How To Get Back To Cooking After Having A Baby
A lot will change when you have a baby, but one thing that is never going to change is the fact that you – and anyone else in your household – will have to eat. So, if you loved cooking before you became a parent, it’s a good idea to get back to it as soon as you can. In that way, you’ll get more practice not just at cooking but at managing your time with a newborn.
It might sound impossible, but you really can get back into cooking once you’ve given birth. Read on for some tips on how to do it.
Do Fun Things
If you used to love cooking, and perhaps even baking, but now you are tired and busy and you feel as though you have too much to do to find enjoyment in it anymore, it’s time to make some changes. Having a baby shouldn’t have to mean giving up on things you like, especially if those things have a practical side as well – just like cooking.
Although most of the time, you’ll find that cooking is done just for practicality’s sake, try to set aside just one hour or so a week in which you can have fun. Experiment with new flavors or use PYO Christmas cookie stencils, for example. Ask your partner or a friend to take care of the baby for just this one hour, and in this way, you’ll find the fun in cooking and be more motivated to keep going.
Batch Cook
Cooking ahead has always been a good way to handle busy schedules, but it’s even more important when you have a new baby because making dinner every night from scratch is hard and tiring. Instead, focus on one big cooking session a week (with help, if possible) to make a few meals that can feed you for the week.
Making good, big meals with your family on Sundays or other days, so you can eat them for lunch during the week, is a great place to start. You really need to ensure you keep up with eating regular meals when you’re a new parent, so it’s crucial to have food nearby. Try not to put too much pressure on yourself when you cook. You don’t have to be a professional chef; just make hearty food that freezes, and that will be perfect.
Try Passive Cooking
Passive cooking is cooking with the bare minimum of input from you. A slow cooker is a great example; you can put a joint of meat, a chicken breast, and plenty of other types of food, into the slow cooker and set it going (don’t forget to season it). That’s it. A few hours later, you’ll have a great meal. Make this a task you do every morning, and you’ll never miss dinner again.
There are other options too. One-pot meals are great. They need a little more prep, but once they’re in the oven, you don’t have to think about them again until it’s time to take them out. Or why not use your microwave more? Or an air fryer? Anything that makes cooking easier and quicker is definitely something you should consider.