.
Brothers and sisters are the best.
Youβll find the next clue where Liam rests.
Youβre doing great with so many in a row
Find your next clue where you watch a show.
Where your treasure is, nobody knows.
Find your next clue where we wash the clothes.
The next clue isnβt under a rock,
Itβs where Edi keeps her socks!
Oh my goodness youβre almost there.
When you find the treasure be sure to share!
β¦your next clue is somewhere in the kitchen.
Edi & Liam you are SUPER sweet.
Look in the shower to find your treasure that is a BIG treat!
I just discovered your blog and was going through your posts. This is fabulous!!
Thank you!!! LOVE it!
Thank you for sharing this! I really enjoy making dinner for sick friends but it seems like I am always making the same thing. I enjoy reading your blog and preparing your recipes.
I love these ideas.
Another thing that my neighbor gave me is a pre-written thank you note. It said, “Dear (her name), Thank you for the meal and gift. It was delicious. You are such a good cook. Thanks for all you do for our family. Sincerely, (all I had to do was sign my name). She did this because she knows how hard it is to find time to brush your teeth with a newborn let alone feel obligated to write a thank you note. Some may be turned off by this, but I thought it was cute. I now do the same for her when I take her things.
What a fantastic idea!! I’m currently in that season of life where everyone I know is having babies, so meals are needed left and right. I love the idea of extending the meal so much further and being creative with it. Thanks for posting this!
Love Love Love this idea!
LOVE this idea Mel! One thing to kick it up a bit–EDIBLE playdough for the kids!–Equal Parts:
Powdered Milk
Smooth Peanut Butter
Honey
(Flour as needed)
Fabulous idea! To tell you the truth, I think I’d be one of those moms that would curse you if you showed up with play dough, sorry to say. But if it came with a coupon to offer to clean it up after, then all power to ya! I think this tray idea is ingenious, though! Thanks!
I love it! that is just what I need to know. I always remember the sweet people who dropped in meals to me when I needed them. Oh one lovely friend has twice given me a big tray of cinnamon rolls…………..heaven!
corrie;)
I love this idea and I am totally stealing it. The pancake mix with buttermilk is brilliant and the play dough pouts it right over the top!
Great idea! But I never know what main dish to take to new moms, since broccoli can sometimes cause gassiness or colic if the baby is breastfeeding. I stick to pretty bland main courses for that reason.
Thanks for posting this!
Thank you for this post!! I’m preparing food to take to a new mommy this week, and this gives me more ideas. π
Ummm, I’m having my 5th in 6 weeks. Wanna move in near me so I can get one of those? What an awesome idea! Love it!
I really love how you put this together. I always kinda freak a little when I’m asked to bring a meal – I just want to order pizza and take it to them but now, I’m hoping someone has a baby soon!!!
You should check out http://www.comfynkitchen.blogspot.com/ – she is doing a Meal Ministry Monday and I think this would be an awesome idea for a guest post . . . .check out her blog and e-mail her if you so desire π I get most of my new recipes to try from either her blog or yours!
Fabulous ideas. I just love this blog!!
I LOVE THIS!! I currently try to take a freezeable casserole to new mommies but this totally takes it to a new level! Thanks so much for sharing!!
What a great idea for anyone you are making meals for – I loved the idea of the pancake mix too (dinner & breakfast)
I’m having a baby in August…you can send me one of these:)
Great idea! Love it. The paper plates and utensils are brilliant, makes it a true hassle-free meal.
Just so you know, your blog is definitely one of my happy places. Always look forward to each new post, and this was is surely fabulous. Keep ’em coming! Thanks!
This is brilliant! I’ve made and dropped off my share of meals, but never with play-dough and extra pancake mix-ish stuff! You ARE my go-to recipe blog. I love MKC!
I’m having my baby in May- feel free to drop this off! π
Was I ever stupid to refuse your offer for a meal after my miscarriage! π What a great idea. π
What a fantastic idea! I have tons of friends who are prego right now, and I’ll definitely add to what I normally give them (which is a meal and baby outfit). Thank you!
Amen to Jonesy and the final-days-of-pregnancy meals. I had a baby back in November and while I was grateful for any and all help, the meals/thoughtfulness in the 11 days between my baby’s due date and her birth were *very* much appreciated. My favorite: some friends brought over a half dozen “we’re-sorry-you’re-still-pregnant” cupcakes.
The playdough and the pancake mix really make your tray something special.
One word: Genuis!
Great ideas! One that hasn’t been mentioned yet is taking in meals BEFORE the baby comes. I don’t know about you, but when I walk in the door with my new little one (who is no longer sitting on my tailbone, causing sciatica, or forcing my lungs into my throat), dinner doesn’t seem nearly as impossible a notion as it does that KILLER last week of pregnancy. A few years ago a good friend brought in dinner 2 days before my delivery and it was the best gift EVER!!!!
Wow, this is a really sweet idea. I’ll be sure to keep this in mind next time one of my friends has a new baby.
I found the most amazing thing! It’s dried buttermilk. You just add the required amount (ie. 4 T for 1 cup) to your mix and then add the water (1 cup) in place of the buttermilk in the recipe. It tastes the same and then I just have to keep the powder on hand in my fridge instead of buying large containers of buttermilk!
Wow! That is SUCH a great idea. Thank you so much for sharing!
I don’t know where you live, Mel, but you can bring this over for me when I have #4 here in a few days! (I’m in Meridian, ID) Seriously, that’s awesome. I just found your blog a bit ago and i’m SO excited to try the whole wheat flax seed french bread…I have started making my own whole wheat bread but haven’t yet attempted french bread. I have a feeling it may be a few months before I get around to it, though! π
I love your ideas and I would love for you to guest post this exact post on my new website, http://www.momonamission.me, where I promote ministry meals. We’ve been going strong at my church of 5000 for three years and God’s given me a vision to take it up a notch. I switched my wordpress blog to self-hosting this week, with some minor glitches because I’m still looking for my same readers to swing on by. However, your ideas are great. I promote making a family meal incorporting your ministry meal at the same time (making two) and freezing. Let me know if you’re interested. I’ve followed your blog for a year now and love your ideas! You’re a gifted photographer too. I’m praying for a new camera to get better shots.
Great idea. I usually take a “big brother” or “big sister” gift along with the dinner and dessert, but I like the idea of including a mix for breakfast. Fun and helpful.
BRILLIANT!! I’ve always dreamed of treating new mommas like a queen, and this is the PERFECT way to do it.
wow, that puts my standard take in meal to shame! thanks for the great ideas!
And I was trying to figure out what to bring to sarah that would not look horrible compared to what you brought her…I will not have more babies, but you are more than welcome to bring me dinner!
Thanks for your post, Mel. I have been wanting to ask you what your go-to meal is for new moms. What a great idea! BTW, my sister and I got together today and spent the majority of our conversation talking about your amazing blog and how your recipes have transformed our cooking. Thanks for all your hard work!
I love this! I bring alot of people meals and lose inspiration sometimes!
Thank you for this. A friend just e-mailed to tell me that her father passed away earlier today, and I was feeling stressed about bringing her something really helpful and thoughtful. My sister told me a few days ago about your blog, and that is her “favorite” food blog. I was just sitting down and decided to look at it. It’s divine intervention. Thanks tons for the great ideas!! I am going to use them.
Such a fantastic idea – and, like you said, this could be customized in so many fun ways. Thanks for sharing, Mel. This is why we love ya!
Thanks! We just took a bunch of meals to a new mom, the week she went back to work. I love being able to bless others in that way.
One other new mom said frozen cookie dough was a great gift; she enjoyed having the opportunity to have fresh cookies available for folks when they stopped by the see the little one!
I’ve thought about taking food over to new parents before, but I love all the thought you’ve put into this. Thanks for the ideas!
Will your bring dinner to me when I have my next baby?!=)
you are amazing. truly. well done!!
I already posted about how much I love this, but I also wanted to comment that the jello and dog treat ideas are super, too!
What a great idea, thank you so much for letting us in on it, so we can be an encouragement to other people.