This is a new series I’m writing about opportunities to give back to world while also incorporating something you love.
Today my focus is on Mealtrain, a website that helps you schedule meals for your friends (new moms, recovering from surgery, a life change) and let’s you cook something scrumptious!
Mealtrains = Cooking+Helping a Friend
Because of my own experiences, I’ll focus on Mealtrains for new moms.
When Olivia (my oldest) was born and in the NICU for almost 4 weeks, Mealtrains were a godsend. They kept me fed, they brought me visitors, they kept me sane. After the mealtrain ended, I remember one evening desperately trying to rack my brain for something we could eat for dinner. “What did we cook before we had a baby? There is nothing to eat in this house” I asked Isaac. “We have chicken, we have spaghetti, we have veggies…” He replied. “Will putting those together make a meal?” With my exhausted new mom brain, I could not connect the dots and figure out a meal.
And with the second child, I had both a hungry newborn and a hungry toddler during the evenings, leading me to quickly understanding the term “arsenic hour”.
With Mealtrains, you create a calendar exactly for the new mom and friends picking a day to bring a meal, and even tailoring it to their likes and allergies. Or even order them takeout from a nearby restaurant that they enjoy. I was introduced to Zoe’s kitchen with my second Mealtrain, the fresh Greek salad and the grilled kabobs and veggies were so phenomenal and refreshing, the pasta dishes from Mealtrains leftovers freeze well, but can start to feel heavy.
A Guide to Build a Super Mealtrain
- Get with the new mom and make sure to ask about the family’s food likes, dislikes and allergies. You want every meal to be something they can enjoy.
- Ask about what days work best for meals. They may only need a meal every other day for a month, or they may skip Saturdays because family comes over. Schedule around their needs.
- Find out what time of day is best to bring the meal. Some people bring hot meals and other bring something to be cooked later. You can even suggest they leave a cooler out on the porch in case they happen to be out at a doctor’s appointment or elsewhere when someone brings the food.
- Figure out when to start the Mealtrain calendar. If they have grandparents in town for a month, they might not need meals until then.
- Find out some nearby Take Out restaurants they enjoy. Offer those as a solution for busy friends or out-of-towners to still contribute.
A Guide to Bringing a Super Meal
- Remember to read all the instructions on the meal. Don’t miss out on allergies or least favorite foods.
- Remember to incorporate some veggies. Pasta dishes are great, but even a side salad is nice and refreshing.
- Make a dessert. New moms are desperate for more energy, something as simple as boxed brownies are wonderful.
- Try to tailor your meal for your friend. One of my favorite meals included these epic funfetti cookie bars because my friend knew love funfetti. Definitely a great friend 🙂
- While even takeout meals are great, sometimes the new moms are just desperate for another adult to talk with. Ask them how everything is going and give a listening ear.
- Remember, if you didn’t bring a meal early in the Mealtrain, 6 weeks after the baby is born is a great time to bring a meal. By then, everyone figures the parents have it all figured out, but that is also when the lack of sleep starts getting to everyone. It is never too late to bring a meal.
Have you tried Mealtrain or been gifted a Mealtrain?
Do you have any ideas for Save the World Saturdays? Submit them below!
