Episode 34: Taking Dinner to a Friend

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1. Three Services that help coordinate meals.

Meal Train

Take Them a Meal

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• Try to take dinner to 2 families on the same night. It is not much more work and you can bless two families.
• You can just order pizza and that is okay. This is about helping others, not perfection.

If you can, look and see what other meals they are receiving and try not to bring the same dish.

Check to see if they have any food intolerances or allergies and read labels to make sure you do not include any ingredients they can’t eat.

• Be prompt or consider taking the meal earlier in the day so they can eat when it is convenient.
• Use disposable containers.
• Take a meal for them to put in their freezer and use on a busy day. My favorite freezer meal to take is BBQ Beef.
• Don’t forget to bring side dishes. I usually bring fruit or veggies and a dessert. Some good side dishes to bring:

-Mexican Rice

-Roasted or steamed veggies like broccoli

-Lettuce Salad (In the bag or box pre-washed.)

-Fruit Salad

-Grapes (washed and cut into small clusters)

-Watermelon (cut)

-Cut up carrots and celery or a veggie tray

                Favorite Desserts:

                                -Rice Krispy Treats

                                –Brownies

                                –Simple blondies (Sarah doesn’t even cut them, just makes them in an 8×8 disposable. She uses the original recipe)

If there isn’t a list of the meals they are receiving, give them three choices of entrees and try to have 2 different proteins (chicken and rice, tacos, BBQ beef)

• Consider the amount of food to bring. Find out how many adults and how many children will be served. Two adults and a three year old will need a different amount of food than two adults and two teenage boys.

-You may want to bring enough to have leftovers. I only advise this if they are only getting 3 or 4 meals a week. If they are getting daily meals you do not want to burden them with the guilt of consuming all the leftovers.

My Favorite Meals to Take

Chicken Caesar Salad – With garlic bread I like to marinate the chicken in my Greek Salad Dressing and grill it.

Shepherd’s Pie from Feast E-Cookbook 

Meatball Subs

Breakfast for dinner (Breakfast Casserole, Orange Streusel Coffee Cake)

Chicken Pot Pie

BBQ Beef

Pioneer Woman Drip Beef

Paleo- Roast Chicken and Veggies

Kielbasa and Vegetable Sheet Pan Meal (veggies are highly adaptable) 

Tacos

Chili and Cornbread