Tips for Making a Care Meal

Here are a few tips for showing just how much you care.

Be Classically Nourishing

Choose healthy, hearty dishes that are packed with maximum flavor and nutrition.
This is the time for familiar comfort food, not the time to try out that newest trendy recipe.
Keep in mind who will be eating your care meal. Children have a different palate than mom and dad or even grandma. Make sure you can satisfy everyone.
Check for food allergies to make sure everyone can enjoy your care meal.
Always ask whether there is something the recipient can’t eat. Sometimes diets change because of circumstances such as illness or nursing.

Make a Complete Meal

Don’t forget dessert. A plate of cookies, a pan of brownies or even a homemade pie says you care about the details.
Make enough to have leftovers. It’s always nice to get a few meals out of a care package.
Throw in a couple of quick grab-and-go snacks that the recipient can eat right away. This is a big help if someone is sitting up with a newborn at midnight or needs a quick boost to get through the day.

Think Outside the Dinner Box

You don’t care just at dinnertime! Breakfast and lunch meals are appreciated just as much.
A great way to start the day is a breakfast care package. Great combinations could be:
- Fluffy Quiche with Chicken
- Muffins, honey, flavored butter and fresh juice
- Yogurt, granola and fresh berries
Lunch is another great care meal option to try:

No Cleanup Says You Care

The goal is to make your care meal easy, so try to bring as much of your meal as you can in disposable containers.
Casseroles travel well in aluminum pans and make for easy reheating of all those leftovers.
Plastic utensils and paper plates make for no-wash dining.
Package snacks in paper or plastic bags and tie with string or ribbon for a decorative touch.
Pack all of your goodies in a decorative basket or box. The recipient can use the basket again or toss the box after unpacking.
Finish the total package with a thoughtful keepsake, such as a card, flowers, a bottle of wine, a DVD or maybe just a square of bubble wrap to pop for stress relief!