What’s your favorite food to bring ?
 

Later this week, I’ll be visiting casual friends (he’s terminal) and most likely I will bring a soup or a casserole so I decided to ask here - do you have a favorite food to bring to the sick or bereaved. Cookies or cake are both good but he’s diabetic. I can always use new ideas.

Chicken Soup
Cookies (small)
Chicken stew and dumpling mix
Whatever you take don't take too much. While my husband was dealing with cancer and I was dealing with a severe infection and knee replacements (4 surgeries on one leg in one year), people would bring dozens of muffins, cupcakes, etc. The best food related things we got were a week's worth of meal starters - 3 cups of soup, meals for two or three (already frozen), half a dozen rolls, small loaf of bread. One friend did this twice and it was a great help to have meals already in the freezer. She'd portioned everything out and supplied reheating or finishing instructions.

I'm with SuzzyQ .... same thing when my husband was sick and then died, it was nice to receive the desserts/sweets as a treat, but we more-so welcomed the main course foods as they were more satisfying. He was a meat and potatoes type of person, and continued to enjoy them until close to the end.

Speak with your friend and ask her what she would like you to bring.
There could be restrictions as to what he can or cannot eat.
And perhaps you already know the answers.
Plus remember his wife, there might be a food that she would really enjoy
that she would not have the time or energy to prepare herself.

One of the things I appreciated the most was when someone would say,
we're bringing supper for you tonight. What time should we come?
They would arrive, with food straight from their oven and ready to serve.
They'd often set the table, and leave everything ready, even setting the table
....... and then leave!!!

Sometimes it was just nice to be left on our own to enjoy that meal,
without the commotion that others can create.

That's so nice that you want to bring them something. I would suggest a lasagna that has been cut up and packaged into 1-2 person portions. That way, they can put them into the freezer and have meals available on those tough days, when no one wants to cook.

~ C

You could also buy some compartmentalized microwaveable containers and fill with meatloaf (or sliced turkey with gravy), mashed potatoes, veg. Simple but good - freezable, too.

Down here in the Deep South, I would take a gumbo or jambalaya. Or some type of Chicken & pasta dish that could be reheated quickly. I love the idea of freezing it and having it ready to thaw and serve. If your freezer is like mine, I would need to know that I needed to clear freezer space. Other foods that freeze well for me, are Turkey or chicken and dressing, corn and shrimp soup, vegetable beef soup and almost any chicken dish.

Meatloaf is a great comfort food and not a lot of people like to put the time into it...you can make a couple of small loaves rather than a large one and they freeze well too.

Shepherd's pie, macaroni and cheese, stew, small roast . . .

One thing my mother always commented about (she was full time care giver to my aunt) was how wonderful for friends to drop off real food and then leave after a short visit. The ones that stayed and ate with them really caused more stress. She liked any casseroles that could be re heated for leftovers the next day. And a pan of cornbread was welcomed.

Breakfast casseroles that are prepared the night before and then can be popped into the over are great. My sister-in-law used to always put one together in a disposable pan, cover with aluminum foil, and tape the cooking directions on top along with a copy of the recipe and deliver them to people who were ill or who had a death in the family. She brought them over the night before so they were ready to go for breakfast the next day. Reactions were always the same - everyone was so appreciative to have something warm and hearty to serve for breakfast and that was also good warmed up throughout the day and even the next day.

I have adopted this practice and get good responses also.

I would check for dietary restrictions. So many of the suggestions sound delicious but wouldn't work in my household because of my husband's list of foods he can't have because of health issues.

I have a great recipe for meatloaf, taken from Family Circle, 9/76. I take it to potlucks and when it is my turn to be hostess for Faith Circle monthly meeting. There were several pages of recipes under the heading of Marvelous Meatloaves. My favorite is "The Store" Meatloaf by Bert Greene. Through the years, I have made many adjustments to the recipe. One of our friends is diabetic, living alone. I bought very small loaf pans and cook the meatloaf in as many as I can fill up. They freeze well. I have never met a man yet who does not like a meatloaf sandwich.
If someone is sick and I can't get excited about cooking or am pressed for time, I take them a quart carton or two of the Organic Chicken Broth from Costco. A cup of that heated in the microwave is so very good. I keep a good supply of the cartons of chicken stock, buying extra each time I shop at Costco. They now carry cartons of Bone Broth, but to me, it is tasteless.

You may want to find out what they've already had recently so you can change it up.

When I was on bedrest for 6 weeks following a traumatic birthing experience, my church brought meals every night except weekends. This was before "Take Them a Meal" online was a thing. I really appreciated the people who called and said, "I could make this, this, or this, just tell me which sounds best to you." One dear friend said, "What would you REALLY like to have?" Of course you hate to sound picky, but you do get cravings. And I told her I really was in the mood for chicken enchiladas. No one had made those. And so she said she'd be delighted. 16 years later and I still remember that. Fresh fruit was a big hit, too. Fresh salad, too--with dressing.

I always appreciated folks who would also bring extra paper plates and something to drink for the family (we had 3 older kids when the baby was born, so they went through food and drinks like nobody's business).

I always pre pay for pizza delivery in the person's area. Equivalent to five large supreme pizzas to be delivered anytime, one or more at a time. Easy for me and convenient for the person to choose what they want when they want it. One friend that lived alone said it lasted her for a year. She always got one topping med pizza.

Great idea of paper plates and cups etc. Also disposable (recyclable) containers. After my Dads death Mom had so many casserole dishes and cake plates to return. Some had names but many did not. So we just put them all on the dining room table and let people take their own. Only one problem when one woman said another woman took her dish because it was better. We let them fight that out on their own! :)

I was injured and unable to prepare food for a while. A friend asked what she could do for me. We eat tons of fresh cut veggies and fruit. I asked for a small container of each for in between noshes. She's my forever Angel!