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When are the BEST Times to Take a Small Meal? APRIL 23, 2024 / KELLI NAPOTNIK / 
There are times when preparing a small meal for a loved one (as opposed to a large one) may be helpful. Perhaps you are taking a meal to a friend and don't want to overburden their refrigerator, or your loved one is experiencing grief and is not ready for large meals yet.
Grief can affect the short term memory, making it difficult to remember small details like appointments, where you left your keys, or the last time you ate. We often love to supply an abundance of food (myself included) when taking meals, and while this is appreciated, consider keeping things simple and drop off a small meal in disposable containers. Bringing a small portioned meal eliminates the worry of storing leftovers or returning containers.
There is no normal in grief. There may be no sense of an eating schedule. If you find yourself taking a meal to someone walking through grief, here are a few great ideas to supply them with ample food in small portions they can access freely when they have an appetite.
Small Portioned Meals Ideas:
     If you live a distance away from someone who could use a small meal, you can still send a comforting bowl of soup. We offer the perfect pint size portions in the Take Them A Meal store. The soups come frozen, so they can be placed in the freezer until ready to be enjoyed. The containers are microwave safe, so it's easy to heat them up.
Thinking beyond meals and taking items ideal for snacking may also be a kind gesture. Healthy snacks can be eaten as needed, do not need storage containers, and can provide temporary nutrition until the recipient is ready for a full meal again.
I love the sweet reminder Megan Divine shared in a post on social media about remembering to hydrate properly during periods of grief. We don't often think about the number of tears that are shed and needing to replace those fluids. A nutritional drink or even a smoothie kit is a great alternative to bringing a small meal or snacks! In her post she mentioned,
"Providing nutritious, easy to grab and eat foods is a great way to support your grieving person. Bottled smoothies and other drinks are handy too. Crying is very dehydrating and just remembering to drink water can be a challenge for a newly grieving person."
I hope I've encouraged you to consider dropping off a small meal the next time you are taking a meal to a grieving friend. By doing so, you are recognizing that grief has no boundaries. There should be no expectations of when you should eat and when you shouldn't or even how much.
Have you taken a small meal to a loved one before? Have you been on the receiving end of a small meal and found it particularly helpful? We'd love to hear!
 #1: Start your week off right with these encouraging reminders! Or share them with a friend or loved one!
#2: This breakfast bake combines flaky croissants with a sweet custard and is loaded with fresh berries. What's not to love about all that?! Prepare it the day before, and all your recipient needs to do is pop it into the oven!
Don't have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!
#3: Want to set up a meal schedule but need help figuring out where to start? We've got you covered! We've made this short video showing you how to create a meal schedule in 4 easy steps!
#4: Nadia recently put together a taco dinner for a friend and spiced up her packaging with this fun artwork from Pinterest. There are so many ways to get creative with meal taking, and this was easy and fun!
#5: Don't forget that sweet ending to your delicious meal. Here are some wonderful ideas for you to make and take.
Photo Credit to
Read other recent articles by Kelli Napotnik:
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Welcome! We're thrilled you stopped by. Our own joys and sorrows have taught us that a well-timed meal delivered by a friend is one of the best gifts imaginable. In this space, we share our favorite recipes to take to friends, meal-taking tips, and other ways to care for those who are dear to you. Helpful Posts
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