Budget for Takeout (#2)

Here is #2 from the list 10 Things I Wish I Knew Before Giving Birth

Before you have a baby people will tell you to stock your freezer.  You should do this.  More on this in a minute.  You will think you have your ducks in a row.  You are so organized.  You have the pantry stocked, the freezer full, grocery lists saved on your Smartphone.  Good for you.  Do not fool yourself into believing that you will never need takeout.  It might not happen in the first week, or even the first few weeks, but at some point you will likely find yourself exhausted/not wanting to cook/not wanting another freezer meal/not wanting your husband's cooking/not wanting Kraft Dinner (again) for dinner.  This is where you get takeout.  Or you even go out for dinner.  This is alright.  This is normal.  I repeat: Regardless of how well you prepared for baby, you are going to end up ordering dinner.  I promise.  Set aside some extra money for this.  Let go of the guilt.  Enjoy.

Prepping food for baby's arrival:
It's not hard.  Make sure you have well stocked cupboards, fridge, and freezer.  If you are used to making elaborate meals, this is a good time to find a couple quick and simple staple recipes that you can add to your library.  Also, make sure you have lots of quick healthy snacks on hand.  For example: yogurt, cheese, nuts, dried fruit, fruit, vegetables, etc.  It's also nice to have some loaves of your favourite quick breads or muffins stored in the freezer for quick access.  Trust me - when you are walking around your kitchen in a haze at 3 am between feedings looking for something to eat it will be a relief to grab a piece of cheese and a handful of nuts, or homemade trail mix if that is your thing.