Meal Train Food Ideas
I’ve been the recipient of a meal train once. Although back then it wasn’t a formal meal train. Almost 18 years ago (gasp!), it was just my Mom, my sister-in-law, a friend, and a neighbor. There wasn’t a meal train signup, a group email, or a text thread. Back then, my mom called me on the phone and told me not to worry about dinner because she was bringing us food. The other meals that first month were unexpected, but warmly welcomed.
Day two at home, my mom came in hot with a repurposed box from Costco.
Inside was:
- a beef stew in her biggest round Pyrex dish
- a package of egg noodles
- her vinaigrette
- romaine lettuce prepped in a bag + avocado
- a baggie of chopped parsley (for serving)
- store-bought brownies
She left us with verbal instructions to heat the stew, boil noodles, add butter, and finish with parsley. Of course, she followed up the next day by phone to see if I followed directions, asked how it was, and how the baby was doing. The call ended with the first of many reminders to bring back her salad dressing container.
When I brought my son home during the first week of October, the weather was all over the place. We had rain, sun, and sunny rain. It looked colder than it was, unusually muggy for the Bay Area. The stew carried us for a few days while we lived off the freezer burritos I made during my nesting phase. It got too hot for stew.
And as life goes sometimes, my friend brought us ANOTHER stew, right after we finished my mom’s. I was so grateful, but with the hot weather and the sweaty breastfeeding, I was STEWED OUT. Unexpected company arrived as it does, and lucky for us, her dinner helped feed our friends.
Modern-day technology has solved this problem of repeated meals, but we will get to that later.
When the family frenzy settled, my neighbor Cindy came over with a tray full of nachos along with homemade refried beans, shredded lettuce, and all the fixings. There were probably margaritas too, but my memory zeroes in on the nachos because they were just what I needed on a hot day when I didn’t want to cook. They were a breath of fresh air, not just because it was a break from stew, but experiencing someone else’s love and nourishment while I was so deep in newborn life made me feel like I finally had a village when my family wasn’t around. Being mothered by someone who wasn’t my mom was such a gift.
When a life-altering event happens, the systems that usually hold a family together can stop working the way they’re supposed to. It’s especially hard when the caretaker needs care, or in the worst cases, when the caretaker is gone. But the people who remain still need nourishment. They need support. Magic happens when others step in and help carry the load. That’s how a village forms.
As a modern Mom, I’ve used Meal Train, Google Sheets, Team Snap, Sign-Up Genius, and group text threads to help arrange food and care. I often wonder how my Mom would have done with learning all the apps and such. I bet she would have loved to see what other people are making. It’s good data!
Anywho, if you need some inspiration on meals and such, I bring over 20 years of practice being part of a village to the table.
Here are some Meal Train Food Ideas if you’re looking to support friends, loved ones, or even strangers:
Inspiration Breakdown:
- Questions to Ask Before You Start
- Meal Train Tips
- Comfort Foods
- Vegetarian Meals
- Breakfast Options
- Snack Support
- Treats
- Additional Things
- Other Ways to Help
To start, here’s what
Questions to Ask Before You Start:
- What works with YOUR schedule?
- How does the recipient prefer communication?
- How many people are you serving?
- What do they like?
- What don’t they like?
- Any allergies? (get the specifics!!)
- Are there kids?
- Are the kids eating the same meals as their parents?
- Do they need dinnerware? Paper plates? Utensils?
- What day and time is best for delivery?
- Will they be eating it right away?
The goal is to plan something easy (both in cooking and serving) for ALL involved. Ideally, you should also know if there’s a particular meal they’re already getting a lot of because having five lasagnas in your fridge can get old fast.
Don’t forget to include:
- labels for everything
- reheating/serving instructions
- date cooked/how long it’s good for
- allergens noted
- disposable containers or a labeled note to return containers
- something that freezes if it won’t be eaten immediately
MAKE THINGS AS EASY AS POSSIBLE. The goal is to make life easier for someone else, not add another thing to manage. If you need to gather supplies, check out this Meal Train Supply List I compiled. You’ll get a visual idea of what you need to gather. Also, PRO-TIP: You can get a lot of your meal train supplies at the Dollar Tree/Dollar Store/Dollar General (whatever it’s called where you are). Also, check out your local restaurant supply place. They’re bound to have what you need.
Do NOT bring:
- giant trays with no storage instructions
- foods that require lots of steps/prep
- foods that require a lot of cleanup
- super spicy meals unless requested
- unlabeled containers
- foods that expire quickly
Let’s start with comfort foods. These are meals that will feed a crowd. My go-to when there’s not already an Italian night on the list is Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, Caesar salad, and Garlic Bread. I make my own salad dressing + croutons because that’s what I do! My default salad (other than Caesar) is my Mom’s Green Salad with all the ingredients separated out.
Comfort Foods:
- Lasagna (a classic!) + Salad
- Lasagna Cups (great for individual portioning)
- Lemon Chicken + Rice + Mom’s Green Salad
- Chicken Parmesan Meatballs (add bread and a salad)
- Baked Ziti + salad
- Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Turkey Chili + Chips + Sour Cream + Cheese
- Spaghetti Pie + Salad
- Slow Cooker Pulled Pork + BBQ Sauce + Rolls + Slaw
- Chicken Soup + Bread
- Sausage & White Bean Soup + Salad + Bread
- Chicken Enchiladas
- Pork Enchilada Lasagna
- Mac & Cheese (this one can be made without sriracha)
- Broccoli Beef + Rice
- Sausage White Bean Bake
- Creamy Sausage & Mushroom Pasta
- Freezer Burritos
Vegetarian Meals
- Creamy Beans and Greens
- Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake
- Chickpea Piccata + Mashed Potatoes or Rice
- Spaghetti Pie + Caesar Salad
- Meatless Meatloaf + Mashed Potatoes + Salad
- Mushroom Enchilada Casserole
- Thai Basil Tofu + Rice
- Vegetarian Taco Pasta
- Beet + Avocado Poke Bowls
- Chopped Salad with Spiced Chickpeas
- Tomato Soup + Garlic Bread + Salad
- Minestrone + Garlic Bread + Salad
(You can also have a look through my vegetarian + vegan archives here on Shutterbean)
Maybe you want to bring someone brunch or breakfast? Here are some good options, too.
Breakfast options:
- Homemade Granola + Yogurt + Fruit
- Mom’s Sour Cream Coffee Cake
- Blueberry Cornmeal Muffins (GF)
- Mom’s Green Salad
- Baked Oatmeal
- Pumpkin Oatmeal Cups
- Caramelized Onion Frittata + Bread for toast
- Banana Bread
- Breakfast Burritos
- Artichoke Egg Bites
- Potato Chorizo Egg Bites
- Sausage Bread
- Caramelized Onion Frittata
Snack Support:
- fruit to cut up
- fruit salad
- granola
- pickled carrots
- pickled green beans
- veggies & dip
- sliced cheese + crackers
- trail mix
- energy bites
- energy bars
My Mom always packed a treat with her meal. They can be well-received if people are OK with eating sweets. Just make sure you’re not pushing sweets on people who don’t want them. You can always add a thing of cookie dough in the mix. Include instructions and make sure to remind them that they can freeze it and bake it whenever they want.
Treats
- Fudgy Brownies
- Mocha Icebox Cupcakes
- Granola Cookies
- Ginger Molasses Cookies
- Cinnamon Raisin Bread Pudding + Ice Cream
- Oatmeal Raisin Bars
- Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
- Vegan Thumbprint Cookies
- Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Small Batch Chocolate Cupcakes
- Hippy Banana Bread
- Mocha Meringues
- Granola Bark
Additional Things:
If there are kids involved and their parents are cool with it, do something fun and special and buy them ingredients to make their own Peanut Butter Indoor S’mores Dip. It can give them an activity (if they want!) to do with kids, but also allows freedom to make it whenever it’s possible. An ice cream sundae party could also be amazing. Bring some chocolate syrup and fun toppings. Make sure they have enough freezer space for ice cream.
Don’t forget that you can put together a salad kit! This is what it would look like to pack up my Autumn Reset Button Salad. Maybe you could make extra stuff for people when you’re doing meal prepping for the week?
Don’t forget beverages! (coffee, tea, sparkling water, juice boxes for kids)
Here are some Recipes for when you’re sick that could help you boost someone’s immunity.
Gluten Free Recipes (if you need ideas)
Vegetarian & Vegan Recipes (for ideas)
Don’t have time for a meal train? Consider sending a meal through a delivery service, purchasing gift cards (like Thrive Market), or sending them an order from Costco or Instacart.
Remember that low-effort foods count! A rotisserie chicken, salad kit, and cookies from Costco still count as care.
What I know to be true in life so far is that people help. Receiving help can also feel vulnerable. Let people help you anyway! Sometimes you’re surprised by who shows up and who doesn’t. Life events show us where support lives. A meal dropped at the door can mean everything. Compassion for those who give and those who receive, always. May these Meal Train Food Ideas help sustain your village.
