20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (2024)

April 2, 2014

posted by Marina Delio | 0 Comments

Looking for meal train ideas? Here are our favorite healthy recipe ideas for those times when you want to bring a family dinner after a new baby or an illness.

20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (1)

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the honor of delivering several meals to friends in need. Two families have had small children in the hospital. In the PICU no less. For over a week each. The last thing these mamas and dads need is to think about grocery shopping and feeding themselves and other family members healthy meals. And take-out gets old quickly.

Meal trains have been set up for these families, just like when we have friends with new babies. Two websites make this super simple. I’ve usedMealTrain.com and TakeThemAMeal.com. Both are free and easy to use.

One of the most common things I hear friends say is, “Oh no, I can’t bring them dinner. I’m not a good enough cook! I can’t think of anything to bring!” Delivering dinner stresses me out sometimes too, so I’ve compiled some tips and recipe ideas for the next time we want to help out a friend by dropping off dinner.

20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (2)
A few tips for delivering meals

  • Always inquire about dietary restrictions before planning the meal.
  • Text the family to find out the best time to deliver dinner. Keep in mind that the family is dealing with an important issue (either good in the case of a new baby, or difficult in the case of illness) and may not want to visit with friends, so plan on dropping off on the porch.
  • If you don’t want to come back to retrieve your dishes, use disposable food containers.
  • Choose foods that are easy to reheat.
  • Know that even if you don’t hear from your friend, your contribution is appreciated.

Soups

Soups and stews are a great choice because you can make them early in the day, drop off early, and your friends can reheat them when they are ready. Add a bagged salad mix kit and some crusty bread, and you’re good to go.

  • Chili and corn bread (try the Veggie Chili or Quinoa Tortilla Soup from the YMK Cookbook)
  • Minestrone
  • Instant Pot Minestrone
  • Mexican Lentil Soup
  • Pasta e Ceci
  • Italian Vegetable Soup
  • Curried Pumpkin Lentil Soup
  • Vegan Mulligatawny Soup

20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (3)

Casseroles& Savory Baked Dishes

  • Eggplant Lasagna
  • Heirloom Tomato and Kale Lasagna
  • Best VEGAN Lasagna
  • Butternut Squash Lasagna
  • Spaghetti Squash Bake
  • Quiche (Spanakopita Quiche)
  • Pot Pie
  • Mac and Cheese (Brussels Sprouts Mac)
  • Roasted Butternut Squash and Black Bean Enchiladas
  • Green Enchiladas from the Yummy Mummy Kitchen Cookbook
  • Baked fish: Prepare your favorite raw fish with a sauce in a baking dish and keep refrigerated. Include baking instructions with the dish and be sure to drop off when your friends are home so the fish stays cold! My favorites to deliver are miso-glazed black cod and Lemon Artichoke Pesto Salmon (in the YMK cookbook).

Other Dinner Ideas

  • Falafel Pitas
  • Soba Noodles – this one on Cupcakes and Cashmere looks yummy!
  • Veggie Stir Fry with Rice or Quinoa
  • Taco Fixin’s: Pack corn tortillas, guacamole, chopped lettuce, chopped onions, chopped cilantro, chopped tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes, beans and rice, and cooked shredded chicken breast (unless vegetarian).
  • Curry and rice

20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (4)

Salads

  • Mediterranean Lentil Salad
  • Greek Salad
  • Panzanella
  • Tex Mex Brown Rice Salad
  • Mexican Salad

Breakfast

If you have extra time, bonus points for including something for the morning.

  • Blueberry Banana Muffins
  • Vegan Banana Bread

Comforting Touches

If I have time, I like to add a bottle of wine, flowers, Cowboy Cookies, or some good chocolate. If the occasion is a new baby, I like to add something to make the big brother or sister feel extra special – some stickers, a congratulations card, or a book is all it takes.

Out of Town Meal Delivery

Sometimes our friends in need of help are out of town, or we simply don’t have time to deliver a home-cooked meal. You can still help. Look up a healthy meal delivery service in your friends’ town. In Santa Barbara we have Le Petit Chef, which can deliver gourmet meals,as well as other companies. A gift certificate for a box of ingredients your friends can use for an easy dinner, such as from Blue Apron, is another great help.

Tell us: What are some of your go-to meals to deliver to friends? Let me know in the comments!

dinner make-ahead Soup Vegetarian

posted April 2, 2014 by Marina Delio

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20 Meal Train Recipe Ideas - Take them a Meal (2024)

FAQs

What is a good meal to transport? ›

Popular Recipes...
  • Crock Pot Balsamic Chicken Thighs.
  • Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken.
  • Baked Cheesy Chicken Penne.
  • Crockpot Mac and Cheese.
  • World's Best Lasagna.
  • Pretty, Yummy Fruit Salad.
  • White Bean Soup with Kale.
  • Jambalaya with Summer Squash.

How long do you do a meal train for? ›

As for length and frequency of the meal train, four to six weeks long is a generous rule of thumb, and dropping food off two or three times a week is another helpful guideline. Again, though, don't be afraid to ask the parents what would help them most!

What is the meal train concept? ›

Meal Train is an organized way for friends and family to deliver home-cooked meals to someone who's going through a challenging time. It's a caring way to ensure the recipient doesn't have to think about grocery shopping or preparing meals while going through a major life event.

When should a Meal Train start? ›

Set up a delivery schedule.

Ask the parents to update you when baby arrives so you can kick things off. It's likely that the first meal delivery won't be made until a few days after, and four weeks is generally the recommended length of time for meal trains to run (though they can certainly go longer).

How do you take soup for a Meal Train? ›

A container made of glass or a high-quality food-grade plastic will work well. Insulate the container: Wrap the container in a few layers of towels or a thick blanket to help insulate the soup and keep it hot during transport.

How does take them a meal work? ›

How are meals provided through Take Them A Meal? Most meal providers prepare meals in their own kitchens or order local carryout/delivery for the meal recipient(s). We also offer meals that can be shipped to the meal recipient if you live out of town or prefer to have a meal delivered.

What are good meals to feed the homeless? ›

Easy meals for homeless
  • Frozen breakfast sandwiches to last 3 weeks! Frozen breakfast sandwiches to last 3 weeks! ...
  • Tiffany Sotelo. ...
  • One-Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta - Mother Thyme. ...
  • White Sauce Penne Pasta. ...
  • Easy Chili Mac. ...
  • Easy Dinner Idea: Oven Baked Meatball Sandwiches Recipe. ...
  • Baked Cheddar Ranch Potatoes, Cheesy Red Potatoes.

What food is good for long haul? ›

Complex carbohydrates — You should try to get some whole-grain pasta, quinoa and sweet potatoes. They'll provide you with consistent energy over the flight without feeling bloated. Lean proteins — You should choose lean protein sources such as salmon, grilled chicken, or plant-based proteins.

How much of a cut does Meal Train take? ›

MealTrain.com will automatically deduct a 5% platform fee from each donation received. In addition, for each donation, a financial transaction/credit card processing fee of 2.9% and $0.30 per transaction will apply.

Why is it called a Meal Train? ›

We chose the name Meal Train because it represented people moving in unison towards a common goal.

How much does Meal Train plus cost? ›

Need more support than one meal a day? By upgrading to a Meal Train Plus page you can schedule multiple meals per day, childcare, errands, rides, dog walking, and more. Enable on any Meal Train page for $10.

What does a Meal Train look like? ›

A meal train is a system where a network of family members or friends band together to schedule, prepare, and deliver meals for somebody who needs a little extra help. They can run for a week or two, or longer if the recipient needs more sustained assistance.

What is a Meal Train for death in the family? ›

A meal train is when friends and family come together to take turns bringing food over to your house so you don't have to worry about it. Meal trains are a great way to show your support after a loss in the family.

Is Meal Train good? ›

Meal Train is a great way to give a gift of a meal to a loved one in need. It is a win-win for all. We get to keep in touch with the person in need on their terms as we deliver a gift of nourishment. It's important to remember that everyone faces challenges and everyone needs to eat.

What is the best website to set up a Meal Train? ›

Take Them a Meal

Two unique features of Take Me a Meal are their databases. One shows all recipients in the system so that a new parent can be searched by someone, even if they don't have a link. The other database contains a list of recipes that are easy to transport, store, and reheat.

How do I add participants to my Meal Train? ›

Just click the Share button found at the top of the Meal Train calendar page. Pro tip: Posting to Facebook is the most powerful way to increase participation.

Can you use DoorDash for Meal Train? ›

If your loved one primarily needs assistance with grocery shopping, try an online grocery service like DoorDash, Instacart, or Shipt. Many local supermarkets have their own regional delivery service, so double check that the service you use will deliver to the recipient's area.

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