Dear Erika,
I’m 35 weeks pregnant, and I have an amazing support system of friends and family. Many of them have asked if they can prepare me a meal after the baby arrives, so I don’t have to cook, but most of my friends are omnivores and don’t know what to make me. It’s really sweet that they want to help, but I don’t know what to tell them.
–Sherrie, Portsmouth, Maine
Dear Sherrie,
Congratulations! I get baby giddy just hearing that someone is pregnant! You’re lucky to be surrounded by so many people who are willing to help—you are already one step ahead of the game! I’m also thoroughly impressed that these same people have volunteered to make food. Do they know you’re vegan? That is usually a challenge that most meat-eating friends don’t accept!
If you’re not too sure about their vegan culinary skills, you might consider asking them come over and cuddle with your newborn baby while you cook dinner. For those who really want to cook for you, start by providing them with a few recipes that you have made successfully and know you enjoy. Make sure to keep the recipes simple and based on ingredients that are easy to find. I’m always looking for ways to win my friends over with vegan foods, so it’s even better if you can pick a dish that they will like, too. Why not make it a win-win?
If you want to keep it extra easy, ask them for a gift card. You can never go wrong with gift cards! Give your loved ones a short list of your favorite restaurants, and explain that you’d be happy to save them the trouble of having to cook. Or, you can buy the restaurant meals and they can help by handling pick-up and drop-off.
Congratulations again! Erika Lee Krebs
Ask Erika is featured exclusively with Generation Veggie
I’m 35 weeks pregnant, and I have an amazing support system of friends and family. Many of them have asked if they can prepare me a meal after the baby arrives, so I don’t have to cook, but most of my friends are omnivores and don’t know what to make me. It’s really sweet that they want to help, but I don’t know what to tell them.
–Sherrie, Portsmouth, Maine
Dear Sherrie,
Congratulations! I get baby giddy just hearing that someone is pregnant! You’re lucky to be surrounded by so many people who are willing to help—you are already one step ahead of the game! I’m also thoroughly impressed that these same people have volunteered to make food. Do they know you’re vegan? That is usually a challenge that most meat-eating friends don’t accept!
If you’re not too sure about their vegan culinary skills, you might consider asking them come over and cuddle with your newborn baby while you cook dinner. For those who really want to cook for you, start by providing them with a few recipes that you have made successfully and know you enjoy. Make sure to keep the recipes simple and based on ingredients that are easy to find. I’m always looking for ways to win my friends over with vegan foods, so it’s even better if you can pick a dish that they will like, too. Why not make it a win-win?
If you want to keep it extra easy, ask them for a gift card. You can never go wrong with gift cards! Give your loved ones a short list of your favorite restaurants, and explain that you’d be happy to save them the trouble of having to cook. Or, you can buy the restaurant meals and they can help by handling pick-up and drop-off.
Congratulations again! Erika Lee Krebs
Ask Erika is featured exclusively with Generation Veggie
