We all know someone who has had a baby or lost a loved one. The most comforting thing I like to do is bring them food. Everyone needs to eat and it’s one less stress taken off of them. New parent’s are struggling for sleep and cooking is the last thing on a grieving widow’s mind. I came up with 25 Best Drop-Off Meal Ideas For Loved Ones in Need. My hope is that these ideas will help you as you prepare what you’d like to take them.
Why Drop-Off a Meal
We all experience “life” events and our friends and family will become in need of support one day. Food is my love language so whenever there’s a need, dropping off a meal is my go to.
When someone has a sudden illness, a new baby, or even a death, providing meals is very thoughtful. It takes off so much pressure, especially if the family has hungry little ones. That person/family may be tending to 24 hour care for someone. New parents are exhausted those first few weeks. I’m a new grandma so I know what my son and daughter-in-law were going through. We had a meal train going with family and we all chipped in and took them meals. They even had leftovers so that helped the givers a little bit too.
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What Meals to Bring
When most people think about bringing a drop-off meal, Dinner is what mainly comes to mind. Sunday Dutch Oven Chicken, Oven Roasted Glazed Carrots, and Sour Cream Mashed Potaotes makes a hearty and comforting meal. They are always a good choice. I also love either bring a loaf of bread or a pan of Dinner Rolls. Here’s a few other ideas:
Chicken Enchiladas (with homemade sauce) – I make a big batch and freeze them. Just give a container of the sauce and enchiladas. You can also serve it with a side of black beans and rice. Include sour cream, cheese and avocados for a complete meal.
Here Are Some Other Ideas
Authentic Sunday Sauce – This is a family recipe that I love using with any Italian dish. You could take this with pasta or spaghetti squash. Or make a tray of stuffed shells with it. Add a yummy salad with homemade ranch dressing. And of course, include a French baguette loaf.
Chili -This is a comfort staple. Everyone loves Classic Homemade Chili And White Chicken Chili. Make a pan of Old Fashioned Southern Cornbread to go along with it.
Pizza & Wings – You could have it delivered but make Hawaiian Pizza and Garlic Parmesan Wings instead.
Soups – These one bowl meals go along way! Try Homestead Chicken Noodle Soup, Baked Potato Soup or Old Fashioned Ham & Bean Soup.
Quick Tip
Keep meals simple by making a big batch. You will keep some of the meal for your family and split with the one you are dropping off. There’s no need to make 2 separate meals since everyone needs to eat. Save yourself some time and stress.
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Don’t Forget About Breakfast & Lunch
I know everyone’s mind goes straight to dinner but the family still needs to eat breakfast and lunch. I have some great ideas on what you can take them. When I was making my list, I took different types of dishes to my son and daughter-in-law for their meals. I made sure I brought a variety.
Breakfast
Buttermilk Waffles – This recipe makes 8-10 waffles. For a small family, you can get 2-3 meals out of them. I like bringing eggs and uncured bacon along with them for that added protein. Seasonal fruit like blueberries is a great choice as well.
Homemade Bagels – Makes a dozen so this is easy if you have a lot of mouths to feed. Bring along a few containers of cream cheese, fruit and some juice. This will keep them filled unto lunchtime.
Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage Gravy – These make a dozen as well. Give some to them, keep some for yourself. The recipe can easily be doubled as well. I always serve a healthy carb with good fats and protein. There is sausage in the gravy but add some scrambled eggs along with some fruit. A nice hearty and nutritious breakfast.
Sourdough French Toast – So yummy and will feed a crowd. I’m keeping all of my ideas simple. Just add a protein and good fats source and they will have a nice well balanced meal. Don’t forget the real maple syrup. None of that fake “log cabin” stuff.
Some other Breakfast ideas
- Breakfast Burritos
- Homemade Egg Muffin Sandwiches
- Breakfast Casserole
- Blueberry Muffins
What Are Good Healthy Fats?
Lunch Ideas
Here are some ideas that would be great for lunch. They could also serve as a leftover for dinner the next day.
Homemade Sloppy Joe’s, Coleslaw, and Steak Fries – I love a good sloppy joe, a homemade one that is. It has to have coleslaw on top and there’s nothing like a few fries. These are baked in the oven using beef tallow. So yummy and nutritious.
Egg or Chicken Salad on Sourdough Bread – I like serving this with a side or fruit or Masa Chips.
Burgers with Homemade Buns – These are a classic. The time the family will save from grilling their own will be much appreciated. Bring all the fixin’s too. Serve them with a side of Chickpea Salad or Deviled Eggs.
Desserts
Who doesn’t love a good dessert? These are some of my favorite:
Peanut Butter Pie – This is always a crowd favorite around here. Just make sure no one in the family is allergic to nuts.
Cupcakes – They go along way and these Chocolate Cupcakes and Carrot Cake ones are my favorite!
Cherry Galette – When cherries are in season, I love making this. Don’t forget to bring them some vanilla ice cream to go along with it.
Peach Crisp – Another seasonal favorite. So easy to throw it together. Vanilla ice cream will compliment this as well.
How to Transport Meals
I like to keep things pretty simple. I don’t want any extra work for myself or the recipient of the meal. Making it so they don’t have to do dishes is the best thing to do. Also, if you bring a pretty dish, there’s always that chance you might not get it back. Here are some containers that I use:
- Reusable Meal Prep Containers – These are the best! They are perfect for 2 people or I love them for sides.
- Foil Pans – 9×13 pans are great for casseroles, meats, Italian, etc. Just cover with the included lid. Write the contents and any heating instructions right on the lid.
- Clear Containers for Soups/Sauces – I love these containers. They come in 3 different sizes. Use them for soups, sauces, dressings, etc.
Another Tip
What About Delivery
You could definitely order from one of those delivery places. There’s all kinds of restaurants available. Just make sure the family is ok with receiving it due to a delivery driver coming to their home.
Summary
Don’t want to grind your own flour but still want the nutritional benefits? Here are some places that I order from. They use a Unifine process. It is a type of mill that grinds it so fine. It still keeps the nutrients intact.
- Guardian Grains – (enter code: lhsimpleliving for 15 % off)
- Sunrise Flour Mill – (receive a 20% discount, no code needed)
If you want to get started making Sourdough Bread, I’ve created an ebook. It’s packed with education, techniques, tutorials, videos, and my simple Country Rustic Sourdough recipe. I don’t have time for a lot of fuss.
Conclusion
As we all go through this life with unexpected twists and turns, it’s nice to help others. Let us be a light in this world to those in need. By taking a simple meal to a family in need is such a kind and loving gesture.
Note: Always remember to ask if anyone has any food allergies.
Medical Disclaimer:
The content on our website is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice. It is also not intended to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Wendy Walker, NTP (Little House Simple Living) and the publisher of this content do not take responsibility. This applies to any health consequences that might occur. It applies to any person reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content should consult their physicians. This is especially true for those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications. They should do this before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
Resources
Mazzocchi A, Leone L, Agostoni C, Pali-Schöll I. The Secrets of the Mediterranean Diet. Does [Only] Olive Oil Matter? Nutrients. 2019 Dec 3;11(12):2941. doi: 10.3390/nu11122941. PMID: 31817038; PMCID: PMC6949890.
Fernández LC, Serra JD, Álvarez JR, Alberich RS, Jiménez FP. Grasas de la dieta y salud cardiovascular [Dietary fats and cardiovascular health]. Aten Primaria. 2011 Mar;43(3):157.e1-16. Spanish. doi: 10.1016/j.aprim.2010.12.003. PMID: 21392857; PMCID: PMC7025052.
Wendy Lea Walker, CHC, NTP
Nutritional Therapy Practitioner
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