When I was enduring a prolonged illness, people brought food and I was on a liquid diet. It didn't matter that I couldn't eat it, I was so grateful. I think your menu sounds lovely. If you brought it to me now- now that I can eat food- I'd love it all.

I think it sounds good. Very thoughtful.

+1

A friend of mine who needs some help with meals is using Meal Train (or rather, her friends have set it up). It is working really well and allows the family to schedule when they need meals and note dietary restrictions, preferences, etc.

www.mealtrain.com

Sounds great. We used Lotsa Helping Hands, which served a similar function handily.

www.lotsahelpinghands.com

Thank you all for the suggestions. I appreciate the very helpful guidance.

Anonymous wrote:I want to bring a meal to good friends who just received a devastating diagnosis for their child. Is this an okay menu? I want something easy to heat up but that will keep in the fridge given the odd hours they may need to be at the hospital

Carrot ginger soup
Healthy whole grain side salad (like tabbouleh)
Fried chicken cutlets (trying to find something the siblings will probably like)
Olive bread
brownies or blondie bars

I think you need to go with things that are more basic than this menu. In our family my kids hate carrot ginger anything and no one likes olive bread. Also Fried anything usually does not reheat well. Things that worked well for our family in this situation:

roasted chicken
baked ziti
chile
lasagna (no meat)
italian bread (plain)
salads (not cut up, stil in the bag so if it doesn't get eaten, it will still be okay)
chicken soup with noodles
mac n cheese
mashed potatoes
sauteed string beans
carrots
chicken kabobs
meatloaf (turkey or beef)
fruit salad
choc chip cookies
magic bars
noodles and meat sauteed together


Staying basic means that most in the family can find something. Creativity is not really important in this case.

A friend of mine who needs some help with meals is using Meal Train (or rather, her friends have set it up). It is working really well and allows the family to schedule when they need meals and note dietary restrictions, preferences, etc.

www.mealtrain.com

I think that sounds like a good menu. When my daughter was born early, we got lots of baked pastas and stews, which are foods I really enjoy, but it would be nice to have an option with more vegetable and more fiber-like your menu.

Thinking of your friends.

Whole foods has a turkey chili recipe that is easy, healthy, and delicious. Just search "turkey chili" in the recipe section of their website. It tastes even better reheated. That plus a side of cornbread or other grain, plus the blondies/brownies sounds very nice.

So thoughtful OP. I would do mac and cheese or lasagna or turkey chili. Think of things that will still be good in 4-5 days or could be frozen in case 10 people drop off meals all at once. I'm not sure grain based salads would keep that well and the chicken cutlets might get dried out quickly.

Anonymous wrote:^^if so check with neighbors because there is talk of setting up a schedule for dinners.

Even if that isn't the family it is a nice idea to get together with neighbors to arrange dinners

^^if so check with neighbors because there is talk of setting up a schedule for dinners.

In the palisades?

Agree with PP above (and also that your gesture will be much appreciated!) that one-pot, reheatable stuff is most likely to be eaten. I'd probably do a stew or a mac and cheese or something, plus the cookies. Your menu sounds fabulous, but it is the kind of meal you want to sit down with family and eat, and they won't be able to do that probably.

Perhaps a one pot meal like a hearty stew with meat and vegatables. Something they can put in a single serving bowl when one person is hungry and it will be a quick reheat.
What I mean is more than likely they will be home in shifts while one is at the hospital and the other is taking care of stuff at home and probably won't be sitting down to a family meal for some time.

I think it sounds good. Very thoughtful.

I want to bring a meal to good friends who just received a devastating diagnosis for their child. Is this an okay menu? I want something easy to heat up but that will keep in the fridge given the odd hours they may need to be at the hospital

Carrot ginger soup
Healthy whole grain side salad (like tabbouleh)
Fried chicken cutlets (trying to find something the siblings will probably like)
Olive bread
brownies or blondie bars