Meal Train: Store bought or Home cooked?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Meal Train. Is that an informal thing that you're doing with other neighbors/church members/friends or how exactly does this work?

I understand the meal train thing for those going through an unexpected sickness, injury, bereavement, etc. but really don't understand this for newborns. The baby is not something that came out of nowhere and mom/dad should of stocked of the fridge/freezer ahead of time.

[Anonymous]

If there are children involved in the meal - Boston Market and KFC are winners. Kids are fussy and suspicious of spices and "green things". If you can delight the kids, the adults are happy to eat whatever it is. I mean, what you're trying to do is take off the pressure of preparing a family meal most of the time.

[Anonymous]

I do a meal train at least once a month through church. Home cooked is almost always better unless you are a terrible cook. I try to avoid pasta/lasagna because that's what so many people do and depending how many days of meals, it is easy for someone to tire of it.

If you want to pick something up, do something like a rotisserie chicken, fresh bread, maybe a side, fruit or a big salad. Or our deli often has a really great chicken pot pie that just needs to be warmed up, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Meal Train. Is that an informal thing that you're doing with other neighbors/church members/friends or how exactly does this work?

I understand the meal train thing for those going through an unexpected sickness, injury, bereavement, etc. but really don't understand this for newborns. The baby is not something that came out of nowhere and mom/dad should of stocked of the fridge/freezer ahead of time.

Sometimes premies, extended NICU stays...you just never know. My group of friends does a meal train for every new baby (about a week of meals) because it's a nice way to support each other. Not hard to understand, really.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree it doesn't matter, but something healthier was always appreciated by me when we had a newborn. Fresh fruit, vegetarian entrees, good brothy soups, salad/sandwich fixings, that sort of thing. I would not love KFC or Boston Market, but wouldn't mind something prepared from one of the better grocery stores like WF or Wegmans. We got a lot of pasta, which I also appreciated, but soon tired of.

I agree -- when it was just me and my husband and one newborn, I preferred nice gourmet meals too!

If I had 3 kids and a newborn, all I'd care about is whether my kids would eat the meal! Fried chicken would be a hit. Brothy soups or fancy casseroles with cream sauce... not so much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Meal Train. Is that an informal thing that you're doing with other neighbors/church members/friends or how exactly does this work?

I understand the meal train thing for those going through an unexpected sickness, injury, bereavement, etc. but really don't understand this for newborns. The baby is not something that came out of nowhere and mom/dad should of stocked of the fridge/freezer ahead of time.

Often parents don't know ahead of time how hard it wil be to care for a newborn, especially if you are breastfeeding and the baby is having trouble, or the baby has colic, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I agree it doesn't matter, but something healthier was always appreciated by me when we had a newborn. Fresh fruit, vegetarian entrees, good brothy soups, salad/sandwich fixings, that sort of thing. I would not love KFC or Boston Market, but wouldn't mind something prepared from one of the better grocery stores like WF or Wegmans. We got a lot of pasta, which I also appreciated, but soon tired of.

Jesus you're needy. Just graciously accept whatever you get and say thanks!!

We were always gracious. I was just answering the OP's question about what people might prefer. Didn't expect to get attacked on the Food Forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Meal Train. Is that an informal thing that you're doing with other neighbors/church members/friends or how exactly does this work?

I understand the meal train thing for those going through an unexpected sickness, injury, bereavement, etc. but really don't understand this for newborns. The baby is not something that came out of nowhere and mom/dad should of stocked of the fridge/freezer ahead of time.

sure they stock the freezer and fridge but you know what that stuff will probably keep a week or two while people bring them over fresh meals and they get to hold and coo over the new baby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never heard of Meal Train. Is that an informal thing that you're doing with other neighbors/church members/friends or how exactly does this work?

I understand the meal train thing for those going through an unexpected sickness, injury, bereavement, etc. but really don't understand this for newborns. The baby is not something that came out of nowhere and mom/dad should of stocked of the fridge/freezer ahead of time.

Often parents don't know ahead of time how hard it wil be to care for a newborn, especially if you are breastfeeding and the baby is having trouble, or the baby has colic, etc.

Agreed. I had a baby born 2 weeks early who was in the NICU and I had a very difficult c-section. My newborn was colicky, had jaundice, weight gain issues, was tongued tied and had problems nursing. I appreciated anything that was brought by friends and family. I've had friends on bed rest who couldn't stock their freezers. Besides its just a nice thing to do, complications or not.