Soups freeze well. Just remember to unpack the microwave first! When I have moved in the past, I had some crock pot thing or other that I plugged in at the new house (filled the night before at the old house). And I made sure I had the utensils and plates needed. Those things moved in the car with me, first trip. And I guarantee, no matter how clean the new house is, you will clean it all again before unpacking!

Some things freeze well and can be thawed to make other dishes. For instance, pulled pork can be frozen and thawed/heated later, with or without sauce, for tacos or sandwiches. "Taco meat" can be made in advance and turned into a taco salad. Beef can be roasted and sliced and frozen in individual portions or packages large enough for open faced cheese steak sandwiches and the onions and peppers can be prepared in advance too. Those could also be used on brats, cooked in the microwave. Nearly all vegetables freeze well, except salad and I even have a recipe for freezer coleslaw!

Chili, both the red and the white chicken type, freezes well, as does bread or muffins and potatoes could be baked in the microwave and the chili served over top. I've also frozen "meals", making extra while cooking, so they'd be ready, homemade frozen dinners. I often took them to my stepmother when she was still alive. A container of roast chicken, one of mashed potatoes, another of glazed carrots, and I'd have a whole meal. Eggplant parmesan was one of her favorites and it froze well.

Meatloaf, both "mini" loaves made in muffin tins and whole meatloaves freeze well, as do meatballs. Beef stew, shepherd's pie, cabbage rolls, stuffed/rolled pork loin, baked fish, bean dishes of all types, I've even sauteed all the toppings for homemade pizza, packaged them up and froze them to use later.

Now, my idea of "healthy" would include things like chili with beans and low fat beef, but everyone's "healthy" is different, so pick and choose what YOU like. Nearly any meat will freeze well after cooking, although I really like to thinly slice sirloin and freeze it without cooking, so I can quickly saute them with vegetables or just as a quick "steak" with some mushrooms.

BTW, raw mushrooms don't seem to freeze well, but cooked ones do.

Good luck on that move. I moved out of White Cloud, where I'd lived for 30+ years and into this house, which we were remodeling. 2 years later, I still can't find things, and we still have boxes, packed in the pole barn, I don't even know what's in them!

Annie

Totally agree with Annie.

Chicken pieces freeze well on a pleated foil pan. Cover tightly with freezer paper, thaw in the pan, and put it right in the oven. This method works fine for other kinds of foods too. Saucy chicken dishes freeze fine in containers but require a pot to heat in.

Meatloaf (poultry loaf) can also be frozen in the pan, or you can get disposable paper pans from a restaurant supply.

I always freeze "spaghetti sauce"--tomato based ragout. You can freeze in single meal portions or a big tub that can be used in several different dishes.

One helpful thing is to have a different colored box with the kitchen basics you need for the first few days. Think about the meals you'll be making and put in just what you need for them, including dishes, or whatever you'll be eating off of, and non-fridge seasonings and condiments. Basically, a picnic or camping box. Or, if you have a camping box, perhaps your camp gear will do. This saves that, "where are the tongs??!! I need tongs!!!" thing.

Wishing you a smoothe move and nutritious meals.

JC

I've only moved 6 times in my life, but every time the first meal has been pizza, eaten at the dining room table - out of the box and onto paper towel. We always bought extra pies that were portioned, wrapped in cellophane, and stuffed into the freezer, to be eaten over the next few weeks as we unpacked.

Consider using one of the meal delivery services for a few weeks, till you get settled. Packing and moving is stressful enough without having to spend hours every day shopping, cooking and freezing meals,

Home Chef (we use this one), Dinner Thyme (state meals can be prepared in 15 minutes). Hello Fresh, Blue Apron, Plated, etc

Fresh ingredients, clear instructions, interesting menus.

The portions we get (Home Chef) are big, we can feed two adults and two kids on a meal for two people, so we save money and no fridge full of leftovers, or half used ingredients.

Good luck with your move.

The gyoza meatballs we had last night freeze well and can be cooked from frozen- I always double the batch so I have something in the freezer for an easy dinner. http://meljoulwan.com/2014/03/27/gyoza-meatballs/

Also from the same site, her sweet potato soup freezes very well. http://meljoulwan.com/2013/01/02/paleo-sweet-potato-soup/

We actually moved right after Christmas this year! We didn't have any cooking supplies for fifteen days (actually a saucepan, slotted spoon, strainer and bowl. Oh and a 1 cup measuring cup.). It was hard. I relied on these Cafè Steamers and I mostly just cooked pasta and poured pre made sauces on it like pesto. I also cooked chicken sausages and got bags of frozen microwave vegetables.

honestly, we just found disposable plates, silverware, and a couple unpacked cups along with sandwiches, meats, pb, etc were easy- and I didn't need to transport it, we could just grocery shop and bring to new home. I HATE packing a fridge/pantry and unpacking- it's so much easier to cut back, only buy NEEDED items for 6weeks (trying to use up as much as possible), then go on a big trip once the new fridge is ready.

Well, the funny thing is that we remodeled the kitchen about 4 years ago and a LOT of stuff didn't come back into the kitchen! So I suppose I really didn't need it!

I'm going to be sure that the kitchen is the FIRST thing to be put together (along with the bedroom!)

We will be using a moving company and are color coding all boxes for (hopefully) quick unpacking! Thanks for your suggestions! Nancy

Also, we have a summer place at the Russian River and when we pack up for renting for the winter we make a "weekend box" just in case we can't get in after the renters leave. We'll be doing that!

4 plates, 4 forks/knives/spoons, 4 bowls, 1 frying pan, 1 sauce pan, some cooking utensils, 1 baking dish, a few herbs and, of course several wine glasses AND wine to put in those glasses!

We like breakfast any time of day, eggs, pancakes, meats and such. Easy to fix.

Sue

I've actually frozen a couple of soups, some chili and enchiladas! The kitchen will be the last to pack and the first to unpack! We have a grocery store a block away, so I think we'll be fine! Thanks for all of the suggestions! Nancy

Well, I was concerned, until you added the part about the grocery store. I'd have to be checking that out anyway, gotta get familiar with the new neighborhood, ya know? (grin)

Annie

Annie, we are moving from the country into town. Everything is within walking distance where before, it was a minimum 4 mile drive to get to anything. Grocery store, thrift stores, restaurants, downtown, parks all within walking distance! I'm quite jazzed!

A lot of people are saying why would you move from the country, but it's a lot of work! (just mowing takes 2 hours!)

I'll miss my big garden, but I'm looking for a community garden nearby.

Nancy

Nancy, enjoy your new place!

It's funny, I grew up on a farm, moved into a small town a couple of blocks from my workplace and about a block from the kids' school, and spent years telling my girls that when they were out of the house and I was retired, I'd move back to the country.

Sure enough, when I retired I sold the house in town and bought the farm I grew up on, so now I'm back to hauling hay and shoveling manure, so it came full circle.

Living in town just wasn't for me, not even a very small town. There's just not enough room for all my animals! Elery, now, he could live happily with no cows. (grin)

Annie

Nancy, where are you planning to move?

I hope you enjoy and take time to relax. We moved right after Christmas to Arizona, and the warm weather has been great, but we had no furniture (except beds) here for a few weeks.

We are only moving across town, so it shouldn't be TOO bad! I'm insisting on moving the kitchen myself! (Last to go, first to unpack) That and the bedroom, for a sanctuary!

Annie, I'm done with animals! Did plenty of years of 4-H, dairy goats, a horse, rabbits, chickens, guinnea pigs, hampsters, cats, dogs, iguanas....all of which I was apparently allergic to!

I'm left with my daughter's 14 YO chihuahua and a dove.

We are moving into a beautifully re-done 1914 Craftsman bungalow! Kitchen totally re-done.....everything re-done! Very excited!

Your new house sounds wonderful.

I usually eat healthy food, but I always count of pizza delivery for moving days.

I do prefer healthy eats, but I think for the first day or two, I'd deal with pizza take out. Do mark where all your kitchen gear is, in whatever boxes. I don't know how far you are moving... my move is only two hours away and so I CAN make a real and healthy, if fast dinner when the time comes. Especially since I can move a lot of the stuff up in advance, but if you are just moving into your house the day you close, that differs.

Most pizza take out places do have salad options, too. Since moving will be a high energy day, the salad is fine, but add something to this! (Just a thought.)

We are moving across town. It should be a one day thing. I AM, however moving the basics of the kitchen myself, so it doesn't get lost! I lost a bunch of my kitchen several years ago when we re-modeled, but that kinda taught me that I didn't need all that shtuff!

Have frozen some soup, some chili and I'm making a chicken dish tonight to double up. There's a grocery store a block away, so we can pick up salads for sides. I think we're good! Nancy