Sending Sympathy Meals to a Loved One

When a friend or family member passes away, it is a common practice to send sympathy meals to the immediate family. Sympathy meals show your support for the family while providing them with food. When mourning, having the energy to cook for yourself can be hard. Additionally, many people end up hosting friends and loved ones in the days surrounding a funeral, so extra food can reduce the burden of feeding guests on the family. But what should you send? Below, we will discuss some important things to consider.

Healthy Food or Comfort Food?

During times of mourning, unhealthy food can be a comfort. But a home-cooked or catered meal from a loved one can be a big help. The important thing is to balance sending comforting and healthy food. Whether you send some vegetable sides or a hearty soup, it is important to provide loved ones with some healthier options. This can be especially important when considering catering orders, where deli sandwiches and fried foods are often sent. If going the catered route, consider adding a salad or veggie platter to your order.

Allergy Considerations

Food allergies are always something to consider when sending food. Be sure to ask your loved ones about any allergies that may be an issue. While it can be easy to avoid certain common food allergens, like peanuts or strawberries, it is important to know if someone is allergic to gluten for example. Also, remember that your loved ones will likely share this food with their extended family. If making food at home, consider marking food items with their potential allergens. Common allergens to consider might include nuts, 

Consider Favorite Meals

Sympathy foods like baked ziti, chicken parm, and casseroles are often sent to families in mourning. While the gesture is appreciated, eating through 3 trays of chicken parmesan from 3 different families can be a lot. Consider sending a loved one’s favorite dish rather than something more common. The extra care and effort to make a favorite dish can be truly meaningful. 
If you plan on ordering food to send their way, consider choosing a favorite restaurant of your loved one. Choosing something less common and more valued by the family can break up the flow of similar foods, and show that you are truly thinking about them.

Freezer-Friendly

Many families will have loved ones coming and going throughout this mourning period, so leftovers will likely go to use. However, consider making foods that can keep well in the fridge or freezer, and can be easily reheated. Most caterers will send food in a reheatable tin tray, and you should too. It makes it a lot easier for the family to stick the dish in the oven for easy reheating and defrosting.

Delivery Considerations

Call ahead to make sure someone is home before sending catered food or delivering it yourself. You want to avoid missed deliveries if possible. 

Spice Levels

Avoid sending overly spicy food unless you specifically know that the family will enjoy it. Otherwise, it might go to waste. A tray of buffalo wings is about as far into spicy as you should venture if you are unsure.

Kid-Friendly Options

If there are young children in the household, keep them in mind when choosing what kinds of food to send. Catering options for kids may include pizza, chicken fingers, and the like. If you are cooking something special for the family, baking a frozen bag of tater tots and chicken nuggets can be an easy way to include the kids without going overboard yourself.

For over 50 years, Matthew Funeral Home has been serving the Staten Island community. We can help with almost every aspect of your loved one’s memorial service. Our family is here to serve yours, every step of the way.