Food is symbolic of love when words are inadequate. – Alan Wolfelt
As we continue in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the holiday season is guaranteed to look different this year. Family gatherings may be limited, and the needs of those you’re buying gifts for may be different, too.
But through the gift of food, we can show love to elderly parents, grandparents and neighbors.
Here are a few ideas for those who can safely cook, heat and serve meals at home:
Cook a batch of meals and deliver them. Gather the family into the kitchen, flip on the mixer, fire up the oven and cook a batch of healthy and nutritious meals — say, a week’s worth — that can be divided, packaged into individual servings and delivered. Consider making a pot of soup, a pan of lasagna, a dish of enchiladas or a tuna casserole, coupled with a bagged salad for meals your loved ones can freeze, heat and serve.
Order grocery items online (and don’t forget dessert). No time to cook? Sending grocery items — monthly or weekly — can be a heart-warming gift, too. Most grocery stores now offer delivery services, so you can shop online and have fresh fruit, healthy veggies and easy-to-prepare packaged items delivered virtually anywhere. Select items that can be combined into a delicious meal without the need for much cooking. Bags of tortellini, spaghetti with a mild red sauce, pre-cooked chicken and frozen veggies for stir frying can make nutritious main courses. Couple them with fresh vegetables, quick-cook rice and maybe even a package of refrigerated cookie dough for a fun home baking project.
Send a meal kit that can be cooked at home. Services such as Blue Apron, HelloFresh and Green Chef offer meal ingredients that your loved one can prepare at home, allowing them to retain some independence and to participate in the joy of cooking. Aim for options that are low sodium and light on spices, which are typically preferred by older adults.
Help your loved one sign up for the Meals on Wheels and More program, run by the Whatcom Council on Aging in Whatcom and San Juan counties. The program, which serves more than 2,000 seniors in the region, delivers supplemental meals that are not only delicious but healthy, too. The meals provide at least a third of a senior’s daily nutritional needs. If your loved ones don’t live in Whatcom County, track down the Meals on Wheels program in their community. They’re all across the country.
Have takeout delivered. In Whatcom County, services like VikingFood and UberEats can bring orders directly from loved ones’ favorite restaurants right to their house. Especially during COVID-19, many restaurants also have established their own food delivery services. Just call in to the restaurant or check its website to see what options are being offered for having food delivered.
The best gift: Bring over a fresh-cooked meal and enjoy it together. If your loved ones live close by, consider cooking a meal at home, packing it up and enjoying it with your loved ones in their home. They will really appreciate the companionship and the leftovers you may leave behind.