How to Get Started with Batch Cooking (Even If You’ve Got a Baby on Your Hip)

Let’s be real dinnertime with a baby can feel like a juggling act with zero hands free. You’re craving a nourishing, home-cooked meal… but also wondering if cereal counts as dinner (again). Sound familiar?

That’s exactly why batch cooking exists to take the daily decision fatigue out of “What’s for tea?” and give you your evenings back.

So, if you’re a busy mum looking for a calm kitchen and more time with your little one, this is your gentle guide to getting started with batch cooking. I promise, you don’t need hours, a spotless kitchen, or fancy recipes. Just a bit of planning, a few good tubs, and your “why.”

Table of Contents

Before you dive in, take a quiet moment (ideally with a hot cuppa) and ask yourself:

1. Start With Your “Why”

• Am I doing this to save time on busy nights?
• Do I want to reduce the stress of last-minute dinners?
• Wouldn’t it be lovely to just heat and eat so I can actually sit with my baby for a cuddle?

Knowing your “why” keeps you going, especially when things feel messy or chaotic. This isn’t just about food it’s about reclaiming your time.

2. Choose Easy, Freezer-Friendly Recipes

When you’re just starting out, pick simple meals that freeze like a dream:

✅ Soups, stews, pasta sauces, curries, casseroles
✅ Recipes with minimal last-minute prep
✅ Ingredients you can buy in bulk
✅ Dishes the whole family will eat (including that fussy toddler phase)

Tip: If it reheats well and doesn’t mind being frozen, it’s a winner.

3. Plan Like a Pro (But Keep It Simple)

Batch cooking doesn’t mean spending all day in the kitchen.

Start with 3–5 meals you love, write a shopping list, and:

✅ Group similar ingredients together (hello time saver!)
✅ Check your fridge and pantry before heading to the shops
✅ Keep the plan flexible as life with a baby demands it!

4. Prep Smart and Save Sanity

You don’t need to cook everything at once. Do what works for your week.

• Chop all your veg at once while listening to a podcast or just let baby nap nearby.
• Use big pans or slow cookers to cook multiple servings.
• Clean as you go. Future You will thank you.

5. Label Like a Legend

You know that mystery frozen brick at the back of your freezer? Don’t let that be your dinner plan.

✅ Use freezer-safe containers or bags
✅ Label with the name + date (bonus points if you add reheating instructions!)
✅ Portion meals out for quick grab-and-go

6. Keep Track and Rotate Meals

Stick a little list on your freezer door. Just a note of what’s inside and when it was made.

✅ Eat older meals first
✅ Plan next week’s dinners around what’s already there
✅ Reduce food waste (and that dreaded mum guilt)

7. Start Small. Really Small.

You don’t have to overhaul your whole life.

Cook your usual spag bol, double the recipe, and freeze half. That’s batch cooking, mama!

Tiny tweaks = big relief over time.

8. Get the Kids Involved

Even babies can join in by popping lids on tubs, squishing labels, or sitting safely watching while you chat away to them.

For older kids? Measuring, stirring, choosing stickers. Make it a fun activity, not a chore.

9. Be Flexible and Kind to Yourself

Sometimes you won’t feel like eating what you prepped. Sometimes leftovers happen. That’s okay.

Batch cooking is your tool, not your taskmaster. You’re in charge.

10. Celebrate Your Wins 🎉

You just bought yourself a peaceful evening. Maybe even a warm meal eaten with two hands.

That’s worth celebrating.

Put your feet up, read a few pages of that book, or enjoy an extra cuddle with your little one—because dinner’s already done.

What’s In It For You?

✔ Less stress at teatime
✔ More time for your family (or yourself!)
✔ Nourishing, home-cooked meals on hand
✔ A sense of calm in your daily routine

You’ve got enough on your plate. Let batch cooking take one thing off it.