The Joys of Taking Meals to Others: Keep it Simple

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

The Joys of Taking Meals to Others: Keep it Simple | Family Economics

helping a friend

Our friend recently had surgery so I took a meal to her family while she was recovering. I don’t stress over taking meals to people. I use what I have and I know from past experience that any kind of meal is appreciated when you are in need. Even if you do get enchiladas two nights in a row!

use what you have

Maybe easy enchiladas or a chicken pot pie, a few tulips from our yard (or whatever blooming flowers we have) and a fresh salad in a Ziploc® bag.

I love layering the ingredients for the salad – starting with toasted nuts, onions, maybe some feta cheese and then chopped lettuce. On top I'll add some fresh fruit like raspberries or mandarin oranges. Then I push the air out of the bag and seal it up!

I don't feel like I need to take a multi-course meal. Even an entree is enough and appreciated. Occasionally I'll slip in a plate of brownies.

Do you ever take meals to others? Do you keep it simple, or do you feel like you have to take a multi-course meal?

5 Comments so far

On Tuesday, July 06, 2010, The Shepherd's from Phoenix, AZ wrote

Our neighborhood and our church have experienced a lot of growing families in the last 5 years. We are actually two weeks away from having our 4th child (all will be 5yrs and under). Woooooweee! We really support each other with the meal schedules. We put together a website that has been a huge help for us all, called Food Tidings (www.foodtidings.com), and it has made the process of coordinating meals and signing up to bring meals to our friends and family almost totally automatic. Thanks for the awesome article and enjoy!

On Friday, July 02, 2010, Jonlyn in Central Point, OR wrote

I am also on a meals ministry team at our church. I like to try to make more than I think they need for one meal, so they have some left over for lunch the next day. I also like to buy dishes or foil containers at the dollar store to use for the food and not take anything with the meal that they would need to return.

On Friday, July 02, 2010, Melissa D from Atlanta wrote

I keep it simple, too -- and since casseroles can come in waves and stack up when someone's had a baby or needs meals, one thing I do is offer stuff that is lunchy-brunchy: chicken salad with halved grapes, toasted almonds and diced celery (mix it with half mayo and half coleslaw dressing); dutch apple cheese muffins, and pasta salad and fruit salad. If I don't have time to make a meal, I'll take them some good bread or bagels, organic milk, fruit, coffee and juice and half and half... things they can use for themselves and for overnight guests (and that tend to disappear quickly).

On Friday, July 02, 2010, Merry in St. Charles wrote

I'm on the meal ministry at church and I'm always looking for ideas. I do like to take an entree, vegetable, bread and a dessert. I also like to take it so they don't have to do any prep work, so it's all hot to go. I have a friend who's work place set her up on Take Them a Meal. It was a great service. But I know from that experience that her family really appreciated the vegetables! Who woulda thunk! Oh, btw, I once had a family who's "dietary restrictions" were, no orange food.? :o)

On Thursday, July 01, 2010, Kirstin wrote

I thoroughly enjoy taking meals to people who need the and do it very similar to you!

Thank You

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