“First of all, I want to say that my thoughts and prayers have been
with you and your family as your hearts and minds heal.
Unfortunately, I have a few friends who are dealing with tough times
right now and I want to make/deliver some meals to them to ease their
daily struggles. I wondered if putting together a recipe roundup post
for healthy/easy foods to deliver to friends and family in need might
be something you’d be interested in writing. I feel like everything I
see when I Google search for foods to deliver are suuuuuper indulgent
(hey, love those once in a while!) and heavy.”
Katy’s email got me excited and since getting excited about writing a blog post isn’t something that’s happening consistently right now, I am happy to have something to focus on that feels positive.
I always joke that food is my love language and I find myself turning to food as a way to help when someone I know is going through a hard time or a big life transition (moving, the birth of a new baby, etc.). I think that when someone we know is hurting or in need of extra support it’s easy to feel completely helpless and somehow making a delicious dinner or assembling a healthy breakfast for them makes us feeling like we’re doing something, even if we wish we could do more.
I have noticed when I try my best to make a healthy (but still delicious!) meal for someone, they seem to appreciate the gesture even more, especially if they regularly try to eat nutritiously in their house. When life gets stressful, turning to indulgent food and takeout is so easy and having a healthy homemade meal delivered to your door can feel like a big sigh of relief when you’ve been living off of pizza and subs and to-go food for days.
Below you will find a roundup of some healthy-yet-tasty recipes I’ve made in the past for our family and also recipes I’ve made for our family and friends when they’ve been going through a hard time. They’re recipes that are comforting and flavorful but nutritious at the same time. I hope a dish listed below pops out at you the next time you’re looking to make something tasty for someone who could use a little extra love.
Healthy Meals to Make for Others
- Rainbow Pad Thai (from Pinch of Yum)
Pinch of Yum’s recipes are becoming a staple in our house. They often call for clean, simple ingredients but the flavors Lindsay puts together are anything but boring. This Pad Thai incorporates brown rice noodles, tons of vegetables and a tangy sauce that completely makes the dish. It’s healthier than Thai takeout, which, if you’re anything like me, is one of your strongest cravings when you’re stressed out. Make this dish… for a friend, a family member and yourself.
- Black Bean and Quinoa Enchilada Bake (from Two Peas and Their Pod)
I made this casserole for a neighbor a while back when she and her family were going through a hard time and she absolutely raved about this dish! I thought making a recipe I had never personally tried was a little risky, but I completely trust Two Peas and a Pod’s recipes and one of my girlfriends also recommended it, so I gave it a shot. When my neighbor gave it rave reviews after I delivered it to her, I made it for our family to enjoy a couple of weeks ago as well. It was wonderful and filling and didn’t sit heavy in my stomach the way many casseroles seem to do. (Quick tip: I added ground turkey to the version I made for our family and we loved it.)
- Paleo Spaghetti Pie (from PaleOMG)
I first discovered this recipe when a friend (oh hey, Brittany!) brought it to me after Chase was born. I think I’ve mentioned this recipe on the blog at least a dozen times by now because it’s a family favorite in our house. It’s also quickly become a go-to meal for me to make to deliver to friends after they have a baby because it’s such a satisfying dish that tastes indulgent but is filled with nutritious foods I craved but didn’t have the energy to prepare after Chase was born. (I actually JUST made this recipe yesterday to bring to my friend Carrie and her family to enjoy since they welcomed a baby boy into their family last Tuesday.) Quick tip: Use HOT Italian sausage when you make this dish for added flavor.
- Black Bean and Brown Rice Salad (with Grilled Chicken or Shrimp)
If you are looking for a vegetarian-friendly dish to bring to a friend or family member, this salad is bursting with color, texture, flavor, healthy veggies and whole grains. It comes together in a flash and can easily be prepped ahead of time. If you want to add a little more protein to the dish, I love topping it with grilled chicken or shrimp. It’s also a recipe that tastes great as leftovers which I know I appreciate when I receive a meal from someone – it’s like two meals in one!
Another great cold salad option for vegetarian friends is my Cold Quinoa Salad. Such a tasty one!
- Zucchini Lasagna (from SkinnyTaste)
Gina’s recipes are always a slam-dunk and this dish is no different. Perfectly cheesy but still loaded with vegetables, it’s a savory dinner recipe we love in our house. I’ve made it for my family when they were in town visiting and everyone loved it and didn’t miss the pasta at all. Bringing this to a friend with a simple side salad = Instant hit!
- Shepherd’s Pie with Cauliflower Topping (from Peanut Butter Runner)
This recipe is time consuming but it is absolutely worth the extra effort. It was the first recipe I made after our second miscarriage that actually included vegetables. (I was – and still kind of am – all about simple carbs for a while there.) It takes some time to make, but the end result is the most comforting and hearty dish that I couldn’t get enough of as I inhaled spoonful after spoonful. I highly recommend making this dish for someone who could use a little extra love.
This recipe is one of my all-time favorite recipes that I’ve ever shared on PBF. It’s full of flavor and packed with good-for-you ingredients. I love making this one for friends during the colder months when nothing sounds more appealing than a big bowl of flavorful soup. It’s chunkier than traditional soup and the broth will make you thankful that the recipe yields plenty for leftovers the next day.
- Shrimp Fried Quinoa (from Eating Bird Food)
Fried rice lovers will enjoy this healthy twist on fried rice. Brittany’s shrimp fried quinoa is an EASY recipe to make and loaded with veggies and protein. We love it this faux-fried rice with a side of fresh fruit salad. (It’s also delicious with shredded chicken thighs!)
More Delicious Dishes to Make
Here are a few more healthy breakfast and not-as-healthy-but-super-delicious dessert recipes to make for someone who could use a little extra love:
Breakfast
- Paleo Blender Muffins (Freezer friendly!)
- Peanut Butter Baked Steel Cut Oatmeal
- No Bake Nut Butter Balls (Great for snacking, too!)
- Hemp Seed Granola
- Whole Wheat Pumpkin Muffins (A toddler favorite!)
- No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
- Easy Deep Dish Quiche
Dessert
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What a great post idea! When dealing with a hard time or big life change, I agree it’s super easy to turn to take out or unhealthy meals. The black bean and quinoa dish looks so good! I need to try it out.
Have a great day Julie 🙂
The spaghetti pie is one of my favorites, too! I love to deliver dishes to those in any kind of need, it’s such a thoughtful gesture.
These are all great ideas, Julie! Saving for the future when I may need some ideas for others 🙂
OOO have my eyes on the cabbage and shepard’s pie dishes! I’ve never made pad thai and honestly never think to! Gotta try making that next.
That enchilada bake looks amazing!
Where was that muffin recipe you posted this week? Was it instastories? Wanted to recreate for my toddler.
Nevermind found it!!
Glad you found it! 🙂 Hope your little one loves the muffins!
I love this post!! I can’t wait to try the pad thai – that is one of my favorite dishes! Great idea – and so thoughtful!
Love this post! I’m always trying to figure out what is an easy, healthy meal to take to a family. Thank you for sharing these.
This is such a great idea! I know I’m totally one of those people that would appreciate a healthier but comforting meal for sure!
I was actually looking for ideas like this but also toddler friendly recipes! I don’t have kids myself yet but was hoping to make something fro a friend who has one but don’t know where to start! Maybe you can do a separate post with young kid friendly prepared dinners! Thanks!
Such a good idea! Definitely keeping this one on my radar!
Love all of these! You’re just such an accomplished and talented person that gives so much to so many! Thank you Julie for all you share and do!
This is a great round up! I always wonder what to make friends that’s not super indulgent.
I’m going to have to bookmark this! I feel like every time a friend has a baby or I want to do something for friends/family going through a hard time, I can never actually think of what to make and then sometimes (sadly) don’t even offer so it’s nice to just have a quick go-to list at my fingertips!
That pad Thai dish is calling my name! I am a huge Thai lover, but ordering it over and over again can get pretty unhealthy (and expensive). Thanks for putting this on my radar! Also, if you ever feel like creating a healthy Thai-inspired recipe roundup, you have my support!
Ha! Love that idea! We are big time Thai food lovers in our house!
Have you and Ryan been to Basil? We went in Charleston last week, and I believe there is one in Charlotte also. So delish!
Love these ideas & can’t wait to try them!
I’m making Paleo Pizza Spaghetti Pie tonight! It is one of my favorites 🙂 It is also my go-to if I want to deliver a meal to a friend.
It’s so, so good!
Great ideas! I’d love to know which of these you think freezes well. Would the zucchini lasagne get mushy?
Hmmm… I honestly haven’t tried freezing any of them but I think the only one I’d feel semi-confident freezing would be the One Pot Chicken Cabbage Bowl with Sesame Ginger Broth. I did find this roundup of freezer-friendly healthy meals on Greatist though! https://greatist.com/eat/healthy-freezer-meals I hope this helps!
I love this post. When my father passed away last year we had so many people bring food: fried chicken, pork chops and gravy, fried chicken, donuts, more fried chicken, cookies, and did I mention fried chicken? I actually joked to my husband that the next time I had a friend in need I would bring a salad. These are awesome ideas and I am sure your friends greatly appreciate your effort 🙂
These all look amazing, and I would gladly take one of each right now! 😉
The Rainbow Pad Thai and the Prawn Quinoa Bowl look really nice; I know this post is for making food for others, but I would gladly make them for myself!
http://www.lifeofchi.co.uk
Wonderful post! Thanks so much for the great ideas!
Pinned it!! Love all these ideas soooooo much! I’m so grateful, because I’m ALWAYS looking for one dish healthy dinners (specifically, casseroles, or as we say in Minnesota: “hot dishes”). This roundup is extremely useful to me and better than many of the crockpot roundups I’ve seen (not that there’s annnnnnything at all wrong with a crockpot recipe, it’s just that I’m not ONLY looking for crockpot recipes, if you feel me. And a lot of healthy food roundups are just crockpot recipe after crockpot recipe.)
Thanks for this. Love your recipes and the recipes you share from others! Still sending you good ju ju and moments of joy and healing your way. <3
Totally get that! And thanks so much, Kim! Hope you have a great weekend!
Love these ideas! My go-to is freezer steel cut oats. That way when times are super busy/tough to get going in the morning my friends have breakfast.
These look great! Thanks for sharing.
This is awesome. While I was thankful for food after having our baby, it was usually heavy casseroles. :/
It was hard on my stomach because we do not typically eat like that AND Ummm… I was trying to start losing some of the baby weight LOL. So tater tot casserole smothered in cheese wasn’t exactly what I was hoping for 🙂
We had a few folks drop by fresh cut fruit with tubs of yogurt and that was AWESOME. We gobbled that up!
What a great roundup! I want to try some of these for my house- like that enchilada bake and black bean bowl! Yum!
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this post. A friend recently passed away unexpectedly and now his wife/my friend is trying to adjust to her new life as a widow while preparing the kids for the school year ahead. I want to make them recipes through out the year and this was just the post I needed.
Life is not fair. Sending you and Ryan and other struggling with loss the strength to get though. We need to lean on each other and realize that there are good people on this earth.
<3
That is so heartbreaking. I am so, so sorry for the loss of your friend. Praying for his wife and her children. <3 I am sure they are so grateful for thoughtful friends like you in their lives right now. Sending hugs your way as well.
Julie, these are great recipes! Also, two days before I read this, I delivered a batch of pulled pork and your black bean & rice salad (it’s a fav in our house!) to friends. Thank you thank you 🙂
Julie, these sound amazing! I can’t wait to test a few of these out! 🙂
Rainbow Pad Thai, Shepherd’s Pie, black beans and rice, peanut butter bars, lemon cupcakes, chocolate chip almond butter bars, and a chocolate icebox cake?! Wow, what an incredible collection of recipes! I think that making food for loved ones is one of the best gestures you can possibly do. I send you and your loved ones all my prayers for the healing you’re going through now. I truly hope that everything comes together!