About two months ago, I had my fourth child, a 7 pound baby boy. It’s true, I haven’t received many baby gifts, but instead gotten something so much better, the gift of meals. While recovering from birth and getting used to a newborn back in the house, the last thing I want to think about is “what’s for supper”.
From babies, to surgeries, to illness, or even just because, the gift of a meal, such a comfort in a time of need. Here are a few simple tips and tricks to help create the perfect meal for someone in need:
1. Use containers that don’t need to be returned. Having to remember who brought what, and where return dishes can be daunting. Try to gift your meal in containers that the person can keep forever. Consider a aluminum casserole dish for the main course, and recycled glass jars or ziplock bags for the sides.
2. Drop of the meal at a time that is convenient for them, and don’t linger. Don’t expect to sit down, visit long, or cuddle the new baby. There will be time in the future to catch up, and your friend’s time and privacy needs to be respected. Also, when at all possible, leave your children home as to avoid adding more chaos to the situation.
3. Bring a meal that will keep or freeze well. In the case that they don’t eat the food quick enough, or want to save half for later, consider a meal with longevity, such as casserole or soup.
4. Think about the whole meal. In addition to your main dish, make sure to add a loaf of bread, fruit, and by all means don’t forget dessert! Make sure to include any condiment or sauce that will complete the meal and make it delicious.
5. Make it easy on yourself. Keep in mind that not everything has to be made from scratch (but if that’s your thing, feel free to go that extra mile). Include a loaf of crusty bread from the grocery store bakery, a premixed bag of salad, and a simple pint of their favorite ice cream.
6. Double it. If you’re going through the effort of creating a fantastic meal for a friend, make two of everything, and dinner’s complete for your family as well.
7. Make it pretty. Including a special touch such as fresh cute flowers, cute napkins, or even a bottle of their favorite wine. Always include a little handwritten note, letting your friend know you’re thinking about them. And please, let them know you don’t expect a thank-you note in return. Because you already know they’re thankful…
8. There’s an app for that! Many hands make light work. Create a meal train amongst their community for friends, family, and neighbors. Set up a delivery schedule for your friends, until he or she is back on their feet.
9. Keep it simple. Make a meal that isn’t too complex to serve. Only include food that can easily be eaten in bed, on the sofa, or one handed while mom is nursing the baby.
10. Know your audience. Is it a breastfeeding mom who is avoiding spice? Or a friend avoiding gluten or dairy? Also, don’t forget the kids. The last thing a new moms wants to do is make her other children a meal because the gifted meal wasn’t kid friendly.
Remember, you need not be a trained chef or world class baker to pull of a thoughtful gift of a meal to a friend in need.
Emily Elling is a corporate interior designer who lives in central Indiana with her 4 rugrats and drug making husband of 9 years. When she’s not taking care of the monsters, she can be found barefoot in the kitchen or hiding in the isles of her favorite thrift store buying other’s peoples crap. You can read more from Emily on her blog, DesignHer Momma.
I normally take lasagna, salad, garlic bread & a baked good to all my new Mom friends. I like to make the baked good something that could double as a sweet breakfast in a pinch, like oatmeal cookie bars. Remember to leave salad dressing on the side (no one likes a wilted salad!) and I always write ALL the instructions for serving in my note as well as on the tin foil I use to wrap the baking dish- you know, how hot to turn the oven on, how long it can stay in the fridge uncooked and how long to bake it. That way they won’t get lost and they don’t have to guess how long it should be cooked for.
This is such a great idea. My brother and sister-in-law will be having their first child in a few months and I’m definitely going to do this! Thanks for the tips!
This is great! My friends dad just passed away and I was thinking of taking him a warm meal.
I so want to do this, I am just not savvy on WHAT to make, so bring on the suggestions people, what freezes well?
Lasagna (w/precooked noodles), stuffed shells (also precooked noodles), a casserole – my favorite uses chicken, sour cream & cream of chicken soup, but broccoli, chicken & rice is good too.
This reminds me of Steel Magnolias when Annelle makes the casserole because “the recipe says it freezes beautifully, and I want to take something that freezes beautifully!”
Great article! I, too, like to “complete” the meal by adding bag salad, bread and a little treat (cookies, brownies, etc.). I’ll surely pass along this article to others.
When I had my first child 2 months early, and my husband 2 days later shattered his hip at work leaving all three of us in pretty bad shape, the SINGLE best thing anyone did was bring us a lasagna and a loaf of bread. As a result, the minute someone pees on that stick and + comes up, I am on the meal train.
I always bring a ready to be cooked roasted herb chicken (not as glamorous as it sounds – just shove fresh herbs crushed into mayo or butter under the skin and shove a lemon up the bird’s butt), a salad, and a cornbread casserole (again, oven ready). Then, a simple dessert, either cookies or brownies or whatever I can pick up. I try to give a few days as options for when I can drop it all off, so that is they know of people who are planning real visits, I can take the stress of feeding for them. I do a “drive-by feeding”, lightening fast – critical so that the delivery does not become an additional burden. I also like to prep a Shepherd’s pie to be frozen for later. And, as you suggested, I double the recipes so my family eats the same things.
I make lasagna and chocolate chip cookies for new Moms. A bag of “deluxe” frozen green beans and garlic bread make it a meal for now, or everything will freeze beautifully. I know they appreciate it and it’s mighty tasty, too.
As for other things that would travel well… Shepherd’s pie, as someone mentioned. Chicken and noodles (the creamy kind, not soup. I find soup doesn’t travel well, and if they don’t eat it right away, the noodles can get soggy). Enchiladas work well for a make-ahead meal. Salsa and chips and done!
If you’re in a real pinch, or don’t like to cook, a loaf of nice bread and deli meats and cheeses with potato salad and chips would do nicely. And in a real, real pinch: a gift card to a pizza place that delivers.
These are great tips. As for what to make, I say no lasagna (or baked ziti, etc). Yes, it’s a everyone’s favorite and kids eat it, but it’s what EVERYONE does.
I just had this discussion on my page a couple days ago and everyone agreed. These were a couple of my favorite options:
“Veggie-rich soups, a sharp cheddar cheese and a loaf of homemade bread. There is nothing easier or more satisfying than a fantastic grilled cheese with soup.”
“salad mix from the produce dept, a bread from the bakery, a rotisserie chicken and 2-3 sides from the take out counter, a dessert from the bakery, and top it off with a small flower/plant from the floral dept.”
“chilis or stews– whatever ingredients and flavors the family likes!”
“french toast & belgian waffles, eggs (one gladware of scrambled & one of hardboiled), precooked ham slices & bacon, and fresh fruits & veggies.”
“Raid pinterest! They have tons of ideas for putting all the ingredients into a ziploc bag for a total dinner.”
Hope that helps!
A friend of mine had a house fire, in her kitchen a few weeks ago. Knowing she was in a rental house, without any of her usual utensils or even spices. I precooked a teryaki shredded chicken in my crock pot (teriyaki sauce, chicken breasts, 8 hours on low) Purposely not adding veggies so they could dress it up or just have as is. I also sent a bag of rice, two kinds of dessert, small games for the kids (aka: dollar store puzzles) a candle with an electric tea light (haha) and a new crock pot. Crock pots are around $30 for a 6 quart and the bang for the buck….priceless.
FABulous article! I was diagnosed with a serious illness in 2001, and I am still sick. In the beginning friends did bring food for my family and it was so appreciated. One less thing for my family to handle, because I couldn’t. Even dropping off a coffee cake was such a wonderful gesture! Just one thing….don’t forget about your sick friends. Every once in a while drop off something tasty to take the pressure off your friend. It is wonderful when people don’t forget about you, and that you still need some friendly help.
mo
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