The best gift we can give when a baby arrives

Lleida / Barcelona"I always say it's the best gift I've ever received." A mother from Barcelona says this when she recalls what a friend sent her during the height of the pandemic for the birth of her third daughter: an assortment of ready-made meals, ready to eat anytime and requiring no more than two minutes to heat. "After giving birth, the body needs rest, warmth, and nourishment, and the last thing we want to think about is cooking," she concludes. Núria Arnau, cook and owner of Bendito TupperA workshop in Badalona that specializes in weekly shipments of capers with prepared food. Among its offerings, it recently created the Baby Kit, a pack of 14 servings Designed for couples who have recently welcomed a baby. "We understand that their lives have changed profoundly, but we believe their diet shouldn't change; on the contrary, it should be a time for care, enjoyment, and connection," concludes this entrepreneur originally from Bell-lloc (Pla d'Urgell).

Arnau previously dedicated herself, under the brand Amor Cuinat, to preparing dinners and lunches in her clients' homes. With the pandemic, this business was suddenly frozen, but seeing that her cuisine (a Mediterranean and Eastern fusion) had been well-received, she launched the home-delivered caper service.

The fourteen meals in the Baby Kit arrive at the recipient all at once and "keep very well in the refrigerator," the cook assures. "Fourteen is the number of dishes that solves our problems in the first few days, the most emotional time," says Arnau, who currently distributes an average of about seven kits weekly. Their clientele calls from all over Spain, especially from Barcelona, ​​although lately orders from Madrid have increased.

One of their most loyal customers is Anna Buira, a mother of two from Altafulla who, after receiving the gift, hasn't stopped doing the same for other friends. "When a baby is born, people usually give gifts to the child, who is precisely the one who needs the least," Buira says. "We prefer to take care of the parents, because if they are well looked after, they can spend more time with their child." It seems that everyone who receives food appreciates it. Hence its growing trend.

Although this practice isn't as widespread in rural areas (in villages, the relationship with grandparents and neighbors is much closer than in cities), it's gradually ceasing to be an exclusively urban trend. "We know that some of the couples we've given it to have their parents nearby," Buira points out, "but it doesn't matter, because it's a welcome gesture of support."

From the kitchen to the hospital

One of the goals is for the gift to reach its recipients as soon as possible, right after the baby is born, "especially for new parents who are still settling in." Some don't even wait to get home.

Lluïsa Garriga, head of the Breakfasts and Vermouths project of Montcada i ReixacGarriga says he has even delivered orders to the hospital itself. "We are often asked to deliver whips or ham to mothers who have just given birth, because they have gone nine months without eating," Garriga explains.

Her packages of pastries, juices, sandwiches, and cold cuts are a common welcome for newborns and, especially, their parents. Garriga, a philologist still working as a teacher, He decided to open a coffee shop near a schoolFrom there, she regularly prepares assortments to the customer's liking: croquettes, toast, croissants, or donuts. She explains that she takes great care with the quality of her products and, to avoid any surprises, she personally delivers the orders. "I want to be sure that the details arrive in good condition," she concludes. That's why she can't keep up with demand and limits her service to the area around her shop (in Barcelona and the metropolitan area).

There are all kinds of gastronomic offerings, and very often, prepared food businesses don't realize that the final recipient of their dishes is a couple who have just had a baby. But some companies decide to include explicit offers to attract attention.

Casa Amella, a family business specializing in organic and vegetarian food Founded in 2002 between Bages and Moianès, offers a Welcome to the World bundlewhich includes everything that interests parents more than the baby (pumpkin and zucchini soups, apple juice, chickpeas, lentils, and cookies). Casa Amella's customer base is very diverse, ranging from singles to large families, senior citizens, and students.

Although sales to parents with newborns aren't the majority of their business, the company felt it was appropriate to offer them this exclusive package. "We thought about couples who don't have time to cook because they need to be 100% focused on their baby," explains Alba Pascual, the company's marketing manager. In any case, Casa Amella advocates for the importance of parents eating organic and ecological products. "Generally, our customers are people of all ages who need healthy food and lack the time to cook," argues Pascual, who confirms that home delivery demand has doubled in the last year. "People increasingly need prepared food, but also healthier food," she concludes. "Sending food, offering to cook, or taking care of other children, if there are any, is the best gift you can give a couple who have just had a baby." In short, the goal is to care for those who care for others.