Best Meals To Take To A Family

FAQS

Top Tips When bringing a meal to a family in need?

• Homemade is not necessary. Grab pizzas, sub sandwiches, or a rotisserie chicken.
• It doesn’t have to be delivered hot. I’ve received a frozen meal with a card saying to pop it in the oven or slow cooker when I need it most.
• Include a simple side dish like Oven Roasted Vegetables, white rice, green salad recipes, Fruit Salad Recipe, or Yeast Dinner Rolls.
• Inquire about dietary restrictions. Gluten-free, dairy-free, peanut allergy, tree nut allergy, or vegetarian.
• Picky eaters. If the family has younger children, you may also ask about what they won’t eat and the food they tend to love.
• Don’t forget dessert. My go-to are easy cookie recipes and brownie recipes. I’ve also been known to include frozen Best Chocolate Chip Cookie dough.
• Easy clean-up. If you’re able, send paper goods that way they don’t have to worry about washing dirty dishes.
• Food containers and dishes. When delivering a meal, consider using disposable containers to avoid causing inconvenience to the recipient.
  • Choose a disposable and oven-safe container for easy reheating, such as an aluminum foil tray.
  • Plastic disposable containers and Ziplocs are good for cold or room-temperature items.
  • Buy glass or ceramic baking dishes at the local thrift store to use. Be sure to tell the person you do not need them back.
  • When sending food in a pan, use one you can live without. Label it with your name & pick it up yourself. Offer to return dishes to others.
• Meal train. When an individual or family has an ongoing difficulty, a meal train is often utilized to easily coordinate the efforts of several individuals who wish to help by providing dinner.
  • Include information about the best times to drop off the dish.
  • On the sign-up, provide an area for people to list what they plan to bring so the family doesn’t end up with 10 days of soup or lasagna.
  • Include food allergy information, likes, and dislikes.
  • Optionally, provide a gift card list of restaurants the family likes so those who don’t have the time or cooking confidence can contribute a meal.

What More Can I do beyond a meal?

• As wonderful as they can be, a meal may not be what is needed most. Or you may want to do something more. Consider a few of the following suggestions:
  • Time out. Take your friend on a walk or hike, to a movie, or out to dinner. Be a good listener.
  • Gift basket. Drop off a self-care basket with some magazines, tissues, favorite candies, lotions, or one geared toward kids that contains coloring books, puzzles, stuffed animals, and treats.
  • Childcare. Depending on your relationship with the family you could offer to watch children to give the parents time for themselves.
  • Cleaning. Sometimes a person in need would love help with household chores. If comfortable enough you could step in and do some, or you may wish to provide a gift card for a cleaning or yard service.