Our Favorite Meal Train Food Ideas

Participating in a meal train is a great way to join a community support effort.

The Basics of Participating and Our Favorite Meal Train Food Ideas

One of the most thoughtful ways to show support to a friend or loved one going through a challenging time is by participating in a meal train. A meal train is a coordinated effort where friends, family, and community members take turns preparing and delivering meals to the individual or family in need.

The idea behind a meal train is simple. Providing nourishing and comforting meals can alleviate some of the burdens and stress during difficult times. When welcoming a new baby, recovering from an illness or surgery, grieving a loss, or facing any other challenging circumstance, a well-organized meal train makes a significant difference in the recipient’s life.

Participating in a meal train ensures that the recipient receives nutritious and delicious meals, and it also offers emotional support and shows that they are cared for and not alone in their journey. It brings people together, creating a sense of community and compassion that can be incredibly uplifting for both the giver and the receiver.

In the next sections, we will explore some of our favorite meal train food ideas, designed to provide inspiration for those who want to participate and contribute with meaningful and tasty dishes. But whether you’re a seasoned cook or a kitchen novice, there’s something for everyone to make a meaningful impact through the gift of food. Let’s dive into our delicious suggestions and make every meal train a heartwarming and nourishing experience.

Our Favorite Meal Train Food Ideas

There are many ways you can provide a meal for a meal train. With time, skills, and resources, you can create homemade dishes to hand-deliver. For an easy, fun, and customizable meal choice, prepare “Do It Yourself” meal options where you provide the ready ingredients and everyone customizes their own dish. Bring a night out, in by organizing delivery of local restaurant favorites. For the ultimate freedom of choice, you can also send gift cards

Homemade Classics

Easy-to-transport options are key here.

young person eating lasagna. a classic of meal train food ideas

Lasagna with garlic bread and side salad.

Meat or cheese enchiladas.

Calzones or Stromboli.

Big Caesar Salad.

Easy D.I.Y. Meals

Taco Bar

Providing prepared ingredients for a taco bar allows everyone to get what they like. Offer corn and flour tortillas, or even spinach or sun-dried tomato. Include at least one meat option if the family does eat meat. Add variety with beans, and toppings like diced onions, tomatoes, cilantro, shredded cheese, and lime wedges. A selection of mild and spicy salsas will allow everyone to flavor their meal without going overboard on spice level.

plate of various tacos assembled from a taco bar. one of our favorite meal train food ideas

Pasta Bar

Prepare at least one type of pasta. Heat a variety of sauces for diners to choose from. Include any proteins like grilled chicken, or perhaps a ground beef meat sauce. Cheeses like parmesan and asiago go well grated over a pasta dish. For those with simpler tastes, offer simple butter and salt for their pasta, or olive oil.

Nacho Bar

Nachos are best when heated-to-order. Start with your favorite tortilla chips. Include a lot of grated cheese. Prepare some protein like taco meat, carnitas, roasted chicken, or refried beans. Roasted corn, avocado, or homemade guacamole also elevate nachos. Spice lovers will appreciate a side of sliced jalapeños. A variety of salsas ranging from mild to spicy for everyone to dip their nachos in.

Diners can assemble the nachos to their liking on small baking sheets or oven-safe plates. Placing the nachos under a broiler for just a few moments melts the cheese perfectly.

dish of nachos with cheese, sour cream, and meat on top. one of our favorite meal train food ideas

Baked Potato Bar

The star of the baked potato bar is obviously the potato. Use an instant pot or standard oven to prepare 1 1/2 baked potatoes per person. Where the fun comes in this dish is all of the toppings. Most of them are available prepared from the store, so your prep time can be focused on the potatoes themselves. People like all kinds of toppings on their baked potato. You can’t go wrong with the classics. Sour cream, chives or green onions, and bacon slices or crumbles.

Unconventional toppings include chili, pulled pork, pot roast, and even steamed broccoli.

Breakfast Buffet

Provide a variety of breakfast favorites for a continental breakfast buffet. You can bake pastries on your own or purchase from a local bakery or store. Prepare or purchase pre-cut a variety of fresh fruits. Plain or vanilla yogurt can be customized with fruits and crunchy toppings. Granola can be eaten as a cereal or yogurt topping. Bagels and crumpets toast really well and are delicious with cream cheese or butter. A selection of jams and jellies can also be spread on toast or mixed in yogurt.

Don’t forget beverages. Fresh hot or cold brewed coffee or tea, milks, and juices are classics.

Local Restaurant Favorites

Bring your loved one’s favorite night out to their doorstep with a delivery from their favorite local restaurant. A thoughtful gesture that also saves you the time and energy of cooking for them on your own. Restaurants that offer delivery allow you to schedule directly with them. When the restaurant is available from a local delivery service, like UberEats or DoorDash, coordinate contactless delivery through those apps. There are restaurants that offer takeout, but do not offer any type of delivery. For those, order takeout that you can pickup and deliver personally.

The Freedom of Choice: Gift Cards

Gift cards provide the ultimate freedom of choice. Your loved one decides exactly what they want, when they want it, and you still take care of the bill. Consider what is best for your loved one. A delivery service like UberEats or DoorDash provides a wide range of local options. If you know their favorite restaurant, buy a gift card directly from them. For the ultimate flexibility, a Visa gift card is accepted anywhere credit cards are accepted.

These are our favorite meal train food ideas.

With Give InKind, your meal train is supported from every angle. InKind Page Organizers easily manage everyone’s support. Supporters easily navigate the Care Calendar, Wishlist, and Fundraising options to give what works best for them. Recipients of your meal train support are treated to meals, gifts, and gift cards while we handle the details. Get started with your InKind Page to make the most of your meal train today.

Want to Know What to Get Someone with a Bad Back? We Have 9 Ideas Right Here.

What to Get Someone with a Bad Back

Do you know someone who is dealing with a bad back? Chances are you do, but you might not even be aware of it. Around 23% of the adult population suffer from chronic back pain, which means there may be someone you know who is as well. There are all kinds of reasons why people have bad backs, including the result of an injury, an accident, genetics, or even a long term stress issue. No one asks for a bad back, but it seems like they’re a pretty common ailment.

So what can you do if you know someone dealing with a bad back? Help them out of course. We have a list of both practical and thoughtful items any person who has back pain would love to receive, including:

Gifts to help with back pain management
Ways to improve their pain throughout the day
Items that will make them smile, even if they’re having back pain

Practical gifts for those with back pain

Because sometimes you just need something useful to help deal with your bad back

If someone you love has a bad back, you know that they’re probably dealing with pain on a daily basis. Perhaps they’re seeing a doctor or a chiropractor already to help them with their back, but sometimes that’s not enough. We use the muscles of our backs everyday, and just the slightest wrong movement can throw it into a painful spasm. No matter if your loved one has a treatment plan, or they’re just starting to address their painful back, they could probably use some extra help while they’re at home.

Consider giving them any one of these gifts to help make their day a little less painful.

Foam Roller

If the pain in their back is the result of muscle issues, a foam roller could be a game changer. These are simple devices that your loved one can use anytime they’re at home and they have some down time. The rollers are designed to move along the muscles of your back to release tension and muscles that are tight. There are a variety of exercises you can do in the comfort of your home to help with a bad back.

A roller is a great idea, especially if they’re not seeing a professional about their back pain. There are plenty of YouTube videos out there, making it really easy to set up a series of exercises that would be beneficial to their aching back. Relief comes with a consistent routine, however, and those exercises should be done throughout the week in order to get good results.

Back Brace

Another easy gift for someone who is experiencing back pain is a back brace. These are simple items that can easily be put on in the morning and be worn all day long. Braces come in all kinds of sizes and can offer mild or concentrated support. Braces allow the user to go about their day without the worry of straining their back. One of the worst things you can do with a bad back is to stop moving, and braces are a great way to ensure they can still go about their day as they normally would.

All you need to know is their size, and then you can search out what some of the best options are. We like:

Flexgard Support Back Brace
Mueller Lumbar Support Back Brace
Neo Medina Tech Lumbar Back Brace

Lumbar Support Pillow

Following up on the back brace, another helpful addition for anyone who suffers from back pain is a lumbar support pillow. These are especially helpful if the person works at a desk at home or they go into an office frequently. Many jobs require us to sit for most of the day, which can get uncomfortable pretty quickly for those with bad backs. A lumbar support pillow is easy to attach to any chair, so that the entire back is supported. These kinds of pillows can also be a great addition to their car seat as well. Having just a little extra support when they’re going to be sitting for a while can make all the difference in the world when it comes to keeping the pain to a minimum.

lumbar back support pillow for driver. a great idea for what to get someone with a bad back — A lumbar support pillow is a great gift for anyone with back pain. Image courtesy of Mashable.

Gift Card

Another easy gift that anyone who is suffering from back pain would love to receive is a gift card to their favorite store or restaurant. If you know that they’ve had their eye on something particular to help their back, but you don’t want to get the wrong size or the wrong level of compression, then you can always go with a gift card. Places that sell helpful pillows, braces, and other items used to treat bad backs include:

Walmart
Target
CVS
Amazon
Walgreens

Getting them a gift card to any of these stores is a great way to give them the opportunity to choose exactly what it is that they need. Perhaps they need a new heating pad or some ice packs, but you weren’t aware that they needed this. A gift card allows them to choose what they need, and is always an appreciated gift.

If they’ve been stuck in the house for a while because of their painful back, consider sending over a gift card to their favorite restaurant, so they can enjoy a meal there when they’re feeling better. Having something to look forward to is a great way to stay positive and get through the issues they’re having with their back. Alternatively, you could send them a gift card to meal services like GrubHub, DoorDash, or UberEats.

Set Up a Meal Train

If your loved one has a bad back due to a recent accident, injury, or surgery, consider setting up a meal train to help them out. One of the best places to set up a meal train is Give InKind, which is a site that allows you to start a page and organize people to participate in the meal train. People can sign up and offer to bring over home cooked or purchased meals to the recipient who is dealing with a bad back. That way, everyone knows when they’re supposed to deliver their meals, and what the other participants are bringing. This avoids repeats in meals, and ensures that the meals are spaced out enough.

Give InKind is also your one stop shop for organizing other ways to help, such as childcare, pet care, or general home maintenance tasks that they cannot do with a bad back.

Thoughtful gifts to give someone with a bad back

Brighten their day with these comforting gifts that would be perfect for someone with a bad back.

relaxing aromatherapy candle. a good idea when shopping for what to get someone with a bad back — Aromatic candles are a wonderful way to unwind and destress.

While practical gifts are always appreciated, sometimes you just want to give something a little more personalized. This is where thoughtful and comforting gifts come in. While you can’t make the back pain disappear, there are ways you can help your loved one deal with it and even find some relief. Of course if their back pain is getting worse, you should encourage them to seek out the help of a professional, but little gifts along the way can’t hurt!

Candles or aroma diffusers

One of the best ways to turn a painful back day into something much more manageable is with a good smelling candle or aroma diffuser. These are such simple gifts but can make the world of difference in someone’s home. Just head out to your local Target, Bed, Bath & Beyond, or Walmart and check out their candle selection. Amazon is also another fantastic place to find all kinds of relaxing scents.

If you’re not sure if they’ll enjoy candles, you could also try out an aroma diffuser. These devices use essential oils to make homes smell amazing. You can find lots of different aromas to choose from, such as:

Lavender
Lemon
Mint
Cinnamon
Vanilla

Diffusers not only make the rooms of a home smell amazing, they can also help the mind and body relax. Breathing in the wonderful scents signals to our brains that it is time to relax and destress. Having a home that always feels comfortable and welcoming is essential to our wellbeing, especially if someone is dealing with pain on a daily basis.

Spa Day

One treatment that many medical professionals who treat back pain recommend is massages. And what better excuse to visit your local spa with a loved one with back pain? Most salons offer all kinds of different massages that would be of great benefit to those suffering with bad backs. You could choose to treat your loved one and join them for a relaxing spa day, or give them a gift card to their favorite spa. They can choose exactly what type of massage they want, whether it’s a Swedish massage, hot stone, deep tissue, or even an aromatherapy massage.

The massage professionals will be able to adjust their techniques according to the needs of your loved one, and help to work out muscle tension in their back. There are also all kinds of add-ons that would complete the spa day like a facial or a manicure/pedicure.

Care Package

Another gift that anyone would be happy to receive is a care package. While you may think that these are reserved for students away at school, the fact is care packages can be sent to anyone, including people who are dealing with a bad back. If your loved one’s back issues came about as the result of an accident or injury, a care package is a great way to show that you’re thinking of them. The best part? You can include almost anything in them. Whether you want to shower them with their favorite snacks, or give them some amazing products for a little self-care, the gift of a care package is hard to beat.

Include items you know the recipient would enjoy such as:

Salty snacks like chips or pretzels
Dips, salsas, or chutneys
Sweet snacks like chocolate or gummy bears
Nice lotions, face masks, or bath salts
Their favorite alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages
Gift cards
Books or movies
Socks, slippers, or a blanket

You can include anything they might like in your care package. It doesn’t have to have a theme either. If you’re strapped for time, you can also choose to send over a premade care package too, which will also be much appreciated by your loved one.

Offer Your Assistance

And finally, offer your time and assistance. If there are tasks that they need to do but cannot, offer to help them out. You could ask if they need assistance with mowing the lawn, caring for children or pets, gardening, cleaning the house, or getting groceries. Help with any and all of these chores would be greatly appreciated. It would also make their day just a little bit better. If they have appointments to see a doctor for their back, consider offering them a gentle ride.

You could offer to come over and spend time with them, especially if they’re stuck in the house. Alternatively, if they’re ready to go out, take them to a restaurant, a movie, or go shopping together.

There are all kinds of things you can do to help out someone with a bad back. From back braces, to meal trains, to care packages, show your support with any of these gift ideas.

Don’t Know What To Cook? Here’s What To Bring For A Meal Train

You’re signed up for support, now let’s figure out what to feed your loved one.

If this is your first time participating in a meal train and you’re unsure what to bring, we’ve got the perfect guide just for you. Meal trains are designed to help someone you care about who may be going through a tough time, has added a new addition to their family, or just needs a little extra help. Family, friends, and community come together to plan, prepare, and deliver meals to the person that needs it.

It’s a wonderful thing to do for someone and you might be super excited to start, but the question remains, what to bring for the meal train?

Today we’re going to be breaking down:

What you should look out for when buying ingredients to cook with/prepare.
Options for every meal of the day you can make in the comfort of your home or pick up from your local grocery store.

So Many Options In The Aisles, Where To Begin?

A well-balanced meal can help improve someone’s physical health, but also their mental health.

Going to the grocery store for yourself can get a bit overwhelming, but for someone else? That’s a whole new ball game. Obviously the person you’re preparing food for is someone you care about, so bringing foods that they would actually enjoy is important. Asking them what they’d prefer and knowing their likes, dislikes, and any dietary restrictions/choices is going to be key, so now it comes down to how to choose.

We recommend the makings of a well-balanced meal. Fruits, vegetables, and whole grain products are a well-known go-to, along with some kind of protein like meat, seafood, tofu, eggs, nuts, beans, and more. It’s obvious but sometimes overlooked: make sure to take a glance at nutrition and ingredient labels. These can help you decide between two similar products and what to avoid if there’s something in there that the person doesn’t like or can’t eat. Something delicious and nutritious is what makes for a good meal and will help the person feel a bit more like themselves.

But let’s not forget their comfort food, too.Right now, they need something to help bring a bit of calm back in their lives, and knowing what special treats they like, whether it be sugary, salty, and savory, is going to be very helpful when you send food over.

Our Favorite Meal Train Recipe Ideas

It’s Morning, It’s Time For Breakfast.

Start the day off right with something good, it’s the most important meal of the day after all.

Getting good food in the morning is key to a great day, as is having something that’s full of flavor and made with love. Here are three different options for a delicious early morning meal.

Pancakes, Eggs, and Bacon

You can’t go wrong with a classic, and that’s pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Or variations of those things, like waffles, hash browns, and sausage–all depending on the recipient. But let’s keep it to the classics this time:

Courtesy of the NY Times, you can make some of the highest rated pancakes on the market. All you need is basic baking supplies like flour, baking powder, salt, sugar, egg, milk, and butter.
Bacon and eggs you can get at your local grocery store and prepare exactly how they’d like it.

A Little Something Sweet, Rhubarb Streusel Muffins

A little sugar fix in the morning isn’t something to overlook, especially a good muffin.

Courtesy of the Taste of Home website, these Rhubarb Streusel Muffins are a delicious addition to anyone’s morning breakfast. You’ll need all your basic baking supplies, along with sour cream, fresh or frozen thawed rhubarb, and chopped pecans. It’s something sweet to start the morning with something nice.

Can’t Go Wrong With Simple, How About Cereal?

Sometimes one can look over the easy picks for breakfast like cereal. Whether you go for something a little more on the healthy side like Cheerios, or something that brings a smile to your face like Lucky Charms.

It’s something simple that can help not just with one meal but with many future breakfast meals. You can also send over a milk of their choice, whether it be Oat, Soy, or Whole, it’s sure to be helpful for them in the future.

Sun’s Up And Lunch Is Ready To Be Made.

That mid-afternoon hunger can strike at any time, let’s help with that.

avocado toast with tomato. one of the best, easy, and tasty meal train recipe ideas — Something that’s easy to prepare and eat is the best way to make your afternoon a bit easier to handle.

Forgetting to eat when one is going through a life-changing experience happens a lot, especially during the middle of the day, and we’re here to make sure that the person you’re providing for is eating well all throughout the day. Here’s a few lunch options that can lend a helping hand this afternoon.

Garlic Bread Pizza.

We love a tasty and convenient lunch dish and this Garlic Bread Pizza provides delicious sustenance and convenience.

Courtesy of the official Delish website, this Garlic Bread Pizza recipe will delight your meal train recipient, especially since all they have to do is heat it back up. This recipe requires you to make your own pizza sauce. (don’t worry, it’s not as challenging as it may seem.) They give you a list of ingredients to get, and step-by-step instructions on how to make the sauce perfectly. After that, all you’ll need to worry about is bringing the whole thing together. Make sure you get your loaf of garlic bread, shredded cheeses, pepperoni slices, and follow the rest of the steps laid out on their website.

Feel Good While Eating This Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad

We talked a bit in the beginning on the importance of a well-balanced meal, it can change your mental and physical health for the better, and this salad is here to do exactly that. Filled with protein and a lot of vegetables, this salad and any salad can be one small stepping stone to feeling a little better.

Also courtesy of the official Delish website, we’re here to make a tasty Mediterranean Grilled Chicken Salad in just a half an hour. This salad is pretty easy to make, it requires you to use boneless skinless chicken breasts, a small variety of seasonings, and a selection of vegetables. (If there’s a veggie your person would prefer or one in the recipes they may not like, make sure to ask them so you can do your own variations to this recipe to make it special for them). This homemade salad shows care and that’s what this is all about.

A Simple Ham Sandwich

Depending on how busy the days can get, taking the time to prepare a big lunch meal just might not be in the cards and at the end of the day something simple might just be the way to go, and a ham sandwich is universal for being fast and delicious.

Now there’s no exact recipe to the “best” ham sandwich. There are some recommendations known in the cooking world as being better than others…

For the bread, seeded, crusty white, sourdough, or ciabatta seem to be favorites. But you can’t go wrong with a classic sliced bread. Good quality ham is the way to go. You can get some from the deli. Research the best pre-packaged sliced ham, or ask the recipient what they like. Red onion and tomato are go-to’s, (thinly sliced is better). Smoked cheese, provolone, or swiss cheese are favorites, along with Dijon Mustard and mayo as toppings can really make the sandwich taste so good.

Evening Calls And Dinner’s Ready To Be Prepped

Ending the day with a good meal can make going to bed a bit easier.

plate of pasta being eaten mid-meal. a simple pasta dish makes for great meal train recipe ideas — Something hearty for dinner can really make a difference and bonus points if it’s made from someone with care.

Not Just Regular Spaghetti, But Spaghetti With A Twist

Putting on a pot to boil and throwing in some noodles makes for an easy meal. Especially with store-bought sauce, the meal shapes up super quickly. But how about we make it a little more special for the person in your life that needs it?

Courtesy of the Taste of Home website, this Favorite Baked Spaghetti recipe is a sort of mix between a classic noodle dish and lasagna, making them into something new and delicious. It’s a simple step-by-step process with pre-packaged ingredients that deliver easy homemade flavor. The recipe yields 10 servings, perfect for several days or meals.

Calling For Comfort, And What’s More Comforting Than Soup?

A bowl of soup when you need love and care is a bit of a well-known staple for every home. We couldn’t not include it on our list today.

Courtesy of the official Southern Living website, this Roasted Tomato Soup with Cheddar Cheese will provide a great meal for those who need a little more warmth in their lives. You’ll need plum tomatoes, low sodium chicken broth (or vegetable broth), sharp shredded cheddar cheese, an onion, garlic cloves, and other spices that should be really easy to find. You can adjust the numbers depending on how much you’d like to make too.

Something Simple and Delicious: Roasted Chicken & Potatoes

After all of this cooking, you might be in the market for something simple. We believe that a classic roasted chicken with potatoes and veggies is calling your name. Especially with how easy it would be to prep and pass along.

When at the grocery store, get a hot, ready-to-go rotisserie chicken, potatoes, and veggies like broccoli, carrots, or asparagus. Prep the chicken, cook potatoes, and pack veggies for a comforting meal.

How You Can Organize A Meal Train And Where To Go For Help

Now that you have ideas on what to bring for a meal train, how about getting started with one? Luckily we have a great resource for you. Give InKind is here to “Organize Support for Anyone, Anywhere.”

To start a meal train, you can start at their “Start an InKind Page” link right on the front page of their website. You can add dates for how long you’d want/need this meal train to be there. Go through breakfast, lunch, and dinner options, and even add requests for groceries and gift cards.

Use ‘Special Notes’ to share dietary choices/restrictions & allergies. Help participants know what to bring/not bring.

After setting up the page, all you need to do is share with people who might be able to help. It’s that easy.

A meal train is a great way to help someone in need. Give InKind is here to make that easier.

How to Support Someone with a Chronic Illness

The Importance of being there for those you care about.

Image courtesy of Its Time Texas

When is something defined as a chronic illness? The National Cancer Institute defines it as a disease that lasts three months or longer and may worsen over time.

Most Common Chronic Illnesses:

Cancer
Heart Disease
Stroke
Diabetes
Arthritis

Chronic illness redefines “normal” for everyone affected. Let’s get into different ways you can support a friend or a loved one living with a chronic illness.

How to Support Someone with a Chronic Illness

Tips on being there through the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

When going through hard times, community support can make the biggest difference between a successful and difficult journey.

Ways we recommend showing your support to someone suffering from a chronic illness:

Show compassion and empathy.

Now, this is a tip that seems like it should be given to most people, and yet it is one of the first things you will find listed anywhere when it comes to supporting an individual in your life who is living with or suffering from any form of illness. The point is that when you are supporting someone suffering from a chronic illness, you should show compassion and empathy not only through actions but also through words.

When discussing chronic illness, research allows better understanding and respect for boundaries. “Be aware of your audience” means avoiding potential harm in your words. Take time to educate yourself about your friend or loved one’s condition to know what to say and when. Being considerate helps maintain a supportive and caring environment for those with chronic illnesses.

Create a Meal Train.

For this particular form of support, we recommend that you gather a group of people and create a meal support sign up. This allows you and the people you gathered to sign up for different days or weeks to bring your friend food. Having a support system such as a meal train set up can make a world of difference.

Individuals with chronic illness need not worry about meals; a meal train relieves families from the stress of meal prep. When creating a meal train, opt for easy-to-prepare options. Facilitate gift cards, fundraising, and in-person assistance too.

Use Give InKind’s platform to support individuals with chronic illnesses. Create a personalized InKind Page with information and updates. Request meals and various support types through the Care Calendar and Wishlist. Integrate fundraising options for direct financial assistance. Supporters can easily sign up and help.

hot spaghetti casserole. include in a meal train to support someone with chronic illness — Meal trains can range from hot dishes such as spaghetti to colder dishes such as salads, so make sure whatever is provided can be eaten by the individual it’s going to. Image courtesy of Taste of Home.

Show validation

and reassure your loved one it’s okay not to be okay. Avoid trite expressions like “it could be worse.” Be present and supportive to let them know they are not alone.

Lastly, be flexible and allow your loved ones to rest.

Nobody enjoys canceling plans, including those with chronic illness. So if your friend changes or cancels due to their condition, understand their situation. Show flexibility and support their need for rest.

Give InKind is here to help you support someone with chronic illness

In conclusion, supporting a loved one with a chronic illness requires understanding, flexibility, and validation. By offering empathy and being considerate, we can make a significant difference in their journey. Use Give InKind to enhance your support effort.

How to Support Someone With A Sick Parent

How to Show Your Support to A Friend Whose Parent is Ill

Seeing someone you care about struggling with the illness of a parent can be heart-wrenching, and you may feel at a loss on how to help. Our with this guide is to offer several practical strategies to assist you in learning how to support someone with a sick parent.

Listen, Listen, Listen

One of the most straightforward ways to support someone with a sick parent is by being there for them, offering a listening ear when they need it. You don’t necessarily have to offer advice, just listening can help. Allow them to share their fears, frustrations, and worries without judgment. Your role is to provide comfort, understanding, and reassurance, not to solve the problem.

reaching out to support a friend with a sick parent — Be present and attentive.

Help Take Care of the Practical Stuff

When a loved one is unwell, everyday chores can feel overwhelming. You can lend a hand by assisting with grocery shopping, cleaning, cooking, or even taking care of their children. If you’re unable to physically be there, consider sending over a meal, hiring a cleaning service for them, or using delivery services to help them out.

person in yellow gloves scrubbing a mirror — There are many practical ways you can help a friend with a sick parent.

Offer to Accompany Them to Hospital Visits

Hospital visits can be stressful and emotionally draining. Offering to accompany your friend or loved one can provide them with much-needed emotional support. Even just driving them to and from appointments can be a significant help.

Offering to accompany your friend and their parent means you can navigate, park the car, and pick them up.

Check-In Regularly

Stay in touch and check in on them regularly. You can use phone calls, texts, emails, or even handwritten notes. The important thing is to let them know that they are not alone, and that you’re there to provide support whenever needed.

Provide Distractions

Sometimes, distractions can be beneficial. Invite them to a movie, a walk in the park, or just over to your house for a meal. Try to understand if they decline your invitation – they might just need some quiet time. But do not give up; keep extending the invite.

Show Emotional Support

Let them know that it’s okay to feel what they’re feeling. A parent’s sickness brings up complex emotions, and it’s healthy to allow themselves to experience these feelings rather than bottle them up. Encourage them to take care of their mental health and seek professional help if necessary.

Respect Their Privacy

This is a challenging time for your friend or loved one, and they might not always want to share what they’re going through. Respect their boundaries and give them the space they need. They’ll open up when they’re ready.

Encourage Self-Care

With the stress of a parent’s illness, your friend or loved one may neglect their own wellbeing. Gently remind them that taking care of their own physical and emotional health is vital. Encourage them to eat well, exercise, and get plenty of rest. They might also find stress-relief techniques such as yoga or meditation helpful.

Self-Care doesn’t mean pedicures and spa days – sometimes it just means a good night’s sleep.

Provide Practical Support

If possible, help them navigate the medical system, understanding complex treatment options, insurance details, and hospital paperwork. This can be overwhelming for someone dealing with the emotional stress of a sick parent.

Don’t Forget to Say “I’m Here for You”

This simple phrase can mean so much to someone going through a tough time. Reassure them that you’re there for them, and that they can lean on you when things get tough.

In conclusion, supporting someone with a sick parent involves both emotional and practical help. You can provide comfort, help with everyday tasks, offer to accompany them on hospital visits, check in regularly, provide distractions, respect their privacy, encourage self-care, help navigate the medical system, and reassure them of your presence.

Use a Tool Like Give InKind to Organize Your Support

A practical way to provide support is through Give InKind. This online platform allows you to coordinate help from a distance. With Give InKind, you can create a care calendar to organize meal delivery, rides to medical appointments, and even child or pet care. It also allows for fundraising and sending gift cards if physical help is not possible due to geographical distance. The platform offers a way to communicate updates and needs to a wide network of friends, family, and community members willing to help.

You can also use Give InKind to provide emotional support. Through the platform, you can send thoughtful messages of encouragement, or share updates about your loved one’s condition with a broader community.

Remember, every little bit counts, and your support can make a significant difference during this challenging time. Leveraging resources like Give InKind can help make managing this difficult period a bit easier for your loved one and ensure that they feel supported and cared for.

How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer: 7 Ways to Show You Care

Breast cancer is something no one should have to go through alone: here are a few ways you can show them your support.

When someone you love is diagnosed with breast cancer, it can be tough to know how best to support them. It’s an emotional and physical journey that calls for a community of care and support. Here are some ideas on “How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer” that can help guide your actions, showing your love and concern in tangible ways.

Having a close friend or family member dealing with breast cancer can leave you feeling helpless. The journey is often physically and emotionally draining, making support from loved ones crucial. Yet, finding the best way to express your concern and aid can be challenging. Thus, we’ve compiled a list of 7 practical tips on “How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer,” which could be beneficial for those seeking ways to show their care and devotion.

The methods to show support for a loved one with breast cancer are as unique as the individual themselves. Everyone responds differently to gestures of love and care, so choosing your method of support should be as personalized as possible. However, we’ve got you covered with 7 universally appreciated ways on “How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer,” which are sure to resonate with anyone battling the disease.

Here’s a quick rundown of our 7 thoughtful approaches on “How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer”:

- Establish a website to assist with medical expenses
- Organize a ride-sharing system for medical appointments
- Present them with soothing and distracting items
- Arrange a meal train
- Brighten their day with flowers
- Spend quality time with them
- Dispatch a thoughtful care package from afar

1. Set Up a Website to Help With Medical Costs

Helping to take away the financial burden of treatment can allow them to focus on their healing

two women embracing — Creating a website where people can donate to someone battling breast cancer is a great way to show support.

The financial burden of treatment can be overwhelming. Establishing a website where people can contribute is an effective way to support someone battling breast cancer. Platforms like GoFundMe and Give InKind allow you to create an online space where others can make donations or show support.

2. Offer to Ride Share

Sharing rides to appointments can be a big help

man driving to pick up a loved one for a doctors appointment — Having a ride to an appointment can make someone feel appreciated and loved.

Ensuring transportation for medical appointments is another valuable means of showing support. Offer to drive them to appointments or coordinate a ride-sharing sign-up using platforms like Give InKind, allowing others to join in supporting your loved one.

3. Present Them With Soothing and Distracting Items

Chemotherapy can be a long treatment, having something to help stay occupied is nice

person with cancer coloring a picture of van gogh with colored pencils — Having something creative to do can take someone’s mind off of a tough treatment.

Gifts that help occupy their time during treatments can provide a welcome distraction. Consider items such as a coloring book, a gift card for digital movie rentals, a compelling book, or new music for them to enjoy.

4. Set Up a Meal Train

Meal trains can be a great way to stay connected and show support

tray of sushi — Food can help people feel loved and appreciated during hard times.

Meal trains are a traditional and heartwarming way to support those in need. Set up a meal train through a site like Give InKind, ensuring that your loved one receives healthy, comforting meals without the stress of cooking.

5. Send Them Some Flowers to Brighten Their Day

Colorful flowers around the house can make any day seem better

bouquet of orange and yellow tulips in a vase — Adding a little color to someone’s life is a fun way to show your support and to lift their mood.

Flowers can add color and cheer to someone’s day. Send a bouquet of their favorite flowers, either through a delivery service or personally arranged, to bring a smile to their face.

6. Pay Them a Visit

Sometimes just physically being there for someone can mean the world

three female friends sitting on a sofa together — Being with friends can make any bad situation seem a little bit better.

If you live near your loved one, spending time with them can be immensely comforting. A simple visit, engaging in a shared hobby, or just being there to listen can make a significant difference.

7. Send Them a Care Package

Care Packages are a fun and personalized way of sending support from far away

blue box of chocolates with a pink bow and purple flowers in a gold pot — Send someone battling breast cancer something you know that they will love.

If distance separates you, consider sending a personalized care package filled with their favorite things. Whether it’s their preferred snacks, a subscription box, or a thoughtful memento, a care package can truly brighten their day.

By implementing these “How to Support Someone With Breast Cancer” strategies, you’re showing your loved one that they’re not alone in this fight. A robust support system can make the daunting journey of battling breast cancer seem a bit more manageable. If you’re looking for a way to show your support, let these 7 ideas inspire you.

What to Ask When Creating a Meal Train for New Parents

The Essential Information to Know

two parents holding their sleeping baby — Image courtesy of The Conversation.

In this article, we’ll explore helpful ideas and important information to gather when creating a meal train for new parents. Ensuring they receive hearty nourishment during this transformative time is a meaningful form of support the community can provide.

Let’s show these new parents the care and support they deserve by filling their table with love and delicious food. Together, we can make their journey into parenthood a little bit easier and a whole lot tastier.

What is a meal train?

The Importance behind them.

"pizza pasta casserole" noodles, cheese, sauce, pepperoni, and chopped green onions golden brown and melted in a ceramic casserole dish. great idea for a meal train for new parents — There are so many different types of foods out there, how are you supposed to choose? Image courtesy of Emerald Doulas.

A meal train is a form of support that people put together when individuals go through different life changing moments. When welcoming a new baby, communities can share their excitement by coordinating a steady flow of gifts, meals, and care. Scheduling and taking turns providing meals and gifts help prevent the family from becoming overwhelmed and their freezer from overflowing.

With Give InKind’s platform, you can create, organize, and manage your entire meal train with your very own InKind Page. Your InKind Page is where you share updates about the family, new baby, and support that works best for them. The Care Calendar allows you to set up requests for meals, and many other types of support. The Wishlist allows you to request specific gifts and gift cards the family may benefit from. Meal delivery services, grocery stores, gift baskets, baby clothes, and more. You can also connect fundraising options like GoFundMe, PayPal, Venmo, and CashApp so supporters may directly fund the family. Supporters then come to the page and sign up or send support that works best for them.

To start your meal train for new parents, there is some general information to gather and share with supporters.

Delivery Information

Perhaps the most important piece of information needed for your meal train is where to deliver meals and gifts. Whether the home of the recipient family, a designated neighbor, or a community location to hand off the meals. Providing supporters with specific location information leaves them prepared without having to interrupt the new parents with calls or texts trying to locate them.

With your InKind Page, the delivery address is privately saved. It is shared with supporters only after they sign up to send support or deliver a meal. This protects your recipient’s privacy while also ensuring supporters have the information they need to send meals.

Contact Preferences

Along with the delivery address, include information for your meal train supporters about how the family would like to be contacted, if at all. Are supporters welcome to knock or ring the bell and greet the family when they arrive? Would the new parents prefer no calls or texts at all? Is there a cooler on the porch to place meals in?

On your InKind Page you can include this information prominently in the Special Notes area of the page and also inside the details of each Care Calendar request, so supporters know specifically how the family would like their meals delivered.

Dietary Restrictions

As you organize the meal train you should be sure that the information regarding allergies, diet restrictions and dislikes are available for those contributing so they are aware to avoid these particular items. Ask for the new parents’ favorite restaurants, favorite meals, what anyone may be allergic or sensitive to, and any things they just don’t like.

You can include this information in the Special Notes of your InKind Page and inside details of Care Calendar requests. This allows supporters to know what is safe to prepare or send.

Information to Collect from Supporters of your Meal Train for New Parents

The essential information you need from supporters of a meal train for new parents are their name, contact information (in case there are any changes in the family’s needs or scheduling,) when they are providing meal support, and what type of meal support they are providing. Preparing a schedule of meal support and being mindful of what supporters plan to bring helps keep the family fed consistently. It also helps ensure variety in what the family is being fed.

With your InKind Page, you create the schedule based on the family’s needs, whether it’s daily meals, weekly, monthly, etc. Supporters then sign up for the days and times that work best for them; sharing what they will be providing right there on the Care Calendar. This allows other supporters to see what is being provided, ensuring they can provide variety. Give InKind also handles the details of sharing the delivery information with supporters when they sign up. Collecting their contact information in case you need to reach them with any changes, reminding them of the support they signed up for, and even allows them to send gift cards directly through the Care Calendar to allow the family to select their own meals.

It is also helpful if you remind individuals who are contributing to include heating as well as cooking instructions.

Sometimes supporters provide food that has already been completely cooked, leaving the recipient to heat it up before serving. When it comes to frozen meals, there are scenarios when an individual may not have cooked the item they are providing at all. Or may have partially cooked it so that the recipient only has to cook it for a bit longer. In either of these situations, it is recommended to provide the heating/cooking instructions when you deliver the food.

Give InKind is here to help you succeed with your meal train for new parents. With your InKind Page, supporters from anywhere can provide comprehensive support, beyond meals. Get started with your InKind Page here.

Gluten Free Meal Train Ideas

Meals to Provide Your Gluten-Free Friends

Close up of woman putting pumpkin to oven at home

Creating a gluten-free meal train can be a beautiful gesture of support when a loved one is facing challenging times. Providing nutritious, easy-to-digest meals that respect their dietary requirements can significantly ease their burden. Let’s explore some gluten-free meal train ideas that are sure to bring comfort and sustenance.

How to set up a meal train

A way to help individuals going through hard times.

A thoughtful homemade meal can significantly impact an individual’s life during tough times more than you, or I could ever know. Image courtesy of healthywomen.

A meal train is a coordinated effort where a group of friends, family, or community members prepare and deliver meals to someone going through a challenging time. Whether they’ve just had a baby, recovering from an injury, or battling a disease, the last thing they need is the stress of meal planning. This is where your gluten-free meal train ideas come into play.

Start by gathering a team willing to participate. Next, create a sign-up sheet where people can commit to specific dates and meals. This process ensures a steady flow of meals without overwhelming the recipient. It also prevents repetition. Remember to mention the gluten-free requirement to avoid potential allergic reactions or discomfort.

Ensure your meal train offers a mix of meals that can be enjoyed immediately and those that can be frozen for later. Always include a note with cooking instructions and a ‘best before’ date to prevent any food wastage.

Meal Trains for Individuals who are Gluten Free

Prepared Meals for Others Make a Handy Gift

There are so many different recipes; how do you choose what to make for your friend or family member receiving food from an organized meal train? Image courtesy of North Carolina Charm.

Crafting a gluten-free meal train involves creativity and a little bit of research. Here are some meal suggestions that are gluten-free and packed with flavor.

Cheesy Vegetable, Turkey Sausage, and Rice Casserole

Casseroles are excellent gluten-free meal train ideas due to their versatility. This dish combines vegetables, turkey sausage, and rice, delivering a hearty, flavorful meal. You can tailor this to the recipient’s taste–omit the meat for a vegetarian version or switch it out for a preferred protein. Pair it with a side salad or fresh fruit for a well-rounded meal.

Crock Pot White Chicken Chili

This slow-cooked chili is another comforting meal, ideal for a gluten-free meal train. You can deliver it fully prepared or provide the ingredients separately, giving your recipient the freedom to cook it themselves when they’re ready. Either way, provide instructions for preparation and serving suggestions like cornbread or a mixed green salad.

Roasted Sheet Pan Vegetable Dinner

An excellent vegan and gluten-free option is a roasted sheet pan vegetable dinner. This dish is light, nutritious, and packed with flavor. Use a combination of the recipient’s favorite vegetables, ensuring a colorful and appealing meal. This dish is perfect on its own or served alongside a portion of quinoa or rice.

Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Casserole

A no-bake Salsa Verde Chicken and Rice Casserole is another dish that’s perfect for gluten-free meal train ideas. It’s microwave-friendly and kid-approved, with its mild flavors and cheesy goodness. Consider including sides like mixed greens, tortilla chips, or beans.

Breakfast Taco Casserole

Finally, don’t forget about breakfast! A breakfast taco casserole is a savory start to the day. This gluten-free dish combines eggs, breakfast sausage, cheese sauce, onions, peppers, and tortilla strips into a delicious one-dish meal. Include reheating and storage instructions for convenience.

Oven roasted vegetables with the baking tray

Remember, the key to successful gluten-free meal train ideas lies in considering the recipient’s tastes and dietary requirements. Your efforts will not only provide nourishing meals but also a sense of community and support during their difficult time. For more tips, tricks, and recipes for creating an effective meal train, visit Give InKind.

Here’s the Scoop on Soup: How to Package Soup for Meal Train Delivery

Soup is a big favorite on the meal train list, so learning how to make it so it travels well is a key component to this dish.

Get ready to become an expert on how to package soup for meal train delivery.

Soup. A great meal for someone who is under the weather, recovering from an ailment, going through a hard time, celebrating a new arrival and needs something simple to enjoy when the day gets busy. It’s a classic when it comes to helping others feel a little less alone, warm and comforting, full of flavor, and made with care.

If you’re here because you want to bring or make soup for the recipient of a meal train, you’ve come to the right place! Today we’re going to breakdown:

How to safely package and transport soup on your way to your destination
The full soup packing and travel routine, from start to delivery
Bonus soup recipes that are so delicious you’ll want some for yourself

Soup is a great comfort food and when it’s time to help someone who is going through a major life-change, this could just be one small thing that can change their day around a little.

person cooking sprinkles cheese into a pan on the stove. how to package soup for meal train — A little bit of cheese and a little bit of help is a great way to make a stellar soup for packaging!

How To Package Soup for Meal Train Delivery, Safely

Spilling soup all over your car seats is a terrible spin to your day, especially when you’re delivering it to someone who needs it. After all the hard work of cooking and ensuring your meal is delicious, the last thing you want is a leak or spillage when it can be easily avoided! So let’s break down a few key points in how to make sure your delicious soup dish arrives intact.

Packaging:

Probably the most important part of our journey today is how exactly we should be packing the soup for transport. Questions like: “what containers do we use?” and “how do I ensure there’s no spillage inside the package itself?” are quite common, so let’s begin at the top.

There are so many different containers out there, all advertising different uses, so choosing which ones to use can be a bit overwhelming. First things first though, is talking with the recipient about if they can keep the container or you need it back…

Tip: A lot of the time when someone is going through a major life change, the last thing on their mind is needing to get someone’s container back, so we’d suggest talking with them to see their thoughts or packing it in something you they can dispose of or keep and reuse as their own.

Some well-known containers that a perfect for soup transportation are:

Mason Jars. Mason Jars are a favorite when it comes to traveling with soup, they keep the contents warm and the screw on top keeps anything from escaping the container. (There’s a whole website dedicated to Mason Jars with all different types of cool lids, you can find that here).
A thermos. Specifically a vacuum insulated thermos. They will also keep your food warm, and you don’t have to worry about packing them too tightly since they are designed to keep things in!
Snapable leak proof containers. Containers like Snapware are a great tool for keeping everything slightly more secure than a regular container and lid.

Traveling:

Now that you have your soup in the container of your choice, it’s now time to hit the road. So let’s talk prep and how you can travel with your food to help the person you care about.

First things first, if you aren’t just delivering soup and you have other goodies with you like dinner dishes, deserts, snacks, and beverages you’ll need an effective system to bring all that stuff over so it won’t get jostled in the drive.

Whether you have a bag that you’re carrying everything in or a box, knowing where to place items is key to a smooth ride.

Pack things according to two key factors: temperature and weight.

Warm dishes like your soup possibly or any other dish you’re trying to keep the heat in go on the bottom. And then you’re gonna want to put a few towels over those containers to both protect them and the stuff on top, and help keep the heat in.
Cooler stuff typically goes toward the top. If transporting hot and frozen items, consider separating those extreme temperature into separate containers.
Place any drinks you have on the sides so they won’t drop and roll under the car seats.
And finally, place any lighter items like snacks or desserts on top. This way, if a bag of tortilla chips falls off, it will be easy to pick up, and it won’t get crushed under the weight of other dishes.

Now that we got it all ready to go, where should we put the bag and/or box full of goodies?

Well if you don’t have someone with you to help hold the bag during the duration of your drive the best way to keep everything safe is putting it all on the floor in the backseat on the passenger’s side, after that you’ll need to push the front passenger side side back until it’s essentially “hugging” the bag and/or box. That way, you’ll nest it in, and any unexpected turns won’t result in it all ending up on your car floor.

Sometimes the people who you’re helping with this meal train might want a quick delivery, other times a nice check in and chat is welcome, and both are okay.

A Recap And Step-By-Step Instructions On All Things Soup Travel

Now that you know the tips and tricks of the soup-packaging trade, it’s time to provide a ‘recap’ or a step-by-step guide that covers everything from the moment the soup is ready to be packed to your departure from the recipient’s house after successfully delivering your meal train package.

Step One: Choose your container. Whether you choose a Mason Jar or a big bowl, ensure you place all the soup in it and then wrap it with cling-film or tin-foil sheets if you’re extra concerned about spillage.
Step Two: Start to make your “gift bag” aka if you are bringing anything else over, pack it according to temperature and weight like we discussed previously. Soup on the bottom and snacks on top.
Third Step: Text or call the recipient to alert them that you’re on the way.Even though they are aware of the schedule, it’s a good idea to inform them that you’re on your way over. This way, if you happen to arrive a little earlier than originally planned, they won’t miss the delivery or be surprised by its arrival.
Fourth: Either have a friend/family member hold the gift bag during the drive or place it on the backseat floor.
Step Five: Delivery. Often, a meal train page will inform the cooks whether they are welcome to knock on the door, stay and chat for a few minutes, and then head off when they bring the food over. But if they’d rather not have visitors then put the package in the designated spot and head on home.

There you have it! Follow these steps to ensure the safe delivery of your soup.

A few easy steps and your hard work will pay off in no time, especially since you’re helping someone who needs it right now.

an older woman helps a young girl cook in a pot on the stove. They are both smiling. — Cooking is great fun when you’re doing it for your own life but when helping others? That’s a great feeling!

Now That You Know The Tricks, How About A Couple Of Recipes?

If you’ve come here with plans to make soup for your own upcoming meal train, we have you covered! Here’s a couple that’ll be so tasty you’re going to want to make extra for yourself!

A Fan-Favorite, It’s Italian Wedding Soup

If you’re looking for something hearty and full of flavor, Italian Wedding Soup is your winner. While it might seem fancy, it has actually served as a comfort food for a long time. Full of delicious foods like meatballs and veggies, it makes for a great meal after a long day.

Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman’s official website, this “Best Italian Wedding Soup Recipe” is a great find and fairly quick to make! Yielding 6-8 servings and taking only 25 minutes you’ll need lean ground beef, mild Italian sausage, grated parmesan cheese, chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, eggs, garlic cloves, panko breadcrumbs, salt & pepper, olive oil, carrots, yellow onion, celery, chicken & beef broth, pearl couscous or small pasta, spinach, and lemon juice. In just under a half an hour you can make delicious soup for the person that needs it.

Another Well-Known Classic, It’s Chicken Noodle Soup

We couldn’t have an article about soup without naming the well known classic, Chicken Noodle. It’s a staple for both recovery and for a nice, cool day when you need something delicious and comforting.

Courtesy of The Modern Proper website, this “Quick and Easy Chicken Noodle Soup” recipe will be added into your own dinner routine soon. Taking just over 30 minutes make and only 15 minutes of prep time, this dairy free recipe makes six servings. You’ll need butter or oil, onion, celery, carrots, garlic, bay leaves, chicken stock, a rotisserie chicken, egg noodles, and parsley. Homemade and delicious, this is a perfect dish.

Those two soup recipes would make for a great addition to the meal train recipient’s day. They’re a perfect “comfort” food. You can even send them the recipe so in the future they can make it themselves when things are better for them.

Make Your Own Meal Train With This Useful Tool

Finding a resource to help those who are going through a major life change makes planning a meal train easy, especially when that resource is Give InKind. Give InKind is a platform that makes setting up meal train pages simple, in just five minutes you can have a completed InKind Page to share with other family members, friends, and neighbors so they can join in to lend a helping hand. Give InKind can be used by anyone, anywhere, and they are here to make helping just a little easier.

Great Gifts For Hospital Patients Who Would Rather Be At Home

A hospital stay isn’t fun, but any of these gifts for hospital patients can make everything feel better.

The hospital is not the most pleasant place to spend any time, let alone days. Nothing in the hospital is as comfortable as you would like it to be. They have uncomfortable beds, cold floors, bland food, all kinds of disruptive beeps and noises, and many more issues that make it unpleasant to be there for long periods of time. The atmosphere in a hospital can be downright depressing for anyone who has to stay in one, and there are many reasons why. Having to be there in the first place can feel bad enough, even if you’re there for something minor.

So since the experience of staying in a hospital isn’t necessarily a great one, when someone you care about is stuck there, you probably feel bad for them and wish you could make things better. Well you’re certainly not completely helpless in this situation. You can do small things to make your friend feel more comfortable while they are at the hospital.

One way to do that is to get them better versions of things they have at the hospital to make their stay more pleasant. You can get them items for their bed, for entertainment, and even food for the family at home. Anything can be a welcome distraction when you’re stuck in a hospital bed when you’d rather be anywhere else. Whatever they can use for comfort or entertainment can help significantly and make someone feel less as if the time is just dragging on. Anything that can make someone’s hospital stay better will likely be greatly appreciated.

Gifts for hospital patients

When you know someone who is stuck in the hospital, you can probably imagine just how uncomfortable they must be. The hospital isn’t a place that anyone wants to spend much time in, but you can make this time a lot more bearable for someone by giving them a few useful gifts that will make their stay in the hospital a lot more pleasant.

Bathrobe

This is soft enough to make walking around the hospital feel luxurious. Image courtesy of Amazon.

When someone you care about is lying around in an uncomfortable hospital gown, a bathrobe can really make their stay more comfortable. Hospital gowns are known to be uncomfortable. They are thin, rough, and don’t even close all the way. Your loved one will need something thick and fluffy to wear so they can be as comfortable as possible. A bathrobe can really make them feel cozy and feel more comfortable walking around their room without having to hold their outfit closed themselves.

A comfy outfit goes a long way towards making someone more comfortable as they spend all day lying around in a hospital bed. Get a robe that feels soft and silky so it feels smooth to the touch. It will be a huge contrast from the hospital gown, making it easy to love. Something big and roomy will be just what someone in a hospital bed needs.

Slippers

These will make walking across cold, hard floors into a comfortable experience.

One way to make a friend in the hospital feel comfortable is to take care of their feet. Whatever sandals they were given by the hospital likely aren’t as comfortable as they could be, and you can help them out by getting them a comfortable pair of slippers. A nice pair of warm slippers will make it feel nicer to walk around the cold hospital floors. A person can’t easily relax when their feet are feeling cold and sore from cold, hard floors.

You need to get them the softest and warmest pair of slippers you can find that will make them feel happy to slip them on each time. And when it comes to slippers, you have many options to choose from. There are various colors, shapes, and styles. You can find a pair in all kinds of silly shapes and styles if you want a pair that’s really fun.

Socks

A few warm pairs of socks will be useful to anyone spending a few days in a hospital. Hospital socks can feel rough and scratchy and aren’t too comfortable to be stuck in for days. They also don’t feel warm enough. You can fix those problems by getting your loved one soft and comfortable socks that will make their hospital stay much more comfortable.

When it comes to socks, there are many great options you can choose from to make someone’s hospital stay more bearable. Fuzzy socks will work great for this occasion to keep someone’s feet extra cozy. But you can also get different types depending on your friends’ preferences or potential mood from time to time.

Meal Train

This meal will be a welcome change from daily hospital food.

Meals are probably one of the best things you can gift to a friend while they have a stay at a hospital. Hospital food is famously bland, and most people can’t stand having it for days on end. To give your friend food, all you have to do is find out what the hospital will allow, and then you can go ahead and get started on helping. You can always set up a meal train to have different meals delivered at different times of the day. This kind of gesture is sure to make anyone’s hospital stay so much better than usual.

When you want to set up a meal train, you should get some friends or family involved to help someone during their time of need. If your loved one isn’t medically required to eat bland hospital food, there’s no reason why they should have to! Having good meals come from outside of the hospital will make anyone’s stay a whole lot more tolerable. Give InKind will help you set up a meal train to feed and support someone you care about.

GiveInKind will assist you through the entire process. Just write down your loved one’s’ favorite meals on the InKind Page you have set up, and share with supporters who will take turns signing up to provide meals at a regular schedule. All anyone who wants to help out has to do is pick a meal and choose how they will have it delivered. They can always make and deliver meals on their own or have a meal delivered by a restaurant on GrubHub or DoorDash.

Squeeze Bottle

When someone is spending all day in bed, drinking beverages could stand to be easier for them. To avoid dropping anything on themselves or on their hospital bed, they have to make sure to position themselves properly whenever they want to take a drink, which can feel like a burden depending on how they feel physically. A squeeze bottle will make drinking so much easier for your hospital bed bound loved one. They can simply hold their head back and pour the liquid into their mouth from any position, so they don’t have to struggle just to take a sip of water from time to time.

It can also be stored in any position, whether standing up or lying down, so it makes the whole process of having drinks in a hospital bed a lot easier.

Pillow

Like with many of the things given to patients by the hospital, hospital pillows work, but are often not as comfortable as they could be. Since your loved one will be spending a lot of time lying in a bed, having the most comfortable pillow possible will make their hospital stay much more pleasant. Your friend will be a lot happier to lay down all day when they feel as if they are lying on a cloud.

You should get one that makes them feel comfortable from any position they choose to lie in. Make sure to get a fun pillow case to go with it. Something that can brighten up the look of their drab hospital room.

Books

Someone who will be spending their days lying down in a hospital bed can use a welcome distraction from the boredom they’re inevitably going to feel a lot of the time. A fun book will make a great gift in this moment because it will get them to focus on an interesting story rather than on their unfortunate situation. The hospital room is going to be quiet and boring a lot of the time, so they are in need of a distraction. Make sure to get the kind of book that will really keep someone’s mind occupied.

If you know what kind of book your friend tends to be into, you can easily find the type of book that will pique their interest. There are so many great genres available to choose from, you will be surrounded by options wherever you go to get books. You can choose a mystery, comedy, historical fiction, and even non-fiction books about a number of different topics. If you’re unsure of what to get, you can always look through different best seller lists for ideas. Any way you choose will likely end up getting you some great results.

Back Massager

It can be uncomfortable to lie down in a hospital bed all day. Someone in that situation may end up feeling stiff and tired because they aren’t able to stretch or use up any energy. One thing that can help them out is an electric back massager. A back massager can help to relieve some of anyone’s pain when they have a sore back. It can reduce any stiffness or tension in the body, which is helpful when someone has been in the same position for a while. A back massager can feel like a relief to have.

A back massager makes it so a person can take care of their aches and pains on their own without anyone else’s help. Since someone isn’t going to be there to massage them, it is good to have a device that can do it for them. Something that they can simply place behind their back and lean up against is perfect to use while sitting up on a hospital bed. It can even help to increase blood flow and circulation, which is very beneficial for someone who can’t move around all day long.

A hospital stay is something that is never pleasant. If someone you care about has to stay in one for a while, there are things that you can give them to help them out. With just one or more of the items on this list, you can turn a hospital stay from torturous to completely tolerable, and maybe even nice.