Ask the Readers | What are good meals to bring to others?
When calls go out to give meals to others, I find myself paralyzed.* What are good things to make/give that are frugal, delicious, and have a high likelihood of being well received? And what about dietary preferences; for example, I'm a vegetarian and my sister (who just lost her husband and needs meals) eats no gluten, dairy, or sugar.
Kind regards,
Dicey
*I can and do organize city-wide drives for the Food Bank like a boss. My dining room table seats twelve without extensions and I love to feed people, but preparing full meals to give to others totally stumps me.
I feel this on a personal level! Bringing meals to other people is tough.
The main issue I face is that a lot of the foods I typically make don't travel well or reheat well. And then if you add in dietary problems, that makes it even harder.
Since I'm good at making bread, I usually try to make a main dish that I can combine with homemade bread (barring any wheat sensitivities). So, something like pulled pork with homemade buns, or soup with a loaf of bread works well.
Homemade bread makes any meal more special, and it doesn't cost much either.
If I'm bringing a meal to a household with a variety of sensitivities, I like to do burrito bowls.
This does take a lot of containers, but you can send rice, beans, meat (I like to send this chipotle chicken), roasted veggies, cheese, lettuce, salsas, etc., and everyone can make a bowl that fits with what they can eat. These are so flexible, you can customize them to fit most types of diets.
(to wit, you and your sister could both make a burrito bowl!)
All that said, I am most certainly not an expert in the bringing-meals-to-others arena. And that's why this is an Ask The Readers post and not a Q&A post.
Soooo.....
Readers! What are your favorite foods to give to others who need a meal?
P.S. I wrote a whole post about hyperemesis in pregnancy, and I just wanted to reiterate that if you know someone who is pregnant and terribly sick, bringing a meal is a great idea! That was such a blessing to me because even if I was too sick to eat the food, at least my family was fed.
I Love the bread idea!
I don't have much to offer here other than pasta -like baked . Stuffed shells-baked mostaccioli-something they can heat up when they need it. They freeze well also.
I too love the idea of sending freshly baked bread. Who wouldn't love that!
The dish I send most often would be chicken divan. I make up the casserole and send it with cooking instructions so it will be easy but hot when they are ready to eat.
I did a few experiments where I made a double-recipe of something and froze it for a bit, then we ate it to see how it did reheating. So for frozen meals, I like to bring chicken parmesan on spaghetti and a ziplock bag of veggies (with olive oil, salt, and pepper) to roast. If it's not going to be frozen, I'll do a nice mac-n-cheese for vegetarians. If the family is gluten free, I've had luck with burrito-bowl type meals, a rotisserie chicken and bagged salad, or fajitas/tacos and fixings. Usually I'll tuck in some fruit and/or a dark chocolate bar as a little treat.
I also tend to make a double recipe and then we just eat whatever I cooked for the other family for dinner. That makes it a lot less overwhelming as well.
@EmilyG, I love the idea of tucking in a little treat. I'm embarrassed that I never thought of that in all the years I have given a meal to someone.
As a New Yorker, our standard dish is baked ziti.
Vegan chili would work for a lot of people, i should think. I've made this recipe before and it is really delicious.
https://cookieandkate.com/vegetarian-chili-recipe/
I'm not a vegan but some of my friends are, so.... nonvegans can zhuszh it up with sour cream, tortilla chips and shredded cheese.
Things like homemade lemonade or iced tea might work really well too.
or what about a breakfast dish? An egg/bacon/potato/cheese casserole, or bread pudding, or a baking dish of French toast? with fruit.
also I'd go easy on the heat level with the chili if you don't know their preference. You could include a bottle of hot sauce to amp it up if you like. Easy to make hotter, not so much the other way.
I also like the idea of foods that can be eaten hot or cold, like Chinese sesame noodles or a roast chicken.
@Rose, zhuszh = best word of today. gold stars.
I have never known quite how to spell that! It's a word I only ever have heard.
@Rose, I love all your ideas, Rose. I am vegetarian, but I do eat cheese and sour cream, so all those ideas are perfect. I am a wimp when it comes to spice, so non-spicy is a good idea. I love the homemade lemonade and iced tea. Yum!
@Karen., we use that word but never knew how to spell it.
When a member of my nephew's family was hospitalized for several months, they received many generous meals and restaurant gift cards. Someone, perhaps from their church, set up an app or website to schedule daily food gifts, which were much appreciated.
After a few weeks, the family requested no more desserts. I suspect that people were very generous with those, though the end result was just policing the kids at home to keep them from eating too much.
For someone like me who doesn't cook much, giving healthy snack or breakfast food might be a better choice-- granola, granola bars, muffins, carrot cake instead of chocolate, etc. Or a basket of paper towels, toilet paper, dish detergent, and such supplies might help if no one has time to go shopping and basics ran out.
@Heidi Louise, Supplies are a great idea!
@Heidi Louise, I love the supplies idea, especially disposable, since I never keep that in the house.
I’m probably in the minority, as I’m not always comfortable eating food prepared elsewhere—I’ve seen the kitchens of too many people! Plus, I’m not a fan of frozen/reheated foods, nor do I like pasta! Yes, I’m somewhat particular about food and unfortunately, a dish of ziti or mac and cheese would be wasted in my house. Disposable dishware though when I’m not feeling well would be very welcomed!
Food is love! I like to provide soup in mason jars (or any container that doesn't need to be returned) along with some bread (or crackers) and fruit. I try to make something as easy as possible to reheat or freeze or even give away if it can't be used. Including a list of ingredients is always helpful.
@MB in MN, list of ingredients! Never thought of that! Great idea!
@MB in MN, I love that you include a list of ingredients! My kids have food allergies (there used to be 7!! now, "only 3") and this is so helpful.
I feel like chili is the perfect dish to bring to others. It's easily customizable for any dietary need - naturally gluten, dairy, and sugar-free, and can easily be made vegetarian or vegan!
I like to do soup with bread or rolls. If the person/family is gluten free, I will make corn bread/muffins from a gluten free mix and include the empty box to show it is gluten free. The gluten free corn bread mix from Aldi is delicious and very cost effective.
Soup options:
Chicken/Turkey (could include noodles or rice depending on diet needs)
Minestrone (can be vegetarian, vegan or with meat)
Vegetable (noodles or rice or barley could be added)
Tomato (could be cream of tomato or made vegan or vegetarian
Chili (meat, bean or a combo)
Another nice option, especially in summer, is something grilled and salad fixings:
Grilled chicken, Caesar salad fixings
Grilled veggie skewers, hummus and salad greens
I also sometimes like to bring a simple breakfast because people often get a lot of dinner foods: muffins or cinnamon rolls, fruit salad, hard boiled eggs. These things can also be used for snacks if that works better for the family.
@Ann,
I love all of your ideas!
@Ann, breakfast foods are a great idea!
I follow another blogger that has some really good ideas on gifting meals.
https://naptimekitchen.com/some-thoughts-and-tips-on-giving-meals/
Hope it’s okay to share it here.
Oh, of course! Thanks for sharing a helpful link that fills in some of my expertise gaps.
A dear friend lost her only son to a drunk driver right before the holidays. And there was a meal train set up for her. I was paralyzed. I couldn't think of anything because my family doesn't eat typically through recipes... we cook based on what's in season, what we have that needs to get used, etc. And that can mean some things turn out stellar! And some don't. I was so paralyzed by not serving her family in a way that they deserve, that I opted to help them in other ways anonymously. 🙁
But I just looked up the meal train... and here's what people brought:
GrubHub gift cards
Bacon cheeseburger Casserole, with Salad and Ice Cream
Lasagna, Salad, Bread
Green Chile Sausage Cornbread, Baked Good
Chicken Tortilla Soup or Chicken Pillows
Olive Garden Gift Card
Beef Barley Soup, Banana Bread, Brownies
Chicken Tortilla Soup and Rolls
Chock-Full-A Trays
Dinner from a local restaurant
BBQ Chicken Sandwiches with Beans and Coleslaw
Enchiladas with Rice
@Reese!, I hope you're not beating up yourself over your help being in the form of something other than a meal. When my grandmother was in hospice care, an hour and a half away from my house, my best friend (who can't boil water!) went to my house every day to take care of my very fear-aggressive dog. She was literally the only person outside of my immediate family who could have done that. It was the nicest thing she could have done for us because I wasn't worried about my dog and it meant my husband and I could go back to my parents' house (much closer to the hospice house) for a nap instead of making the three-hour round trip to take care of our dog.
Help comes in many different forms and should always be appreciated.
Amen. I love that there are so many different ways to help; no matter your gifts and talents, there is always some way to show love to a friend.
You can clean a house, deliver a meal, give money, babysit children, take care of pets, run errands, lend a listening ear...so many options!
@Danielle Zecher,
I'm saying Amen to that, too! When my parents died together, we had to rush 700 miles to where they had lived. A friend brought by a big bag of sandwiches, brownies, chips, and soft drinks for our trip. Flying was impossible on such short notice, so we had to drive. We stopped at a rest stop halfway there and enjoyed that lunch in peace. Even better, my sister and brother-in-law pulled in just behind us serendipitously, having come from the other side of the state, and there was plenty to share with them. It was a little blessing in the middle of a stressful day.
I later returned the friend's favor by sending one of my kids with her as a babysitter to her little twins when her grandparent died a few hours away. She was so grateful.
You are right - help comes in many forms!
@JD, I never thought of drinks/snacks for the road. That's such a great idea! I'm going to try to remember that one.
Our favorite meal to receive with my last baby was chicken and pork gyros! Now it’s my go-to for others.
1. Marinate any chopped, boneless cut of chicken, pork, or both in Greek dressing (homemade or store bought - I use the recipe from Gwen’s Nest) for up to 24 hours. Cook the meat in the marinade using a skillet or Instant Pot.
2. Chop up some veggies (cucumber, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes) and toss lightly with olive oil.
3. Add containers of mini naan bread, crumbled feta cheese, tzatziki sauce (or similar creamy dressing, homemade or store bought), and spring mix salad (in the plastic clamshell).
All of the above can be found at Aldi, and, like the burrito bowls, it is fully customizable if you bring everything in separate containers. Make yourself traditional gyros, a huge GF Greek Salad, or just bread/meat/veggies for the picky eater! It also feels fresh and light, something that can be hard to find with meals that need to be transported. This is a family favorite for our dinner as well or to serve a large group!
@Jenny, great suggestion. thank you!
@Jenny,
This sounds fantastic! I struggle to come up with meal ideas that aren't heavy. Thanks for sharing!
Our church also uses: https://takethemameal.com/
It has great suggestions and offers a place to share food sensitivities of the person or family.
@Chrissy, We have used this site many times as well! Super easy to use and very helpful.
@Ruth T, we also use this. I like that you can see what meals others are bringing to avoid duplicates.
I usually do some kind of baked chicken, rice and green beans with some homemade applesauce. If I do dessert I make an angel food cake. Everything goes into throwaway containers, so they don’t have to wash or be concerned about returning dishes. I helped my sister when she had cancer and surgery and oh my, she was inundated with every kind of pasta possible, therefore I do try to come up with different dishes. Plus they have a small house and we literally had a stack of dishes waiting to be picked up. Which in turn meant another visit. Not good if you’re recovering from a big surgery and you don’t have the energy to visit. If there are kids, bread is always welcome! When taking food to my friend who had a premie in the hospital, I cut up a bunch of fruits and veggies, grilled some chicken and added a box of ziplock bags. They said it was perfect to take to the hospital every day with them. If you are taking food to someone who had a fire, buy a new 9x13 or casserole dish and tell them to keep it. That has been very well received.
In the summer I grill a meat and make a salad with homemade dressing on the side and some bread or extra veggies. In the winter I make chili or soup with a side salad and homemade bread or rolls. I have made fried rice with either grilled chicken or pork chops with potstickers and broccoli. One of our favorite meals that was brought to us after the birth of our latest baby was meatloaf with roasted potatoes and carrots. Pasta may be easy, but very carb heavy (often served with bread, too) and doesn’t reheat well. As someone who tried to eat low carb for a year I try to always have lots of veggie options. Rotisserie chicken, mashed or roasted potatoes and a bag of veggies or salad kit are always well received.
Speaking as someone with a lot of food restrictions, there aren't many things people can bring that I can eat, but I accept that. And in times of difficulty, I will eat small portions of things I don't normally eat, and just deal with it. It's really the kind thought that counts, here, in my opinion.
When a friend's dad died, I dropped off a big batch of really good freshly made muffins the night before the funeral. She told me it was a real boon to have breakfast at the ready that funeral morning - all other foods she'd received were for lunch or dinner. So there's that.
I agree it's probably best to hold off on desserts. There are often way too many of those.
A large, vegetable- (and fruit, even)- filled green salad, to offset the many heavy casseroles and pasta dishes. Salad dressing, if you so choose, should be on the side.
A hot dish of some vegetable that isn't cheesy or sauced, just lightly seasoned.
As mentioned already, a batch of soup is always good.
If you are in the south, gallon jugs of sweet and unsweet iced tea. More sweet than unsweet, in my area. Store bought is fine, or you can make it yourself.
My husband and I have attended a LOT of family funerals, and at some point I started noticing what food donations worked best and what ones didn't. Something else to consider is taking your donation in a disposable pan. We here are all caring for our planet, I would assume, but tasking a bereaved family with cleaning and returning a lot of casseroles and pans is not helpful to them, so go disposable. And, if you are really unsure what to bring, bring disposable plates, cups, silverware and ice. It will get used!
@JD, I totally agree with taking your donation in a pan that doesn't need to be returned. I saw someone here that suggested getting dishes from a thrift store for that purpose for those that are opposed to throwaway dishes
@Beverly, Pyrex casserole dishes are available in abundance at estate sales and thrift shops in our area. I always make sure that I have extra ones. At a dollar or two each, they are nearly as inexpensive as disposable pans.
@JD, I normally am very pro green earth, but I agree that there are times when disposable pans are a good option. As with so many suggestions here, you really need to know enough about the individual situation to make a wise choice. I understand the reason behind getting a pan from a thrift store, however, sometimes people are in a situation in which having to deal with this item is overwhelming. It needs to be washed and space needs to be found for it until there is time to deal with the accumulating pile of stuff to return to friends or drop off at Goodwill. Giving to someone with a broken arm? A reusable pan is probably a good choice. Taking a meal to someone whose spouse is hospitalized with a life threatening illness and who is only coming home to catch a nap and take a shower before heading back to the hospital? That's the kind of circumstance where disposable would probably be a welcome option.
When there is a death in our church or community, I often fix a simple breakfast quiche (really just a sausage, egg, and cheese pie). It is something easy to reheat, especially for the morning of the funeral, and it can be a simple meal at any other time. Fruit or blueberry muffins go well with this, or homemade biscuits with a jar of jelly. Of course, this won't work for certain dietary concerns.
For a vegetarian meal, I take eggplant parmesan and a salad.
@Sherri, I like to make quiche as well. It can be vegetarian or not, consumed hot or cold, and can be for breakfast, lunch or dinner. It can also be made crustless if there is a concern about gluten or grains.
Paired with a green salad, fruit salad, muffins etc it’s great meal.
@Sherri, I'm going to steal your fantastic idea for quiche and sides! So versatile. And as a vegetarian, I would love receiving eggplant parmesan and a salad.
@Sherri, I was reading down the comments to see if someone would suggest quiches! That's also what I'd do, it's easy to make, reheats very well; I'd add a bag of precut salad and sauce + yogurt or apple sauce for dessert and they'd be good to go.
Lasagna is also something I'd do, as most people like this dish - at least where I'm from! - and thereare so many variations to choose from to accommodate food restrictions (veggie, vegan, gluten free etc).
In France a majority of people eat a sweet breakfast (toast, butter/jam or Nutella) so that's also something I'd consider after reading some earlier comments. Maybe some sandwich ingredients as well? That would not really be a homemade meal, but could be easy enough for the family depending on their situation.
When I was a public school teacher, one of my fourth grade students lost her father to cancer. She told me in confidence midway through the year that they had an agreement that every time someone brought lasagna, they would go out to eat. They ate out almost every night--so much lasagna. Since then, I never bring lasagna to someone that is getting multiple meals delivered.
@Meg,
Similar story: a friend’s husband had cancer and she didn’t cook for nearly 18 months! But when I asked her son what his meal request was, he quickly answered, “Anything but lasagna!”
@Meg, That surprises me, actually. About 12 years ago, our family was in a bad car accident, with all 4 kids in PICU, and when we finally all came home from the hospital, we had meals provided for about 6 weeks. I don't remember getting any lasagna! This was in NC, so there was a lot of baked spaghetti. We didn't get one meal that we didn't like. Such a blessing as there were a lot of ongoing medical needs at the time.
@Tricia, I think lasagna is the fallback meal of choice in the Midwest. That and chili. There are probably regional differences in what people bring. It would be fun to find out what you are most likely to receive depending on where you live.
Homemade roast chicken and twice baked potatoes, plus a salad or roasted asparagus. Maybe not the most frugal but this was my standby when all my friends were having babies and they so appreciated not getting more lasagne. It is family friendly and it does not have to be eaten at the exact second it is delivered, it is all good at room temperature. FYI for anyone who does not know, twice baked potatoes are very good frozen and reheated! Even when made with dairy, I've had great luck.
I actually love bringing people meals! I never know what to say when someone is going through something difficult, but I totally know how to feed people. 🙂
Lasagna and stuffed shells are kind of my signature dishes, so I usually opt for one of those unless dietary restrictions make them impossible. I usually make them with meat, but they’re easy to make vegetarian if that’s what someone prefers. Plus, they freeze really well. Sometimes people get inundated with food right away, but then the food/help will taper off later on, so I think it can be nice to give them something they can freeze for later.
One of my other go-tos is tacos; very similar to the burrito bowls Kristen mentioned, just include corn taco shells and flour tortillas, and a variety of toppings (cheese, sour cream, guacamole, salsa, etc.) and keep everything packaged separately. Chili is another one; it’s easy to make vegetarian, it freezes well, and you can include a variety of toppings to suit a variety of dietary preferences.
Don’t forget about breakfast as an option, too. Dinner isn’t the only meal of the day, and breakfast for dinner can be nice sometimes. There are so many good breakfast casserole recipes out there. A breakfast casserole and fresh fruit can be a nice meal.
If you’re both on Pinterest, you can look at their boards to get an idea of what kind of recipes they like.
Depending on the situation and how many people are around, a snacky kind of thing can be nice; fresh fruit, veggies (carrot sticks, celery, bell pepper slices), hummus, dips, etc., can be a good idea.
If cooking truly isn’t your thing and buying them a restaurant meal isn’t feasible, you could always drop off a supply of drinks (soda, juice, tea, coffe with creamers), paper plates, and napkins since those can be overlooked sometimes.
A few more tips here: http://sweetteareads.blogspot.com/2014/04/delivering-dinner-or-any-other-meal.html
@Danielle Zecher, years ago when my grandpa died, someone brought a veggie tray. We appreciated everything but that was by far the favorite. I think a selection of deli meat and cheese and crackers would also be nice if you know that people are coming and going and grabbing food when they can get it. And that requires zero cooking skills.
Another question is how well do you know the people and who will they be serving the food you bring.
For example if it a close friend in need you will probably know their allergies and dietary needs and likes. You can ask them do you need something you can eat tight away or do you want something frozen you can use later.
If the person is less well known, for example in a church, I think the burden is on the person coordinating the meals to find out as much information as they can and share it with the people bringing the meals.
One thing I have started doing which all people seem to like, is I aways bring people a fruit basket. That always seems to be appreciated.
@karen, I love the fruit basket idea.
As a mom of multiple young kids, my most appreciated meals have been ones where extra thought went into the kids. Fresh fruit already cut up, a few cheese quesadillas on the side for picky eaters, a basket of snacks,etc. If there's a meal train and I see a lot of heavier meals, I tend to go with something lighter like chicken salad, which can be adjusted for a lot of dietary needs.
I love when there is a meal train; it makes it so much easier not to repeat meals!
@Jennifer, My son is very limited in his food interests, but will almost always try forms of pizza. I know that is often easy to order even in small towns where there isn't a lot of food delivery, yet the family might just like a good homemade pizza, without the fuss of dealing with a delivery or pick-up. Maybe salad or veggies and beverages-- maybe another family could provide those.
I like the burrito bowl option too, but my favorite is Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup. Packed with veggies, it's very nutritious. It freezes beautifully. And you can keep the chicken, black beans, and corn separate, so that people can add what they want.
Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup
For the “stock” (will be blended at end)*:
8 Roma tomatoes (or canned tomatoes, any type)
4 carrots
1 red bell pepper (or yellow or orange)
1 onion
1 avocado
1 bunch cilantro (save some for garnish, if desired)
8 cups hot water
chicken bouillon
Any type of season salt—I use Johnny’s
Salt
Garlic powder
1 jalapeño with stem cut off (I almost never use this)
Add at the end (after blending):
Cooked, shredded or chopped chicken
Black beans
corn
Optional Garnish:
Tortilla chips
Chopped cilantro
Sliced avocado
Shredded cheese
Directions:
Simmer "stock" ingredients on stove top until veggies are super tender and then blend with immersion blender (or let cool a bit and use regular blender)
Add cooked shredded or chopped chicken, black beans, and/or corn if desired.
Garnish with tortilla chips, cilantro, avocado, shredded cheese
*Vegetables can easily be substituted to your taste preferences. I once added a bunch of spinach that needed to be used and my family didn't notice a difference, even though it changed the color a bit.
@Stacy, One of the nice things about tortilla (or burrito) soup is that it can be made from canned food, so anyone can make a version.
I think it is a good idea to ask which kind of food is appreciated and of course to learn about dietary issues.
For meat eaters a really good goulash or nice ragout is usually very well received. Together with this I often bring all sorts of salad greens and some homemade vinaigrette with me. And potatoes or rice or home made bread dumplings - these starchs are then prepare in the kitchen 9f the recipient as it only requires boiling water etc. Meanwhile I lay the table and voilà everybody happy.
I have served this chili to vegetarians, carnivores and everyone in between and they all love it. https://cookieandkate.com/sweet-potato-chili-recipe/
I usually stick with my strengths. Since my meatloaf and the Frugal Girl french bread are my two most loved-by-others food items, I'll often send a meal that includes one of those. Sometimes, if it's a person I've made food for before or a 'hey, I'd like to bring you dinner this week' instead of a sign up, I'll text the person with two options and let them pick.
Chili and baked potatoes with all the fixin's, fajitas with chips and salsa, soup and bread... those all travel well.
If it's someone who has just had a baby or is otherwise struggling with energy/stamina, I'll try to include some cut up fruit or veggies or some no-bake energy bites. My friend's mom gave her a whole watermelon right after she had a baby and my friend was thankful for the thought, but didn't have the strength to cut it up. So I have thought of that often when making food for others.
I agree with what others have said about dessert - if you're going to include it, only send enough for that night. Having 4 brownies around is better than a whole 9x13 pan!
I usually send vegetarian mexican lasagna - so, tacos, but in layered format. I get the round aluminum foil pans from dollar tree, and tortillas that are sized for them. Beans, veggies, mild salsa, cheese, etc. Lots of yummy layers. A friend told me her picky 6-year-old devoured them and she needed the recipe.
When I had my second baby, another family brought me a basket of easy to eat immediately healthy snack foods like fruit and veggies, cheese and crackers, bottles of kefir and granola bars. It was absolutely perfect because nothing in the basket needed any prep and my family and I could just snack as needed. The mom's reward was she was the first non-family member aside from hospital staff who got to hold my son. She was, as her husband put it, very pleased with herself. 😉
Aww, that is a lovely idea!
When I was pregnant with Zoe and was losing weight quickly, one of my piano students' moms brought me a box of mini Haagen-Dazs ice cream bites. They are serious calorie bombs, which was exactly what I needed at the time. 😉
@Kristen,
Sometimes ice cream is just what you need! 😉
As for the snack foods, they were so appreciated because when you're really tired you just want something you can shove in your mouth right now! She presented it all in a gigantic basket which I still have and use for shoes. The family has since moved away and I'm not in touch with them anymore, but I still remember her so fondly seven plus years later. And the bonus for her was that she didn't have to do any cooking at all, just shove some extra groceries into a basket.
Last year as I was going through cancer treatment, not eating gluten, sugar, dairy or legumes one of the best (in my opinion) meals was a rotisserie chicken and a veggie salad.
@Lynn,
Yes! I think this is such a great idea!
Last time I took someone a meal it was pulled pork, store bought buns, twice baked potatoes, green beans cooked with chicken broth and bacon, and pretzel/Hershey kiss/M&M candies for the treat. I made larger portions of a meal I cooked for my own household. I wanted to stay away from casseroles, cakes, and brownies since I thought they may already have a lot of that food.
I also like taking gift cards for restaurants near their home or that deliver. That way, if they end up not needing a meal they day I deliver it or have more leftovers than expected from previous meals they can use it on another day.
As I think about it, gift cards for a grocery store that does delivery or offers curbside pickup (or even Instacart) could also be helpful. That way they could fill in some common gaps - breakfast, snacks, produce, milk - with things of their own choosing.
When my husband's brother was dying at home on hospice, I sent beef stew, homemade granola and a pan of brownies along with my husband when he'd go sit with him. Our sister-in-law was very appreciative of something easy to feed to all the friends taking shifts to stay by his bedside.
Any pasta dish.
Ham and rolls
Tacos or anything Mexican.
Chili
Any soup and homemade bread
Grilled chicken and salad stuff with fresh fruit is a good summer one.
Americans test kitchen’s recipe for fast green chicken chili is one of our favorites to take to people. It takes a jar of salsa verde and some chicken stock.m and some pantry staples. So easy and quick.
And I also try to think of things like fruit or lunch or snack foods because you usually get a bunch of heavy dinner foods. And it is nice to have some veggies and fruits and simple snacks.
My go-to was to bring a casserole tray of ricotta and spinach stuffed shells with a loaf of garlic bread or rolls, and a side salad, vegetable, or fruit salad, depending on the season and known tastes. The jumbo shells are nice as a single serving in the microwave, or the whole tray can be warmed back up in the oven. Doesn’t serve the No-Dairy crowd well, but I think you could make a gluten-free pasta version as a casserole.
Vegan options could be a tray of pre baked potatoes and chili beans. When I have been a recipient, I always appreciated a nice chopped up fruit salad because it was something I didn’t have the energy to make myself, but could take a serving out of a bowl in the fridge for a low-effort snack and still feel healthy. Somehow prechopped apples, pears and grapes, or melons, depending on season, was more appealing than just eating an apple.
When I had a baby 26 years ago, my sister brought me a roasted turkey breast, salad, and bread. It was one of my favorite meals and I still remember it because it was so useful. She brought it to us hot for dinner. But then we had plenty left for sandwiches/salads the next day.
One thing I have found helpful is to reach out and ask if there is anything I can pick up from the grocery store - milk, fresh fruit, cereal, sandwich stuff, goldfish crackers, or any other staple they normally have on hand. Premade meals are great and I've dropped off many over the years but I have friends that have little ones that are super picky and will only eat certain items so I like to make sure they have those on hand.
There are so many good ideas here. I made homemade soup - chicken with egg noodles - yesterday for my son and DIL. It appears that my sweet DIL has hyperemesis. Kristen, I cannot begin to tell you how helpful your post in this subject has been.
Oh man. I am so sorry to hear that! But I am sure that you will be an excellent support to her.
I tend to bring Mac and cheese, along with meatballs in sauce, sub rolls, and sliced provolone cheese to make meatball subs. I include a note saying that the meatballs and rolls freeze easily - people can use them for lunches and/or save them for later if they’re overwhelmed with food. I also bring a bit bowl of mixed fruit and sometimes brownies (with a note saying they also freeze well). Include a list of ingredients for anything homemade in case of food sensitivities that you don’t know about.
If you don’t have time to cook, one of my friends did the nicest thing when my grandmother passed away. When I got home after a long evening at her wake and knew I had to go to her funeral the next morning, I found a bakery box full of muffins and bagels, along with cream cheese and fruit on my doorstep. I remember eating a chocolate chip muffin that night and feeling so cared for when I had bagels, cream cheese and fruit for breakfast the next morning before the funeral. People often think of providing dinner, but somehow breakfast meant a lot to me too - there was just something about having breakfast there and ready, without even needing to have a conversation or say thank you in the moment. My sister often talks the same way about the fact that her in laws stocked her fridge with loads of food before she came home from the hospital with her first baby. Remember that it doesn’t need to be homemade - there’s just something about feeling cared for that can make a huge difference.
Also, I just want to add that it’s nice to drop something off without a conversation if you can. This may vary from person to person so keep the individual person in mind, but part of what made that breakfast feel so wonderful to me was that it was just there without needing to talk to her or say thank you (although obviously I did later). Coming home to a fully stocked fridge (if you’re close to the person and are able to do it - obviously only if you already have keys) seems to have a similar vibe. I like to leave food on a doorstep, text to say “don’t reply right now, but check your front door - food is there!” and save someone from needing to have a conversation. I just want to mention it for the introverts in the world - the feeling of magic elves is very comforting when you’re going through a hard time.
@Katie, The notes about "this can be frozen" are very important, especially if the food doesn't need repackaging. I'm imagining my nephew's family with a fridge full of leftovers, including restaurant food, from the generous food train, and not being able to face portioning them to save, yet not wanting to waste it.
Your comment about "feeling cared for" made me recall an article in some magazine like Reader's Digest that I read many many years ago. The writer was talking about when a close family member had died, and friends wanted to help them. One man came over and collected all the family's shoes, sat down in the kitchen, and polished them all for the church service the next day.
I can imagine my father doing that, not that people polish shoes much today. The point is, people who are grieving or hurting or worried might not have energy to do much, and small caring actions such as you wrote go a long way!
@Katie,
I can second this one. After my first baby was born, my dad had come to help us out for a few days and my husband and I had to go to a well baby check-up. When we got back, my dad was just finished putting away a big grocery shop. I remember saying "Dad, did you think we had no food?" And he just replied, "Well, I could see that you didn't." Hahaha! He was right, but we were just too tired to notice!!!
@Heidi Louise, When my father died four years ago, a friend came and ironed our clothes for the funeral! Such a gift!
I almost always make an interesting fruit salad. Healthy and refreshing.
Mac and cheese if there are kiddos.
LOOOOOOOG time reader and first-time commenter.
I live in South Louisiana so food is THE language here.
1. Jambalaya is a staple at any gathering- happy or sad. The same goes for pastalaya. It is delicious fresh and can be frozen.
2. Gumbo is a good choice too. It can be made with pretty much anything you already have.
3. Spaghetti and meatballs
4. Soups are simple too.
5. I like to make sauce piquant too. You can use any meat you may have, alligator, shrimp, sausage, and serve it over rice. I've had it over cauliflower rice too. Not as good, but okay.
When I had my first baby, my dear sweet friend brought an entire week's worth of food. It was glorious to not have to cook. She brought stuffed bell peppers, cut-up watermelon, Costco-sized muffins, fajitas, and gumbo.
- Love the idea of supplies too. No one wants to run out of toilet paper when you are grieving or busy with a new baby.
@Hannah, I love these ideas but I had to chuckle at the idea of having some alligator in the fridge. Anything over rice is a treat to me. Gumbo sounds divine.
Wow! Thank you, Kristen, I'm honored that you posted my question. I've been a Frugal Girl fan since close to the very beginning.*I wish I'd thought to ask this sooner.** I love all the suggestions and am already downloading recipes and making a list of ideas. Ingredients and grab-and-go items are things I'd never thought of. I'm a Costco shopper, so that should be easy-peasy. Hmmm, maybe even a basket of homemade goodies baked in advance, individually wrapped and frozen for future giving might work. That never would have occurred to me without your generous replies. Oh, and TFG "No-Stir Clumpalicious Granola" is a staple at our house. I've never thought of gifting that, but it's crazy good and easy to make. Thank you all from the bottom of my frugal little heart!
I love this community!
*For those of you who might say "Hmm, never heard of Dicey...", I changed my screen name when someone else with the same first name and last initial started sharing their thoughts. Different name, same old frugal me, still learning by Kristen's example, day, after week, after year.
**A big shout-out to Reader Dorinda, who shared her story, and inspired the question.
@Dicey, I really like a lot of the grab and go stuff at Costco. The street tacos, the shrimp, the meatloaf dinners, pizza obviously--it's not always the cheapest but it is always fresh and good. Also their bagged salads, the fresh soups-- Wish I lived closer to a Costco!
@Dicey, Aww.... thanks for the shout-out! I feel loved! 🙂 I saw this post in between crazy moments today and thought, "Fun! That's a subject I touched on in my post!" So imagine my happy/astonished smile to find out I prompted your question!
I did just drop off chicken tortilla soup and tortilla chips at two different homes yesterday for friends who are recovering from Covid. I'm loving looking over everyone's replies and getting great ideas!!!
When our close family friends were experiencing extreme health issues, my mom and sister prepared a meatloaf, mashed potatoes, and green bean casserole for them. I made 2 dozen cookies (half oatmeal raisin, half oatmeal with chocolate chips). They definitely appreciated the food and it was somewhat easy to deliver to them. My family packed/cooked most items in one-use aluminum pans for easy delivery. The cookies went in a Ziploc bag.
I most always do a roast with potatoes and carrots. Side dish of green beans or Cole slaw. I do lots of cooking for others so this meal is less bowls for someone to have to wash and return.
Carrot risotto in the instant pot is one of my go to meals-- vegetarian, can be vegan if you omit the cheese. Tastes rich and delicious.
Ok, that sounds so delicious! I would love it if someone brought this to me.
My go-to meal I bring other families is always some type of a GRAIN BOWL. My basic formula is this: (1) Greens; (2) seasoned roasted veggies (I usually go for sweet potato + either brussels sprouts or cauliflower); (3) any kind of plant based protein, like chickpeas, lentils or edamame, black beans); plain cooked whole grain like quinoa, barley, or brown rice, (4) some type of cold salad veg like tomatoes and cucumbers, even diced pears or apples; (5) toppings (any combo of seeds, nuts, dried fruit, shaved parm cheese); and the most important part, (6) a homemade dressing that goes well with it your other components (maple balsamic, hazelnut vinaigrette, sesame lime vinaigrette, southwestern ranch, etc). You can always throw in a side that goes well, tortialla chips, crusty bread, muffins, etc.
I have a family of 5 and, when I make this meal, it usually makes enough for two dinners for all of us and two for the family I'm bringing the meal to. Super customizable and everyone loves it. It's great to bring families with kids because adults usually pile everything together and kids can have all the ingredients separate and not touching on their plates : ) I also think it goes over well because most meal trains tend to yield heavier, casserole type meals and sometimes you just want a giant dinner salad to break things up : )
@Jen D., if my family ever needs a meal, I'm calling you! Grain bowls are a fantastic, healthy idea. When someone is stressed or grieving, just the thought of preparing all the fixings for grain bowls can be overwhelming, so your taking the time to pull all of that together for someone is truly wonderful.
@MB in MN, that's about the nicest thing to say and makes me extra eager to continue making them for others. Thanks for your kind comment : )
I like snacky foods that take no thought at all but keep well until needed. Cheese, crackers, olives, grapes, baby carrots, etc. This works well for those who aren't able to sit down together for a meal, like those taking turns sitting with the ill, as each person can grab their favorites whenever.
We do a lot of mercy meals at our church (lots of babies) and I usually make rolls or bread, a simple meat/rice hotdish (not pasta!), take a bagged salad or fruit salad, and, for dessert, I take frozen balls of homemade cookie dough along with baking instructions. That has been a big hit as they can enjoy fresh hot cookies, baked whenever they want a little something sweet, and have the smell of cookies baking too.
Bringing breakfast and snacks is always a godsend. It gets forgotten, but is still a needed meal and takes energy to prepare. Cut up veggies and fruits, baked oatmeal or teacakes/muffins/bread, chia seed pudding or overnight oats in individual containers, egg bites/quiche/egg casserole, pancakes or waffles that can be frozen, cooked sausages or bacon, etc...
Mediterranean food is another one easy to customize for dietary limitations (like w/mexian) - hummus, cucumber/tomato salad, tzatziki or feta, pita bread or crackers, cooked greek-seasoning chicken, rice/couscous/quinoa, roasted zucchini/eggplant/onions, olives, and lettuce - you can make bowls, salad, sandwiches, etc. or snack on it. It all holds easily too. And, if you're swamped for time, you can buy a lot of it pre-prepared, so it's not too hard to pull together too.
So many good ideas here. I often do black beans and rice (with ham unless vegetarians) along with a salad and some bread. Or else I will do something for breakfast. If you have a house full of people it sure helps to have something for breakfast that you don't have to think about making.
When my father-in-law died (in south Florida) one of the best things someone brought was several coolers filled with bags of ice! And another friend brought a large supply of paper products which was a life-saver.
Soup and bread, ravioli or lasagna, a pan of chicken (bean free) enchiladas, individual or a huge chicken pot pie (beef does not seem as well received). If they have kids, mac and cheese is always a huge hit because even picky kids usually will eat that.
I have a go-to vegan, GF "chili" that nearly everyone loves. It is also easy, freezes well, makes a large batch, reheats well, and is very nutritious but comforting. It's SO good.
You need:
1 onion
2-3 cloves garlic
Bell peppers - I use 2-3 in a variety of colors, or a big handful of mini sweet peppers
Green beans (frozen, fresh, or canned) - a cup or two
Corn (ditto) - a cup or two
1 can of diced tomatoes or about 4 large tomatoes, diced
2 cans of red kidney beans
Water or GF veggie stock, or any other stock you prefer - just enough to add some liquid
Cumin & chili powder
- Heat up your oil in your pot. Start with the diced onion, until translucent. Add the garlic (minced) and also add your spices - it's dealer's choice here, but I like a couple teaspoons of each. Heat 'em up, stir it around, don't let the garlic burn.
- Add the bell peppers, diced. Cook for just another minute or two.
- Then add everything else. Don't add too much water, just enough to make it easy to stir.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Let it simmer until all the veggies are cooked. Can eat in as little as 30 minutes, or let it simmer longer for more flavor.
You can add other veggies or leave out something. You can add other beans. You can add tofu crumbled, or shredded chicken, or really just about anything. It's going to be delicious.
It's extra good with shredded cheese & greek yogurt, and served with tortilla chips.
Fried rice and baked ziti.
Bread is a good idea! This evening I'm taking a meal to a family in my neighborhood who recently lost their 16 year old son to COVID. I'm taking pulled pork with BBQ sauce, buns, macaroni and cheese (they also have young kids and every kid loves mac and cheese, right?), baked beans, and sweet tea. If I have time, I may pick up a cobbler for dessert. I don't know if this is a good meal idea or not, but I was thinking a pork roast would feed a lot of people.
@Lindsay, Ooh, sixteen! So young. My heart goes out to your neighbors!
My experience is for individuals or couples, not family meals. I like doing something where the whole meal or leftovers can be saved for later. A friend had a family member in the hospital recently and her schedule was all over the place, and I didn’t want to put extra pressure on eating something before it went bad. Soup, stew, meatballs are all freezer-friendly and adaptable for any dietary restrictions. I’ve also done a snack-plate package, like mozzarella, olives and crackers - to balance out all the lasagnas! A bag of oranges or clementines or jar of applesauce is nice too.
I've been involved in a lot of these and here are my lessons learned:
1) Use containers that don't need to be returned and say so in the note.
2) Include cooking/reheating instructions, preferably written on the container so they don't get separated from the food.
3) Avoid heavy foods, carby foods, and Italian, because everyone does those.
4) Ask whoever's doing the organizing (not the recipient) about restrictions and sensitivities.
5) If you can, go heavy on the protein and fresh produce.
6) It doesn't have to be fancy and it doesn't have to be homemade.
7) Some of my best-received items:
- meatloaf (I make mine with Bovril, grated onion, seasoned panko or grated potato, and egg to bind it)
- meatballs (see meatloaf, above)
- roast chicken, already cut up
- ribs
- roast beef, already sliced, with juices to keep it moist
- prepped produce: bagged salad, fruit/veggie trays, baby cut carrots, bags of cut apples, easy peel clementines, cut melon
- dips with veggie trays: hummus, guac, homemade onion/garlic/spinach; almost no one can tell the difference between dip made with yogurt and dip made with sour cream; use the yogurt to keep it light because so much donated food is fatty and carby
- baked apples
- blueberry sauce, which is as easy as simmering blueberries with a bit of liquid till they dissolve; a bit of candied ginger is nice
- overnight french toast, along with maple syrup and simmered fruit for toppings
- breakfast bakes, which are eggy dishes
- frozen bagged dinners, such as Contessa or Birds Eye, with an extra bag of veggies to throw in while cooking
- frozen pre-cooked shrimp
- frozen dumplings (they're dead easy to cook if you know now: 10 minutes in a steamer or 3-5 in the microwave in a container with water)
- if they have kids, Lunchables or frozen PB&Js for ease factor
- homemade moussaka
@WilliamB, yes! You are so right!
I simply ask, either a member of the family or someone close enough to know about food issues. I myself am gluten sensitive (so no bread or pasta for me) and one of my children is nut-allergic. No act of kindness like a meal should go uneaten for fear of ingredients.
@Denise, You reminded me of another lesson learned: list the ingredients.
Chicken and dumplings from rotisserie chicken
Meatloaf and vegetables baked around it
Vegetable soup
Mac and cheese with broccoli added
Muffins for breakfast
I once took someone sweet and sour red cabbage with apples and onion. She called to ask what was the delicious purple stuff she couldn't identify.
My standby is chicken rice soup and applesauce. My husband is famous for his chicken parmigiana which he makes in epic quantities so there is often enough for recipients to share or eat on for days. Getting a balanced meal is always a challenge.
My go-to is a baked potato bar!
* Free of many common allergens.
* Can be 100% customized to the family (vegetarian? omit meats. don't like mushrooms? don't include them).
* Easy to store and reheat.
* Easy to transport in reusable containers (no spilling).
* Both filling and frugal.
* Somewhat unusual--won't be the 40th container of chili or chicken breast the family receives.
* Comforting. Everyone loves baked potatoes!
I do potatoes for each member of the family, a couple veggie toppings (broccoli, chives, peas), meat if they eat it (bacon bits or pulled chicken), cheese if they eat it (cheddar), and a side salad with appropriate dressing. It's always a hit!
I have had success with lots of options but I try to tailor according to the season, sales and of coursed the family I am serving. I have brought soups and homemade corn muffins or bread, main dish salads with meat on the side - think bbq chicken salad or chicken Caesar but meat packaged separately so everyone can enjoy. Roasted chicken with a bit of bbq sauce or peach salsa, veggies and a starch. Chili with all the fixings. Casserole and a salad. Dessert - I try to make something homemade but only if I know it will be well received and enjoyed. I have lost many loved ones in my life and we found that desserts, fried chicken and lasagna always seem to be in abundant supply. Fruit baskets are good options. I am of the opinion that when someone brings me a meal I am always grateful no matter what it is - the gesture is most important even if it is something we don't love.
In the upper Midwest the classic "sympathy food" is a casserole. People often write their names on glass casserole dishes so they can be returned easily--which creates another social interaction. Alternately the casseroles can be made in disposable foil pans. Casseroles can be reheated easily either in the oven or microwave, and they can often be frozen as well.
The other thing that always works in such situations is soup. Almost any soup can be transported easily in plastic ice cream , whipped topping, or margarine containers. Soup can be reheated easily and can be refrigerated or frozen if not used right away.
My favorite thing to bring to friends is soup, and I’ve recipes that run from vegan to meaty. I make a point of using containers that I don’t expect back (reused Talenti containers for the win!) so the recipient can just enjoy the food without worrying about returning anything.
@N, gah, I did not mention which soups! Peanut sweet potato stew (vegan) cream of artichoke (vegetarian) and chocolate lamb chili (omnivore) are my favorites. The ingredients for at least one of the above are always on hand, and they all cook in the crockpot. I can easily make enough for our dinner in addition to whatever I’m dropping by for a friend.
I make enchiladas in large quantities (around 10-12 pans at a time) and freeze them, same for lasagna. Then when someone needs a meal or I want to gift a teacher, I can just pull them out of my freezer. The receiver can either freeze until they want them or make immediately. When I freeze the pans I wrap them with a tag that says what it is, how to reheat and my name and date so they know where it came from and how to do it. Another thing the freezes well is pot pie. Unfortunately I do not have any tips for food allergies. I haven't had to deal with that, would be interested to see what others suggest.
There are a lot of good ideas on here! A tip I have is-just ask the family what they like. I usually say something like "I'd love to bring you a meal. Some ideas I had were lasagna, chicken enchiladas or chili soup. Do any of those sound good to you?"
Sometimes I'm surprised what people pick and that way you can hopefully avoid bringing the same thing as someone else.
I have been the recipient of meals after babies and hospitalizations. I was grateful for every meal i received because it was one less thing i had to worry about. This was especially welcome after we had had an infant in PICU and were 2 weeks out from more surgery.
The most memorable for me were an orzo dish with chicken and a vinegrette and salad on the side. An a friend sent homemade lasagna still warm in a cooler. i was instructed to put the dish back in the cooler when we were done with it. I was not allowed to wash the dishes. And then i put the cooler back on my front porch for pick up.
For a while, all i could manage for meals i sent was frozen lasagna from costco, packaged garlic bread and bagged salad. Part of me felt guilt that it was not home made but i also knew that not having to worry about the meal is important. Also, sometimes you end up with a bunch of left overs and it’s nice to have something you can freeze for another day.
What not to do-it was done with good intentions which I appreciate BUT. We were gifted meal kits from one of the delivery services where they send the food and you make it. This was NOT what we needed home with a post surgery infant and a 3 year old. I ended up throwing away an unmade meal and feeling lots of guilt because it was just too much.
Recently, I did a take and bake type pizza. I always have extra pizza dough, so i contacted a sick friend and offered a meal. I made the pizza on a pizza pan and they just put it in the oven when they were ready for it. This friend is a single mom with an 8 year old boy. I sent salad but also went through my kids snacks and sent a selection along with lemonade mix. the son loved it because of course with mom sick, they were running low on snacks.
I've been cooking once a week for the past 6 months or so for a young family that lives down the road. The mom has been battling breast cancer - she's such a warrior. With 2 young children, 4 & 2 years. Her husband has been such a wonderful partner, besides working he's been taking care of their farm animals.
Here's what I've learned - agree on disposable containers. My friend keeps them & reuses.
Fruit is a popular snack, grapes, melons, strawberries, mandarin oranges. Was everything that needs it, or cut the melons. (Cantaloupe and melons like that seem to stay down for chemo patients.)
The young boys seem to love pudding, some I make from scratch, other times the strawberry mousse by Dr. Oetker does the trick.
Breakfast for supper - homemade waffles, turkey sausages, scrambled eggs, strawberries that have a bit of sugar sprinkled over and left to sit to make a lot of juice - with a can of whipped cream - her boys have a lot of fun with that!
I try not to do pasta too much - as that is what other people have been bringing.
Agreed, homemade bread, or biscuits. Last week I took homemade garlic bread to round out a meal.
Another round out is a bottle of homemade relish.
Meat pie - the French Canadian torchière type, and the Upper Peninsula hand pies have both been hits. For the boys I put the meat pies in big tart tin foil - those were really popular.
One week I included a bottle of Goober peanut butter - it has the strawberry jam already in it. The boys liked it on toast. I think the name of it tickled them.
I've done "Taco Salad" hamburger with taco spice & peppers, can of beans, onions. Washed lettuce in paper towel then in a bag. Tomatoes diced and separate. Bottle of Catalina or Russian dressing. And a bag of spicy taco chips. My cookee puts it altogether at meal time. The boys are amazed that they get "chips" for supper.
Spinach salad with strawberries or oranges, poppy seed dressing.
Coleslaw with raisins & sunflower seeds.
Shake 'n bake chicken thighs with rice.
Quiche went over well, her husband took the leftovers for a work lunch.
I always include books for the boys (2nd hand, I'm an avid BookCrosser)
Sometimes knitting books for my pal. Farming type book for her partner.
Oh, and I write a note or letter for her. She has said this is the first thing she dives into the box looking for. It started with a note card with an explanation of what the meal was. If it was a family recipe, or from a book. Now I take a picture of the recipe and include it in a print out. These days I've been writing a 2 page letter - but then I tend to run on with words, as you've guess by this! She writes back too. Kinda fun.
With Covid, the family has a big plastic tote with a lid set at the bottom of their stairs. They ask everyone to put the meal there, and if there are dishes to be returned that's where they'll be. We can't take the chance that my pal will catch Covid, not when her immune system is already taking such a hit.
If you can find an open topped box with hand holds in the sides, those are handy to put the meal in. I get them in the box pile at Costco.
@Karen,
https://imgur.com/23NDAUR
@Karen, Upper Peninsula hand pies... As in... Pasties??? 🙂
There are so many good ideas on this post!
Someone mentioned thinking about lunch and it reminded me of the time when our daughter was in kindergarten and the father of one of her classmates unexpectedly died of a heart attack. The teacher had organized dinners for his wife and daughter, but my husband had the idea to make the daughter bag lunches every day. He made the lunch to match our daughter's lunch all the way down to identical lunch notes. It wasn't particularly that much extra work since he was already making lunch for our daughter, but the mother told me later that it made her feel so supported to know that someone else was taking extra care of her daughter when she was just struggling to get through the days. The kid thought it was very novel to see what her lunch would be each day, and of course, five-year-old girls are always tickled to be twinsies with their friends. It would have been a lot harder to do if our daughter hadn't been in her class, but I thought I'd throw it out there as an idea to bless a family with kids.
I think Kristen mentioned recently that one of the best ways to show someone you care about them is to show their children some love, and a kid in a family that is in crisis can always use a little extra TLC.
@Becca,
Your dh is a class act.
@Becca, what a wonderful idea. My daughter is five, and I’m just imagining what this would mean to me. It’s lovely.
Having just given birth to my 4th child, the best meals I’ve received this time around: a fresh (not from a bag) salad, with grilled chicken and homemade dressing on the side. (You could also add a protein like chickpeas on the side for a vegetarian option.) And a container of good Greek yogurt, homemade granola and cut up berries on the side for quick parfaits (which are good any time of day, not just reserved for breakfast).
After my last baby, I got so many bags of salad that I swore never to take a
bag of salad with a meal again. While I was thankful for the meals, one can only eat so much salad. I found an easy alternative to be steam-in-bag fresh veggies. While they are more expensive then I would buy for regular use, they are perfect for adding a veggie side to a meal. For families with kids I often do pizza casserole, veggies, and garlic bread. Soup is good as well. Dollar Tree has some great containers for delivering soup.
One of my favorites is to make individual sandwiches that can be warmed up in the oven.
I like using dinner rolls or Hawaiian rolls with roast beef or turkey and cheese. Add a sauce and then wrap them individually in tin foil. Then I put them in a big ziplock bag and they can go in the freezer to be popped in the oven when needed. (I think I adapted a pioneer woman recipe).
This was a great addition to a bunch of food I made for my sister when she had her first baby and for my parents when my dad had surgery. I also made chicken fingers, a beef and broccoli recipe that could be dumped into a slow cooker, and pre-portioned cookie dough ready to bake! All frozen so they could eat when needed.
I love all these ideas. Here are several more that have been successful for me that I don't see listed. I usually take hot, ready-to-eat foods in the situations I have been in.
1. Honey mustard baked chicken with cooked rice, a side veggie, a bagged salad, and cookies. (suitable for GF diets) (This one almost always gets requests for the recipe which is super simple.)
2. Shepherd's pie--layered hamburger, mixed cooked veggies, mashed potatoes, and cheese. Send a bagged salad or fruit salad and rolls. (suitable for GF diets as long as the bread is optional)
3. Soup--Cheddar Chowder or beef barley are easy and tasty--bread or buns, veggie tray and dessert
4. Scalloped potatoes with ham, baked Mexican corn, a bagged salad, and cookies or bars for dessert
Swedish meatballs and egg noodles!
A friend brought me a large container of tuna salad after I had my first baby. I loved that it could be eaten without having to be heated and that it could be served in a variety of ways--as a sandwich, on a bed of lettuce, etc.
Frequently I take a meal which is fully prepared but not yet cooked. I include oven temperature and cooking time for reference. I can't always deliver meals at dinner time and this way the recipient can pop it in the oven and have it ready to eat at a time that suits them best. One of my favorites is chicken breasts in a tangy yogurt and honey marinade. I include foil wrapped potatoes for baking and perhaps a salad if they are low on fresh veggies. It's good for the gluten free and/or heart healthy crowd and not likely to be duplicated
My daughter has some very serious food allergies, and I would not feel comfortable feeding her food that I couldn't vet. Regardless of what you bring, it is worth asking the family what they are comfortable receiving. Perhaps give them 2 choices of meals, or offer to bring ingredients/supplies, and see what their preference is.
@Carla, Allergies is a really good point to keep in mind. My gal I cook for has severe shellfish allergies. I make sure I don't cook anything like that in the days before I do a meal for her - just to avoid cross contamination.
@Carla, I was going to say this. When I've provided meals for other people--especially if they have allergies or sensitivities--they feel safe with the food because my own kids have serious food allergies and I'm an old hand at preparing "safe" food. As much as I love my friends and family, in most cases I'm not comfortable having my kids eat food prepared by others. That's because there's such a learning curve when dealing with allergies. It's easy to prepare something that doesn't have nuts or dairy or the grains with gluten, but that doesn't mean the person who prepared it didn't accidentally cross-contaminate the meal just because there's flour residue in their kitchen or they forgot that butter is a dairy product or they ate a handful of almonds while cooking and didn't realize they needed to wash their hands. Again. With all this in mind, though, if you're providing for a "mixed" family, then receiving a meal that at least some can eat takes that much pressure off.
Regardless of the food provided, I've found that disposable serving pieces are good, especially if they can be recycled. It's too much to ask people to wash and return dishes when they're grieving, ill, caretaking, or recovering from having a baby.
Always include ingredient info.
Bottled salad dressing is good since leftovers just go in the fridge.
It's nice if the food can be frozen, or comes frozen and can go straight into the oven when they want to eat it.
The last time I organized a meal train (for a friend undergoing cancer treatment), we modified the schedule part way through so they got meals every other day. That way they had an opportunity to eat up leftovers.
What a useful question! All of us have meal trains occur from time to time so we all need good advice on options. It hadn’t occurred to me that you can send gift cards. I was thinking the point is homemade but the recipients would likely enjoy mixing it up. Such a lot of great ideas on items to bring and not to bring.
Along with the wonderful regular features, Kristen allows the community to share on timely discussion questions of interest to all.
One suggestion is to check with what others are bringing so the recipient doesn't get an overload of one thing. Example, when I had food surgery everyone brought some type of vegetable soup, appreciated but soon got tired of soup. There is a recipe for Little Cheddar Meatloaves that most people really enjoy and I also make what we call Old Settler Beans that has hamburger and several different kinds of beans so can be a side dish or main.
These are just general comments concerning homemade goods for people with gluten allergies or celiac:
-There can't be wheat flour around (obviously),
-All ingredients need to be gluten free and uncontaminated by other baking/cooking,
-Wheat flour can float in the air for up to 24 hours, so it can land later and contaminate other food/surfaces even if you clean right afterward,
- All bowls, spoons, etc. used need to be dishwasher safe or there could be gluten on them. (Handwashing can't get rid of gluten to be celiac safe.)
Honestly, at this point, I don't give food to my food allergy and celiac kid unless I make it or my mom makes it (not even her aunts, paternal grandmother, or godmother).
@Nikki, I'm the same way with my food allergy kids, especially the one who's allergic to all the gluten-containing grains (and a few that aren't) + dairy + nuts. I trust my mom, and I'd probably trust one friend, but conversations with the rest lead me to believe it wouldn't be safe.
Pizza delivery-lol
I used to love to make a huge shredded pork shoulder and send a dish with a few bottles of sauce, a bag of buns and some family friendly side dishes...
But with people worrying about eating foods prepared by others since the big *P* started , ( in addition to my recent hair falling out issue) I hate the idea of sending a meal and my random hairs finding their way along ( no matter how well I tie/cover my hair- ugh)
But I love to help others and be a blessing so when a meal is needed I love to find a night among all the homecooked meals to send a favorite pizza, kids especially love it!
Another option is paper products - plates, cutlery, napkins, toilet paper, etc. You can include some quick snacks or other grocery staples (milk, bread, etc).
I love bringing meals! I really love that platforms like Meal Train exist, this makes it so easy to coordinate and make sure everyone is aware of dietary restrictions/preferences. You can also see what others are bringing so the afflicted person/new parent doesn’t end up with 2 solid weeks of Baked Ziti.
As to what to bring- I am pretty sure this is why casseroles were invented. We jokingly call them Casseroles of Hope around here. A nice shepherd’s pie or chicken pot pie is a great and easy idea. Just double it so you get one as well.
A nice roast is also a good idea. For sides, I like to provide baked sweet potatoes and some traditionally cooked green beans (both of these reheat well.) I like to include a loaf of fresh baked bread.
Breakfast foods are very welcome. Bring an egg casserole, some muffins, and some fruit.
For new moms specifically, I like to bring oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I add nuts if I know she likes them. Nuts in cookies are so divisive, aren’t they? Anyhow, with a newborn, you need something you can eat with one hand at 3am.
I go with items that I can easily double so I can feed my family too. I usually do chili and soups. Like you I add a loaf of homemade bread. If I don't have time to cook I go to BJs and get a cooked chicken and some sides. I always try to send some sort of dessert too. Cookies are my baked at home go too. Muffins are a hit too.
A favorite thing I like to bring is a salad that’s a meal like Thai Noodle Salad. Always well received, eaten at room temp or cold so no heating issues, and with rice noodles a tad closer to avoiding food sensitivity. Also healthy!
My go-to meal to offer to bring someone is a pan of pasta bake, a green salad, and a loaf of french bread from the store bakery (wish I could make my own like Kristen does, but yeast breads refuse to cooperate for me).
The pasta bake recipe I use is an old Kraft foods one with only 5 ingredients that I pretty much always have on hand. I can either deliver it uncooked and ready for them to pop in the oven for 20 minutes, or pre-bake and deliver it. Leftovers reheat well, and freeze well also.
Looks like the recipe has been updated since the one I cut out years ago - I prefer rotini, and my recipe uses 3/4 cup grated parmesan (half cup mixed in with sauce, 1/4 cup sprinkled over the top, and 2 cups of mozzarella. Otherwise it's the same details.
https://www.myfoodandfamily.com/recipe/057633/easy-italian-baked-pasta
There’s lots of great suggestions here. Chicken spaghetti is both frugal and reheats well; however twice, recently, I took a meal to others and and took pulled pork to one family and sloppy Joe’s, chips and popsicles to a family with young kids (I asked mom what they’d like and she said sandwiches). In both cases I was thanked repeatedly and told they were ‘pasta-ed’ out. I recently had surgery myself and a friend brought dinner to us, and brought along a small bouquet of flowers to help cheer me up. Boy did they! And I’m embarrassed to say I’d never thought of that myself.