Adina Bailey, Take Them A Meal
Have you ever signed up to take a meal, feeling confident that you had ample time to prepare, cook, and deliver it? As the day grew closer, however, did you find yourself becoming anxious about fulfilling this commitment due to work and family responsibilities? This is a very common scenario, one I have experienced myself. Today, I'm sharing helpful tips for finding time to prepare a meal when you may have children or a busy work schedule.
Plan on a simple meal you know well and don't change it. When taking a meal, it's best to keep things simple. Plan on using a recipe you know your own family loves and that is familiar to you. This will make the process of preparing and taking your meal much easier.
Shop ahead of time, being sure to buy disposable containers as well. One of the best practices you can implement when taking a meal is to shop beforehand for all your ingredients and supplies, such as aluminum pans, paper plates, and cutlery. This ensures you won't waste time by making last-minute trips to the grocery store.
Make a batch of freezer meals to keep on hand. Preparing freezer meals ahead of time is an excellent way to give yourself extra time when taking a meal. I love this idea of meals ready to add to the crock pot straight from the freezer!
Take their favorite takeout or Send Them a Meal. If you have a full-time job, cooking can be an added effort at the end of the day. Remember, a welcome option can always be finding out the meal recipient's favorite take-out, picking it up, and delivering it on your way home from work. We also offer a selection of delicious, ready-to-heat meals you can send to be delivered on the date you specify! Be sure to check out all of the delicious meals we offer in the link above.
Use a crock pot or Instant Pot. One of my absolute favorite ways to save time when preparing meals for my family is to use my crockpot. I love that I can prepare and set the meal to cook during the day, and it is ready by dinner time with minimal effort! Click here for ways to transport your food in a crockpot!
Prepare your meal when your kids are napping or in school. When I was a new mom, I survived meal time by preparing dinner while my young children napped. This saved time and minimized stress.
Don't feel bad about picking up a ready-to-eat meal from Costco or your local grocery store! There are plenty of healthy and delicious ready-to-eat meals you can pick up on your way home from work at most local grocery stores! Costco also has a wealth of options in its deli and freezer sections. Don't feel guilty about using this as a stress-free option when taking a meal.
Remember these simple tips the next time you sign up to take a meal. Sticking to a recipe you know well, shopping ahead of time, or simply picking up your loved one's favorite take-out are all great ways to take the stress off taking a meal when you have limited time. Do you have any time-saving tips to share with us? We'd love to hear!
In Case You Missed It
1. This Salmon Sushi Bake is like a deconstructed sushi roll turned casserole. It’s warm, gooey, comforting, and super easy to make! There are many different ways you can make it, but this version features baked salmon. Yum!
Don’t have Instagram? Click here for the recipe link!
2. Kelli designed these thoughtful little labels to make meal drop-offs easier and more meaningful. Print a few ahead of time and keep them on hand for the next time you’re bringing a meal to someone!
3. These cheerful little sunshine in a cup gifts make the perfect extra touch when you’re taking a meal to a friend, or just as a surprise gift for someone who could use a little love and encouragement.
4. A lot of love and hard work go into the meals you send from our online store. Check out these behind-the-scenes pics of our team packaging all the delicious meals you’re sending!
5. The last thing you want to do when taking someone a meal is give them food they can't eat. If the recipient of your meal schedule has food allergies, here are some great recipes and resources for you as you consider what to make.
Easily Organize Meal Schedules for Friends
Take Them A Meal is an easy (and free!) online tool for coordinating the delivery of meals to loved ones. If a friend is ill, elderly, or welcoming a child, you can rally their community to take them meals. We also offer delicious, fully-prepared meals that can be shipped directly to their door!
Send Love in a Box - Freshly Prepared Meals Shipped Nationwide!
Surprise your loved ones with a delicious, chef-made meal delivered straight to their door. Explore Shipped Meals
Tested Recipes that Transport Well
Our culinary team has tested each of these recipes to make sure we can heartily recommend them. Explore Our Recipes
Gifts & Such
Check out these thoughtful and practical gifts including engraved spoons, meal carriers and more!
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