Hospitaliztion - tips for making freezer meals

Dishes that are saucey will keep and reheat best in my opinion, so any kind of soup or stew, meats cooked in sauces. I would keep meat pieces bite sized for easier reheating. You can grab a few ready freezer things for variety too.

When we paid someone to fill my parents’ freezer she did
Sausages and mash
Sausage and lentil stew with rice
Chicken casserole with rice
Beef (or lamb) stew with masH
Shepherds pie and cottage pie (ie mince topped by mashed potato)
Fish pie (again a mash potato top)

Lasagne freezes fine. So does ‘hotpot’ (ie cooked slices of potato on top of a lamb stew). In fact most slightly or very moist dishes do (hence the list above!)

And then they just needed a green veg eg frozen peas or broad beans.

Good luck with your freezing ahead and with taking care of you....

I had surgery recently and while I prepared several hot dishes for myself I also knew I would want some easy sandwiches. I bought 2 rotisserie chickens and pulled the meat which I then froze. I used the 2 chicken carcasses to make a chicken stock suitable for drinking for the days shortly after the surgery when my appetite would be impacted by pain meds. I froze it too.

I really appreciated having the stock to drink and I thoroughly enjoyed the chicken bacon ranch chicken salad I made for myself on a few occasions. Most of my hot dishes were a little heavier so I really liked having some simple food too.

Meat loaf (turkey or beef). Beef or turkey chili with beans of your choice. Stews, pured soups, apple sauce.

Sorry about your diagnosis and good luck with your surgery. Since I don't know what kind of surgery you will have, I suggest that you ask your doctor or oncologist if you will have any food restriction after the procedure before preparing anything in advance. If you are allowed, keep ice cream, yogurt and cottage cheese available too since they are easy to eat, if you don't have lactose intolerance.

I wish you the best.

Quiche or frittatas freeze well; one option is to make them mini-sized in muffin pans, freeze, then dump out into a bag in the freezer for longer-term storage. A good whole grain muffin with nuts and fruit (maybe raisins or dates if not fresh fruit) is a good thing to have frozen, or corn muffins are nice alongside the stews & soups others have suggested. There are lots of web recipes for oatmeal in muffin tins, too, that are hearty.

Breakfast burrito recipes can be frozen, as can other similar kinds of wraps. (Potatoes don't freeze very well, usually, so I'd avoid those. They get a little watery, so small bits might be OK.)

I've also frozen various kinds of enchiladas successfully. What can work well is to make a big batch in something like a 9"x13" flat baking dish, then use a spatula to make dents/channels between servings before freezing. After they're frozen, you can more easily separate them on the dent lines. Lasagna can be done this way, too, or other casseroles (including mac & cheese, cabbage rolls, etc.).

ETA: Best wishes for your surgery and recovery! I'm a long term (19+ year) survivor of stage III breast cancer, so I know this time can be challenging. Beaming strength, energy and healing thoughts in your direction! :flowerforyou:

I'm doing that right now for a surgery next week - I have in the freezer now - Homemade turkey soup, red beans & sausage, hamburger patties, large bags of frozen veggies, frozen blueberries & mango, & some comercial frozen, microwaveable meals. In the past I've cooked a turkey and froze meal size portions.

Good luck with your surgery, @DesireeNL , best wishes and fast recovery! On the freezer meals- chilli, soups with veggies, lentils, beans for added protein and calories needed in recovery. You can freeze curries, i do all the time. Make batch of black beans, freezes well too. What do you normally eat/ like to eat? Probably can be made in advance and frozen in portions? Freezer meals are so helpful for after the surgery, makes a huge difference when you are not feeling well, too exhausted to cook. Take care!