Meal Train: Store bought or Home cooked?

[Anonymous]

I signed up for Meal Train to bring food for a family of 6 (the mom just had a surgery). In general, would people prefer to eat a store-bought meal (which has more hygiene/quality standards) or home-cooked meal? I usually cooked light, healthy food and I'm not sure her kids will like them.

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

Home cooked would be nice. But really, the I portent part is that it is a meal the her family will actually eat, kids included. If you can't think of anything to cook that they might like, buy something.

[Anonymous]

I do a home made lasagna if I have time. With nice bread and wine and homemade brownies. A green salad too. If I don't have time I get boston market. Both seem to please equally.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't matter.

[Anonymous]

either one is fine but finding something that they will all eat is the key.
I tend to keep dinner simple and then add in something for breakfast (muffins or bagels)
For many families I split the difference on the homemade/store bought. I will make a pot of homemade mac and cheese then pick up salad fixings and a roasted chicken at the store. Even if the kids only eat the mac and cheese everyone eats enough for the night.

[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?

It's a website to use for setting up meals for delivery to someone.

OP, I think either is fine. Keep the family in mind when you cook - if they aren't a family to eat stir-fried tofu, then instead make a pot of soup and buy a loaf of bakery bread. I usually split the difference as well. Maybe roast a chicken, but then buy a bag of salad. Or I often make a taco soup that kids love, and bring it with tortilla chips or cornbread and a bag of store-bought shredded cheese.

[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?

It's a website to use for setting up meals for delivery to someone.

OP, I think either is fine. Keep the family in mind when you cook - if they aren't a family to eat stir-fried tofu, then instead make a pot of soup and buy a loaf of bakery bread. I usually split the difference as well. Maybe roast a chicken, but then buy a bag of salad. Or I often make a taco soup that kids love, and bring it with tortilla chips or cornbread and a bag of store-bought shredded cheese.

This is such a great way to do it. Homemade apple crisp with a can of good whipped cream or some ice cream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:...a store-bought meal (which has more hygiene/quality standards)

When did this become the norm?

I would always prefer homemade over store-bought. I guess I'm old-fashioned or something, but store bought food is the stuff I'd worry about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:...a store-bought meal (which has more hygiene/quality standards)

When did this become the norm?

I would always prefer homemade over store-bought. I guess I'm old-fashioned or something, but store bought food is the stuff I'd worry about.

I think your response presumes that you know the people on the Meal Train. Both our church and my daughter's school have used it to help families or staff who have had a birth or death in the family. People who sign up aren't always necessarily people you know, so in theory they could be making dinner for you in their disgustingly nasty home while they themselves are fighting a cold. Hopefully not, but I'm guessing that's what the PP was thinking with that comment.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I've been sick for the last few days but still want to be responsible to deliver a meal to a family friend, this weekend.
What store-bought meals do you recommend for a family with young kids (just found out it will be for 9 people) that's reasonably priced?
TIA!

[Anonymous]

I did a lot of homecooking for one family, however, when I did the next meal group, I put together a Colonel Sanders gift basket for the family and added a great fruit salad from Food Lion. I also put in some fun crossword puzzles for the kids and 6 different Sobi drinks with weird names.

It was a hit. I know because the mom asked me where the Sobi drinks came from so that they could get more, and where the crosswords came from as well. Their youngest son, who is a friend of my son's, told me he wished that we had their name every day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I've been sick for the last few days but still want to be responsible to deliver a meal to a family friend, this weekend.
What store-bought meals do you recommend for a family with young kids (just found out it will be for 9 people) that's reasonably priced?
TIA!

KFC or Boston Market usually have some decent meal deals. Not sure how much you'd like to spend. Wegmans has some large prepared sides for $10 that would serve a crowd like mac and cheese, green beans, etc and some great rotissere chickens. We are not in DC, but in MD and some of our smaller locally owned pizza joints have pasta "family meals" that serve a crowd and come with salad and garlic bread. Our local BBQ restaurant and Famous Daves also have large sides you can buy for pick up and meat by the pound.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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