The sharing of food has always been key to human survival and there is much more than a physical or nutritional component to the act. The offering of bread is a celebration of life and a central ritual in a wide variety of the world's religious traditions, sustaining the soul as well as the body. Food has the power to heal simply by bringing people together.
If you have recently received a phone call from a friend breaking the dreaded news of her breast cancer diagnosis, you are probably wracking your brain as how to best support her over the coming months of treatment. It would be perfectly natural or instinctive to place feeding her or her family at the top of your list. However, it is important to make sure that your help does not become a burden to your friend in any way and end up defeating the best of your intentions.
A few thoughtful considerations can go a long way in ensuring that you will be welcomed when you ring her doorbell or step in through the back door over the next few months. Before automatically assuming that your cooking is what she wants, be direct and ask her family. Sometimes there is a family member who already does that job and finds comfort in the task. You certainly would not want to try to disrupt this. Maybe in that case your friend would prefer knowing that you could help with laundry or cleaning on some scheduled basis. These tasks are often overlooked by individuals hoping to help.
If after inquiring, you discover that dropping off cooked meals is really something that will be appreciated, make sure you ask about food allergies and preferences. Your friend, her spouse or children can let you know of some of their favorite food types and perhaps give you a few recipes that can get you started in the right direction. Keep simplicity and nutrition in mind. The goal is to keep people feeling healthy and loved, not to set new haute cuisine standards. Don't forget to respect any vegetarian or religious food requirements.
Deliver meals in non-returnable containers. Individual sized servings pre-wrapped for the freezer is often a good idea for a family that must stay on the go while Mom is not up to par. Keep in mind that the breast cancer patient is going to have her dietary ups and downs in response to her treatment and plan to inquire about these along the way so that you can add some special accommodations for her as necessary.
Enlisting mutual friends to help with the cooking and delivery schedule can make this a beneficial community experience for everyone. You can get friends together for a cooking party, making numerous casseroles or self-contained meals to stock a freezer. This can be a fun-packed event bringing everyone closer while fulfilling an important need. Ensure that your friend and her family know you do not want them to be weighed down by any notion of Thank-you notes. Her return to wellness is the best thanks anyone could receive. - 29956
If you have recently received a phone call from a friend breaking the dreaded news of her breast cancer diagnosis, you are probably wracking your brain as how to best support her over the coming months of treatment. It would be perfectly natural or instinctive to place feeding her or her family at the top of your list. However, it is important to make sure that your help does not become a burden to your friend in any way and end up defeating the best of your intentions.
A few thoughtful considerations can go a long way in ensuring that you will be welcomed when you ring her doorbell or step in through the back door over the next few months. Before automatically assuming that your cooking is what she wants, be direct and ask her family. Sometimes there is a family member who already does that job and finds comfort in the task. You certainly would not want to try to disrupt this. Maybe in that case your friend would prefer knowing that you could help with laundry or cleaning on some scheduled basis. These tasks are often overlooked by individuals hoping to help.
If after inquiring, you discover that dropping off cooked meals is really something that will be appreciated, make sure you ask about food allergies and preferences. Your friend, her spouse or children can let you know of some of their favorite food types and perhaps give you a few recipes that can get you started in the right direction. Keep simplicity and nutrition in mind. The goal is to keep people feeling healthy and loved, not to set new haute cuisine standards. Don't forget to respect any vegetarian or religious food requirements.
Deliver meals in non-returnable containers. Individual sized servings pre-wrapped for the freezer is often a good idea for a family that must stay on the go while Mom is not up to par. Keep in mind that the breast cancer patient is going to have her dietary ups and downs in response to her treatment and plan to inquire about these along the way so that you can add some special accommodations for her as necessary.
Enlisting mutual friends to help with the cooking and delivery schedule can make this a beneficial community experience for everyone. You can get friends together for a cooking party, making numerous casseroles or self-contained meals to stock a freezer. This can be a fun-packed event bringing everyone closer while fulfilling an important need. Ensure that your friend and her family know you do not want them to be weighed down by any notion of Thank-you notes. Her return to wellness is the best thanks anyone could receive. - 29956
About the Author:
Brit has been a lifelong advocate in the fight against breast cancer. Director of web communications for Fight Like A Girl, she gathers survival stories to encourage women in the fight at the Breast Cancer Support Library.
