TW: @@@ loss- Ideas for meal train

[amberlyrose]

Again, @@@@ TW.
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I have some friends that recently lost a baby and a meal train was set up. She is recovering from a c-section, so I want to be mindful about that as well. They are not picky about food, but I want to have some ideas for our friend group that are easy, healthy, and not just another reheat casserole or soup. If you have any ideas, I'd greatly appreciate it. My mind is going blank and I keep circling back to casseroles. 

[Pilsy]

I'm sorry for their loss.

How about Fiesta Chicken? I use the McCormick mix and set it and forget it in the crock pot.

[jennistarr1]

my advice regarding meal trains in general is the simplest food possible...and casseroles are just kind of not what I want to eat when I'm really struggling and down.
Here's some ideas:
bagels/cream cheese
chicken noodle soup
grilled chicken with a side of orzo and simple veg (all of this should be microwaved and that its it)

[icedcoffee]

How about something fresh and cold since they'll likely have a lot of hot casseroles? Sandwiches? Big entrée salads with crusty bread?

[scm1011]

I've done fixings for tacos a couple times and it has been well recieved (pulled pork or chicken, tortillas, chopped lettuce & tomato, cheese, chips & salsa)

[loira]

I agree to keeping it as simple as possible. I could not tell you what I ate in the days and weeks following my own loss. I didn't eat a ton and food just didn't taste good to me at that point.

You are a good friend for doing this.

[Susie]

I like baked things when I'm down and/or grieving, it's comfort food for me. And also food that is easy to grab. Sitting down to a big heavy dinner often doesn't sound appealing.

Bagels, muffins, that sort of thing is nice. Plus they can be frozen for later in the event of excess.

[Pilsy]

I'll also say, I tend to rely on takeout when I participate in meal trains. I have enough trouble cooking for my own family (both in terms of coming up with ideas and getting warm food on the table on work nights) and am not the most confident cook, so it's often worth the $$ to alleviate the stress it causes me to scramble and actually cook the food myself.

Much of what my family eats isn't something I'm comfortable taking to others, so it's not as easy as just doubling what I'm already making. It's also nearly impossible for me to deliver something at a reasonable time if I'm not able to make it until I'm done with work.

[arielroux]

Do you know how they eat (or even just she eats) in times of stress or grief? When I'm in those situations I really only want snacks and not full meals. I don't want to go to the effort of having to heat something up because it can all seem like too much. My go-to when stressed/grieving/struggling is Doritos or tortilla chips and queso. So, I'm not saying to just buy them Doritos, but if you know there is something that either or both of them gravitate towards or that there is something that is a "comfort food" for them, even if it's not a meal, maybe send some of that.

[lizlemon19]

A rotisserie chicken with sides? They can always eat it cold.
A really good loaf of bread.

[Patsy Baloney]

What about something like charcuterie board fixings? Crackers, bread, cheeses, meats, pickles, olives. I'd put some extra fruits and veg in there, too, and some kind of spreads/dip/honey. Washed berries, carrot sticks, etc.

Maybe toss some chocolates in there for a sweet something.

[al dente]

Not a meal, but fruit all cleaned and cut up ready to eat. If you soak in vinegar/water mix and then store in something airtight it will last for at least a week.

Quinoa salad. I do a Mediterranean one with feta, tomato, cucumber, olive oil, and lemon juice. It's filling but not heavy.

Muffins or bread like zucchini or banana bread.

Idk I like stuff that can just be eaten as is. Sometimes even plating and microwaving food is too much.

[Deleted]

*Ingredients for Caesar salad (or wraps) that they can assemble in a few minutes: bag(s) of cleaned/chopped romaine, Perdue shortcuts chicken strips, shredded parm, croutons, Caesar dressing, soft tortillas

*A pan of lasagna/baked ziti assembled but not yet cooked so they can pop it in the oven within a day or two, or just freeze it for later

[omglol]

I always like to give breakfast stuff and snacks. People get tons of dinner food/casseroles/lasagna type things on meal trains, so I like to mix it up.

I’ve made quiches, breakfast pastries, and fruit salads. Include coffee/juices/etc if you want.

Snacks - anything, really. Bags of chips and salsas, dips, charcuterie stuff, chocolate, candy, etc.

[omglol]

Oh another thing we loved and ate all of when my dad died was sandwich stuff, bread, cheese, chips, etc. That was super handy bc all the people who came over could eat on it, too.

Oh and another time I did this I gave dessert stuff: ice cream/frozen treats/brownies/etc.

[rooster222]

I think the best things are brothy soups, smoothies or snack foods (like the charcuterie suggestion above) that can just be picked at.

Heavy foods are very unappetizing, to me, when I'm upset.

[klingklang77]

When I’m upset, I can’t really eat. I usually go for fruit with yogurt, soups (mostly this), or some sort of egg dish. A meat and cheese board would be good, too.

[sproctopus]

Oct 15, 2021 13:27:25 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

What about something like charcuterie board fixings? Crackers, bread, cheeses, meats, pickles, olives. I'd put some extra fruits and veg in there, too, and some kind of spreads/dip/honey. Washed berries, carrot sticks, etc.

Maybe toss some chocolates in there for a sweet something.

This is a great idea. Her appetite, almost certainly, is going to be absolute shit. Something she can pick at that gives her protein would be great.

[fluffycookie]

I have made this before and prepped and just packaged eveything up and our friends said it was very good.

www.skinnytaste.com/slow-cooker-chicken-black-bean-tacos/

I made this recently for friends that had covid. I used fresh ravoli so it didn't take as long to cook. I sent over two bagged salads and crusty bread.

iheartvegetables.com/easy-ravioli-bake/?epik=dj0yJnU9MU0xNFZVcTRpcjI4VFVfeVR4MTBtbURmV1NPM2NhaVomcD0wJm49X3kzcnpHc1FySElMQmRGX1U3N3FZdyZ0PUFBQUFBR0ZwMHg4

We had this last night and you could make it and put the chicken, broccoli and rice in separate containers. I had the leftovers for lunch and reheated well in the microwave. If they don't like spice do 1/2 tbsp of the chili garlic sauce.

www.frugalnutrition.com/orange-ground-chicken-rice-bowls/

[sproctopus]

Also, I don't know if this is possible, but it would be great if people signed up for dates a bit in the future. The real fucking killer is the world telling you to come back to "normal" and still having to function as an adult like nothing ever happened.

Having someone take care of meals when I was back to work or whatever would've been fantastic. It also helps to know that people are thinking of you even if the tragedy wasn't yesterday.

[followyourarrow]

My favorite meal that we received when we had a loss was a take and bake pizza. We ate it and watched a movie and could feel normal for 2 hours.
A coworker brought tp and paper towels and that was so amazing. Going to the store at that moment to restock was the last thing on my mind.

[amberlyrose]

Oct 15, 2021 14:19:34 GMT -5 sproctopus said:

Also, I don't know if this is possible, but it would be great if people signed up for dates a bit in the future. The real fucking killer is the world telling you to come back to "normal" and still having to function as an adult like nothing ever happened.

Having someone take care of meals when I was back to work or whatever would've been fantastic. It also helps to know that people are thinking of you even if the tragedy wasn't yesterday.

It is scheduled pretty far out and we'll probably continue it longer, depending on when she plans to go back. 

Right now, their families are in town and doing the basics, but we plan to also get a list of mundane tasks together and chip in with those (yard work, groceries, etc). 

[mysteriouswife]

If they were a close friend I would ask the week of your date what they want/need. I would even offer to bring their favorite take out, I can’t tell you how many pasta and casserole dishes I have thrown out over the years.

As a loss mom this is what I wanted. I didn’t want more stuff we wouldn’t eat.

[mysteriouswife]

Oct 15, 2021 14:17:02 GMT -5 sproctopus said:

Oct 15, 2021 13:27:25 GMT -5 Patsy Baloney said:

What about something like charcuterie board fixings? Crackers, bread, cheeses, meats, pickles, olives. I'd put some extra fruits and veg in there, too, and some kind of spreads/dip/honey. Washed berries, carrot sticks, etc.

Maybe toss some chocolates in there for a sweet something.

This is a great idea. Her appetite, almost certainly, is going to be absolute shit. Something she can pick at that gives her protein would be great.

Absolutely. High iron and protein is what I craved after c-sections.

[sonrisa]

Oct 15, 2021 13:05:52 GMT -5 lizlemon19 said:

A rotisserie chicken with sides? They can always eat it cold.
A really good loaf of bread.

This is my go to - a rotisserie chicken, a loaf of good bread, a salad ready to mix up and some fruit (something that doesn't need to be cut to eat). I'll add in a pan of fresh blondies or brownies if I think the family would like it. Everything can be eaten together as a meal if a family member want a sense of normalcy or bit by bit as snacks for the person just trying to get through.

[jewel]

I am so, so sorry.

I would suggest things that aren’t really a “meal” but more snacky or can assemble as a meal whenever they’re ready - fresh fruit and veggies, individual servings of beef jerky, muffins, deli meat and some kind of bread, salad/taco kit, fresh cookies, etc. My go-to is Costco, and just walk around gathering things that seem easy to store and eat.

[longtimenopost]

Do you have a costco membership? I'd love a huge bag of tortilla chips, their 2lb jar of white queso, large jar of fresh salsa, and some guacamole cups. Maybe with a bag of tortillas and some shredded cheese, sour cream, and some of their pulled rotisserie chicken meat. They could do nachos, quesadillas, whatever with all that.

[ellipses84]

Baked enchiladas are a good, easy comfort food. I like to do atypical things, like prepackaged salad bowls, fresh fruit and protein bars.

When a coworker was in this situation we pooled our money for a large gift certificate for a meal delivery service.

[ste]

Oh I’m so sorry. I know I ate little to nothing in the weeks after mine. I honestly couldn’t tell you what H and the kids ate; it’s all a blur. I know when I did start to get any semblance of appetite back, smoothies were one of the things that I could easily manage- they were mindless, could have a lot of protein easily, easy on the stomach and didn’t require a lot of thought. I know I’ve seen ads for those ready to make smoothies that come in the cup ready to go and you just take them out of the freezer? That would’ve been really nice.

I’d also accompany whatever you send with easy stuff like cut/prepped fruit and veggies, maybe sliced cheese/meat, nuts, etc. Stuff that’s easy, fills you up and doesn’t require making an entire meal to keep you running/full.

[mountaingirl]

Oct 15, 2021 12:11:38 GMT -5 amberlyrose said:

Again, @@@@ TW.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
I have some friends that recently lost a baby and a meal train was set up. She is recovering from a c-section, so I want to be mindful about that as well. They are not picky about food, but I want to have some ideas for our friend group that are easy, healthy, and not just another reheat casserole or soup. If you have any ideas, I'd greatly appreciate it. My mind is going blank and I keep circling back to casseroles. 

We had friends go through something similar. We sent over snacks. She was mainly drinking protein shakes, not meals. She just did not want to eat. He said it was nice to have some small bags of chips, candy and such to just grab and not have to think about as they got other meals from people.
I’m so sorry, it is so hard to know what to do in this situation.