So what food to make/bring for a new widower w/o family, so more/less single serving(s)?

M

mariadnoca

Moderator
My best friend of over 30 years passed away suddenly on Friday, leaving her husband and dog behind. Since I was there/etc he and I are working on arrangements/etc. I know they happened to be in need of a grocery run and I just spoke to him where he mentioned he was going to go because they/he was basically out of food. I'm thinking I should make some food to bring over, but there is no crowd of people there, just him (they didn't have kids/no family close by) so a big casserole would be too much food (plus, we always had a running joke about death and casseroles, which right now wouldn't be all that funny).

Any food ideas? BTW, he is also a diabetic, but does eat some sugar in moderation.

 
Just a thought on what I would like if in that position. Instead of a casserole

why not take him a meal now and then from something you make. Say if you roast a chicken, the next day, pack him up a disposable container with a couple of chicken pieces, leftover rice, or what ever starch dish you made, a few veggies or some sliced tomatoes and cucumbers (since they are in season right now) If you make French Toast one day for your family, pack it up the next day and take it to him for lunch, along with a little container of fresh fruit to put over the pancakes. I always hear how folks are over whelmed with so much food that comes in the first week. Who wants to eat casseroles for a month or two.

You might also think about getting him a gift certificate to a cafe within walking distance from his home, if he still drives, even better, he can drive somewhere.

My guess is that he would not mind a few frozen meals in his freezer for breakfast, lunch/dinner. If you know of some that are good, pick up a few for him Weight Watchers has a brand called Smart Balance that are supposed to be OK. I know there are several others on the market now, that are better than the regular TV dinners.

 
some ideas

Sorry for your loss.

Here are some things that have worked for me:

make a meatloaf, cool and cut into individual portions, freeze

portion a pot of soup or chili into small containers (be sure he knows not to microwave plastic or styorfoam), freeze

smoke or otherwise cook chicken breasts, remove skin and bones, wrap individually and freeze (vacuum seal if possible

 
I don't know if you watch Pioneer Woman or not but she has done

a few shows recently on freezer cooking. I've posted 2 here. The link is some tips on packaging and what foods freeze well. The link in the image spot is for a show a few weeks back when she made small portions for her husband's grandmother for her freezer. Might give you a few ideas.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2013/07/freezer-cooking/

 
I just made up a big batch of turkey sausage, potato and bean soup. Froze in

portions. Would that work?

My condolences on losing your ((best friend)).

 
So sorry to hear about your friend.

Here's what I suggest. As you cook meals for yourself over the next two weeks, take a serving and freeze it for him. At the end of two weeks, he has a variety of frozen meals to choose from. That way he isn't stuck eating one casserole for a week, which gets boring.

 
I'm so sorry about your friend.

When my sis's sweetie died suddenly all she could force herself to eat for a long time was soup and smoothies. I made five kinds of soup and froze flat in freezer bags so it thawed quickly. One friend brought her several quarts of her favorite honey yogurt & lots of fresh fruit for smoothies.

 
Chicken stew in individual containers. Just don't call it a casserole. I rely on finding these

in my freezer when I don't want to think. I cap them with pastry or just heat them up without.

And like Marilyn suggested, some good heavy soups that make a meal. And partially-baked frozen baguettes to go with.

Comfort food. He needs comfort.

 
Here is the running joke about casseroles...

Beware of the "casserole ladies" for they have underlying intentions when the come show up with food - that food comes with strings attached! (aka they are on the prowl for new husbands)

 
Thanks for the kind thoughts and great ideas. She was a great friend - we talked constantly..my PSA:

If you really feel bad, don't take chances and go to the ER. The drs had her on an antibiotic that they knew she couldn't tolerate, but they insisted it was the only one to treat a certain bacteria for a wound on her leg. While it made her sick, none of us (her husband or me) knew it might be life threatening, so the symptoms: shortness of breath, exhaustion, nausea, indigestion we all chalked up to the meds as that's how those meds always made her feel....until she fainted and stopped breathing/heart stopped. It was all so shocking...and a reminder to us all to not ignore things, because "it's not that bad." She had been trying to reach her dr for 2 days and he hadn't returned the call though. Her last words to me were - can I call you back? I'm waiting for the dr to call. (He never called.)

 
so sad. and so sorry for your loss. perhaps make a list for him of favorite ready made foods or

take him shopping and point out the goodies in the deli etc. I had to do this with my Dad. He never, ever shopped. Mom did all that. so he was lost after she passed. I took him to the store and showed him the delights of deli roasted chickens, and ready to bake lasagna and salads and meatloaf and fried chicken dinners. those Indiana grocery stores even have pierogies ready to boil and other regional dishes. Your friend is probably more hip to this than my Dad was, but still pointing out some of your favorite "fast" meals from the store could be helpful.

 
I was going to make some of these very same suggestions. All

very good ones too Angie. There are also some very good frozen single serving meals too. Marie Callender for one has the BEST pot pies! I haven't had many other things but when I have they've all been good. My Publix even has single serve salads with dressing in the produce dept. so he can just pick up a rotisserie chicken from the deli. Maybe later he might want to learn how to make some easy dishes. I have a few that are stupidly simple and anyone of most any age can make if you would like some ideas. You never know he might just like to fill some lonely time cooking. I'm sorry for his and your loss Maria.

 
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