<p>My sister recently had a medical crisis and people brought food. Some things that were really appreciated:
Cut up fruit, it was so great to have something light to eat after days of heavy food. One person made sandwiches up, they were so good and so easy to just take and go.
Soup was great but she had tons and tons of chicken noodle soup, also lots of pasta. It was all appreciated but she had lots.
Someone made Italian beef sandwiches which were also great, pulled pork or something like that would also be good.
Homemade mac and cheese. My BIL loved this, it’s mild and filling and good for someone recovering from surgery. It’s also really cheap to make.
Meatloaf and mashed potatoes, my sis loves this. My family wouldn’t eat it but they loved it.
Stromboli, another easy meal to make later.
A quiche was also a big winner.</p>
<p>If someone can make a schedule and people know what others are bringing that would be awesome. I know there are actually websites you can use to do this. When I was having chemo I got lots of lasagna and lots of rotissiere chickens…
Not that they weren’t appreciated but spreading out over time is good.
Also the schedule can show when a meal is needed/days they might not need meals…
I had a good week and bad week. During the bad week I requested milder foods during the good week pretty much anything went.
The idea about as few things to return is great.
Thank you for doing this, it is really appreciated by the families.</p>
<p>We use www dot mysignup dot com to make sign up lists to feed my boys large EC team. During the season each family takes a turn bringing in dinner for 50ppl. Then your student is fed home cooked meals instead of fast food. It works out great. Just list the days needed. The family may rather have meals every other day. People sign up for the day that works best. The administrator, or organizer, keeps track. I email reminders. We also have a field for what they will bring. This is nice as you don’t duplicate so many things.
My favorite when cooking for a family (not 50!) is meatloaf, homemade mashed potatoes or mac n cheese, fruit salad, and cookies or brownies.</p>
<p>^Not that it matters much, but I forgot the steemed baby carrotts. They are my boys favorites :)</p>
<p>I like to make stew, because it will be fine in the freezer if they already have something. Use containers that don’t have to be returned, because that gets to be a chore. I also agree with those who suggested quiche. Eat it hot or cold or freeze it.</p>
<p>I also agree that it’s good if someone can coordinate a sign up so you don’t all bring things at once.</p>
<p>For something different how about cut up boneless chicken breast in a Tikka marsala sauce. Trader Joe’s sells it in a car. The jar says to add water but I like to add coconut milk. You could bring along some frozen premade rice and the frozen or fresh naan.
My friend recently had surgery on her hip and her family loved the bbq baby back ribs that one of the neighbors brought over.</p>
<p>I sometimes make up simple sandwiches on whole wheat burger buns (they don’t get stale as quickly as bread). I just put sliced meat and cheese in the buns and have separate containers with washed lettuce and sliced tomatoes. I put the sandwiches, the lettuce, the tomatoes and small jars of mayo and mustard in a foil roasting pan with a lid so nothing needs to be returned. This is something that kids will eat and people can grab whenever they want it through the day as they are coming and going. On the receiving end, I found this a welcome change from heavier fare.</p>
<p>The one thing our street learned when helping to feed the kids of a neighbor with stage 4 cancer - take everything in containers that don’t have to be returned! The last thing they need is to worry about or field calls about your casserole dish.
Just bringing in carry-out Chinese can be a help. If the family you are helping is mostly kids - text them, don’t call.</p>
<p>Just saw mafool’s post. Yes, very good advice. Sometimes people don’t feel like eating but what it really means is they don’t feel like making decisions or working to heat up food. Grabbing a small sandwich off a tray is about how much effort a grieving family can take.</p>
<p>My go to meal for sickies is Chicken Tetrazini. Quick and easy (I use chicken from a can), reheats well in the microwave and even little kids will eat it. Add sliced cantaloupe, some French Bread, a bag of salad and a little taste of dessert and you’re ready to go.</p>
<p>I have a friend who was diagnosed ten years ago with a devastating illness. When she got to the point that she could not cook anymore we started a group of volunteers to bring meals. Seven years after starting the meals it is still going strong, providing the family with meals 4 or 5 times a week. The management of the group has changed hands several times as moms go back to work or face issues of their own but, overall, it is still in place. Some things that i have learned about cooking for a sick friend:</p>
<ul>
<li>Everyone wants to make lasagna. It gets old really fast.</li>
<li>Encourage people to use disposable foil pans or plastic containers. It is stressful on the family to have to keep track of people’s dishes and the aluminum ones don’t have to be cleaned.</li>
<li>Their is a website called “Lots of Helping Hands”. It manages tasks for a family in crises. It also allows people to leave messages, photos, etc. People can sign up for meal making, shopping, babysitting, etc. It even sends reminder emails to people when they are cooking for the family. You may want to check it out if your friend is going to need help for an extended period of time.</li>
</ul>
<p>Good luck and I hope your friend feels better soon.</p>
<p>Many of these ideas are good!</p>
<p>Yellow squash casserole (with onions and bread crumbs, topped with cheddar cheese) can be made in advance and even frozen if not needed right away. Potato salad and cole slaw taste better the second day and might be a good change from typical lettuce salads.</p>
<p>Lately, I have been organizing my muffin recipes and trying various ones. So far this week, my two teenage children have eaten 36 muffins! I made some plain and some with chocolate chips. The advantages of muffins are that they can be eaten as the bread with a meal, as dessert or as breakfast the next day.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Great reminder, EPTR!! I always use foil and gallon bags.</p>
<p>As for using muffins, Schokolade–another great idea…</p>
<p>I’ll tenth the lasagna ban. Once a week or two is sufficient. When my parents died one friend brought over 3 chickens that she cooked with artichokes, olives, onions and garlic–no recipe, just threw everything in. I have added/subtracted with: canned tomatoes, capers, Italian salad dressing (artichokes with olivie oil adds extra liquid). Simple and very reheatable. And you can put in some wine, sherry…just taste before adding to the chicken.</p>
<p>My family’s current favorite: (can be served hot or room temp) cheese tortellini with pesto: add chicken Italian sausage (or not), sauteed vegetables (or not)–Trader Joe’s makes pesto, tortellini…sells sausage. No problem and fast, reheatable. Actually TJs (if in your area) is a Godsend for so many things.</p>
<p>Bags of salad, fresh fruit…oh yes, and cookies always appreciated.</p>
<p>If you want to make something healthier than lasagna, here is a recipe that is very tasty and flavorful:</p>
<p>[PCC</a> Moroccan Chicken with Lemon and Green Olives | PCC Natural Markets](<a href=“Recipes | PCC Community Markets”>PCC Moroccan Chicken with Lemon and Green Olives recipe | PCC Community Markets)</p>
<p>Instead of using chicken breasts, I use cut up boneless thigh meat, brown it a bit, then let it simmer in the sauce instead of using the oven. Served with brown rice, it makes a healthy and hearty meal, and it is easy to reheat.</p>
<p>It sound like ellebud and I had similar thoughts :)</p>
<p>BunsenBurner: That sounds delicious!!! And while, in general, I prefer breast meat, thighs are much more flavorful and easier to reheat.</p>
<p>(I’m trying your recipe btw)–Thanks!</p>
<p>I love the comment about something not too heavy and easy on the stomach. Even tho they are not picky eaters, you need comfort food at that time, not someone’s brand-new five-star chili recipe.</p>
<p>I see that rotisserie chickens may have crossed into the “lasagna” overuse pile, but that has always been my go-to…homemade “lemon-butt” chicken (2 cut up lemons shoved in the cavity with fresh rosemary under the skin.) Big store-bought croissants and a salad. Corn casserole (the one with the Jiffy muffin mix). Leftovers are easy to reheat or make into sandwiches. </p>
<p>Loved the quiche idea…with a good pot of vegatable beef soup…I am stealing that one!</p>
<p>And don’t forget a bottle of good wine and something chocolate for dessert.</p>
<p>Twice baked potatoes are a hit with the teens. Make some with bacon and some without. They can be eaten cold or reheated in the microwave.
Also all the great summer salads that can be made with orzo or quinoa. You can do go mexican with black beans, tomatoes, cubed avocado, cilantro and salsa. Greek with toasted pine nuts, sun dried tomatoes, feta cheese, parsley, olives with a lemon/olive oil dressing. Add diced chicken to make it more filling.</p>
<p>I can’t believe I’m writing this, but how about some vegetables? Especially now that it’s summer and fresh veggies and fruits are local? It’s a good balance with all the other “big” meals.</p>
<p>Cut up carrots, celery, peppers and serve them with hummus.
fresh salads
Simple meals like wraps (have on hand grilled peppers and onions with grilled chicken)
comforting soups: carrot and ginger, chicken noodle, gazpacho (not too spicy)</p>
<p>Thank god for the website “Lotsa a Helping Hands” (as EPTR suggested), It helps keep friends and family on the same page so that everyone can help in whatever way is meaningful to all the caregivers, family, and the patent. </p>
<p>[Lotsa</a> Helping Hands - Home](<a href=“http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/]Lotsa”>http://www.lotsahelpinghands.com/)</p>
<p>I like to bring a baked turkey breast and lots of veggies. Great for a hot meal and leftovers.</p>