25+ MEAL TRAIN IDEAS

If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a meal during a time of need, you know how incredibly helpful it can be. We have provided lots of meals for friends over the years, especially in this current season of young children. It feels like someone in our Mom’s Group is having a baby every other month and when cold/flu season comes around and your Mom friend is at their whit’s end, receiving dinner on their doorstep is often a sanity saver.

We’ve also received meals during so many times of transition, like having a new baby or moving, and during times of trial and hardship, like when Sean was in the hospital off and on for 6 months or just a few weeks ago when I had a hysterectomy.

Sometimes it can feel really overwhelming to prepare food for another family. The thought and heart behind it is good and pure, but the prep and logistics can seem stressful. I thought now would be a great time to share some ideas since our family was just on the receiving end of a three week meal train.

PLEASE remember that whether you pick up a pizza or deliver a homecooked meal, the family you are providing for will feel immensely blessed. You are showing love in a very tangible way for someone in a time of need. That love and kindness goes a LONG way and is helping fill the gap for the person or family you are providing for.

I’m going to tackle some of the most common questions I’ve heard about meal trains and how to make them easy on both you and the family you are providing for:

• How do I organize it?

• What should I cook?

• What’s the best method of delivery?

• How do I know if I’m bringing enough food?

• What about dietary restrictions?

• What if I’m not a “cook” or just don’t have time to make a homecooked meal?

I think that the easiest way to organize a meal train is through the website MEALTRAIN.COM. This website allows you to enter the recipients details (address, time of drop off, dietery restrictions, food preferences, restaurant preferences, dates for people to sign up for, etc.). It really does all of the hard work for you and it’s FREE!

If I’m the one that is organizing a meal train for someone, I ask the recipient for all of this information, enter it into the form and then send out the link! Typically if someone is organizing a meal train for someone, they have a community that you are connected through. Maybe it’s the neighborhood, a kid’s sports team, a community group at church, or a co-worker. I will text, email or post the link to the meal train on the appropriate social media on behalf of the recipient and let other’s sign up!

Here is a list of 25 meal ideas + my GO-TO dessert: Apple Cobbler

• Teriyaki Meatball Stir Fry with Rice and Potstickers or Eggrolls

• Barbecue Meatloaf with Green Beans and Garlic Bread

• Marry Me Chicken Tortellini with Copycat Olive Garden Italian Salad

• Barbecue Cornbread Skillet with Roasted Potatoes and Steamed Broccoli

• Sausage Potato Skillet with Corn and Dinner Rolls

• Tortellini Caprese Salad with Garlic Breadsticks

• Baked Sandwich Pinwheels with Sweet Potato Fries

• One Skillet Sausage Pasta with Green Beans and Crescent Rolls

• Baked Tortellini with Broccoli and Garlic Bread

• Ramen Noodle Stir Fry with Eggrolls

• Baked Potatoes with Toppings on the Side (Cheese, Bacon, Sour Cream, Chives)

• Taco Soup with Cornbread

• Baked Chicken Tacos with Mexican Rice

• Cheeseburger Potato Soup with Toppings on the Side (Cheese, Bacon Chives)

• Sheet Pan Butter Cracker Chicken with Diced Potatoes and Green Beans

• Pepperoni Pizza Waffle Dippers with Marinara Dipping Sauce and Salad

• Easy Weeknight Pasta Bake with Salad and Garlic Bread

• Rotisserie Chicken Mexi-Rollups with Mexican Rice

• Parmesan Chicken Sliders with Sweet Potato Fries

• Ninja Ribs with Mashed Potatoes and Green Beans

• Teriyaki Chicken Fried Rice with Eggrolls

• Rotisserie Chicken BBQ Enchiladas with Sweet Potato Fries (coming to the blog 9-20-23)

• Rotisserie Chicken Tamale Pie with Mexican Rice (coming to the blog 9-28-23)

• Chili Lime Fajitas with Mexican Rice (coming to the blog 10-5-23)

• Rotisserie Chicken Burrito Bowls with Chips and Salsa (coming to the blog 10-12-23)

While at the end of the day it really doesn’t matter what you deliver the food in, I have learned a few things over the years that make it easier for everyone.  

• Containers that can be thrown away or that you don’t need back are the easiest to deliver food in.  I personally like these aluminum foil pans because I can cook in them, attach the lid and it helps keep the food hot in transit.

• If you don’t have containers like the ones above, use something that you don’t need back right away or arrange a time to come pick it back up.  

• If you are bringing a salad, get a salad container that has a reusable top and then go ahead and assemble the salad for the recipient.  This makes it easier to transport too!

• Next time you’re at Costco or Sam’s Club, grab some of those box trays at the exit that you carry your food out in.  They make GREAT delivery trays for dinner delivery!

One of the great things about MEALTRAIN.COM is that it tells you exactly how many people you are providing food for. For example, when I had my hysterectomy this summer, my mom was also here to help. So the people who were providing meals knew in advance that it was for 3 adults and 2 children.

Since people are signing up to bring food frequently for a week or two, I typically bring enough for food for one meal. If it naturally has a little bit of leftover, that’s great, they can eat it for lunch the next day as well!

Dietary restrictions and food allergies are not uncharted territory anymore. It’s highly likely that someone in your own family has some type of dietary restriction. Another great feature of MEALTRAIN.COM is the ability to enter that information.

Even if there aren’t specific dietary restrictions or allergies, a good rule of thumb is to stay away from spicy or exotic foods unless you KNOW that it is something they love and eat regularly.

When in doubt, ASK! Maybe the recipient is gluten free but you’ve never made a gluten free meal. Ask them what one of their favorite gluten free meals is OR if you really just don’t feel comfortable cooking something, ask them their favorite restaurant for gluten free food and grab a gift card or take out!

Before you beat yourself up about not being a good enough cook or not having time to cook an amazing homecooked meal, STOP AND REMEMBER, that providing a meal is a service to the recipient and they are going to be grateful that you are filling in the gap in a time of need.

I LOVE cooking, but there are lots of times that life happens and I just don’t have enough time to make a homecooked meal, so here are a few ideas for providing a meal that is STRESS-FREE:

• Pizza and Salad - Grab a Papa Murphy’s Take and Bake Pizza and Salad OR just ask the recipient what their favorite toppings are and have a pizza delivered!

• Grub Hub / Door Dash Gift Card

• Costco / Sam’s Club prepared meals. This is usually my go to if I’m in a time pinch. Both warehouse stores have great prepared meals that just have to be warmed and always have a great variety from rotisserie chickens to pasta to tacos! Depending on the meal, I usually pair it with a bagged salad and bread. Super easy!