Home hospitality is something most of us hear a lot on. Inviting others into your home, what to cook, how to prepare your heart. This, however, is not the end of hospitality. Hospitality doesn’t have a boarder it can’t escape around your brick and mortar home. We bring it with us anywhere we go- or, better yet- we can choose to bring it with us everywhere we go, it can extend to the homes and lives of others. The world can be a blanket for our hospitality. Especially as Christians. Having a family tree families means our hospitality extends to others homes and hearts, as well as the church body in general. Sometimes we wonder what this looks like. One way I have found easy to carry my hospitality into others homes is through meal trains. Meal train hospitality, meal train tips and tricks! Meal trains are always a way to extend beautiful love through acts of delicious service to those around you. So what do you do when it’s your turn to bring others the gift of a meal?
This post will explore the five things you must do or include in your meal train to overflow your Christ like hospitality to others through this act.
Bringing a quality meal is beyond the food preparation when it comes to a meal train. When it comes to blessing others and giving them a meal within their own home. No cooking, no leaving the house. These gifts are usually set up in times of overwhelm, distress, busyness, or a new season in others lives. So our goal for this is to bring ease and comfort to their lives, in a delicious form may I add. Making sure it is a rich, quality gift is what we need to shoot for.
Giving a meal is one thing, and it is a blessing no matter what, but I think sometimes Jesus calls us to more than ‘just enough’s’ or ‘this will do’s’. So here is a list of five things I always do to make quality the first ingredient to every meal train we do.
1.) Prepare For a mini Potluck
Now, I don’t necessarily mean you give them tons of food, I never do that. What I really do, and what I mean by this point, is to include tons of variety. I always pack the main food of the meal, a side that goes well, a light salad of some kind, drinks, and a dessert. I only give enough that is necessary so they aren’t overwhelmed with leftovers, but enough variety so they have a really thought out meal. Like something you order from a restaurant, having every food group, there is richness in serving this way. It brings quality to the meal and shows you really care.
2.) Disposable Containers or Tupperware they keep
Meal train hospitality tip number two: always make cleanup and return easy. Always provide something they don’t have to clean or return. If this isn’t an option label a garbage sack in the food bags that explains to put all dishes or Tupperware into the bag and return it uncleaned. This way they have less stress. The whole point of a meal train is to relieve stress and work load, to save tome and energy. So to give them work anyways, like cleaning dishes or having to remember to return pans to different families sort of defeats the purpose. Especially because most people don’t mind cooking as much as cleaning dishes.
For disposable Tupperware Amazon has great options. Tin and plastic for different food items! (Don’t forget a hot and cold bag for temperature specific items!)
3.) Always pack Everything they need to Enjoy the Meal Right from the bag
I always pack paper plates, plastic utensils, and napkins. In my case this is always appreciated. It very much correlates with the previous point, in that, it really reduces the work they have to do for the meal. No plate prep of their own, and no dishes afterwards. I know we often hate waste, but this waste is a blessing to a stressed, hurting, or overwhelmed family. This means packing paper plates, utensils, napkins, or whatever else they may need.
4.) Ask their Favorite Drinks
I always message the number given the morning of to see if they have a favorite drink, particularly in relation to the meal we will be providing. Then (the most important part of this point) get them early enough in the day that you can cool them down in the fridge before bringing the meal. This means, if you are bringing lunch maybe ask the day before!
5.) Alway Keep them aware
The last meal train hospitality tip is this: always keep them aware. By this I mean, make sure you message them when you are on your way. I always send a text to let them know when I am on my way and how much time until my arrival. Always check the meal train instructions so you know what time is appreciated for drop off, and lean toward the earlier choices.
For example, if the time is between 5-6 I always lean more toward five. You really want to be on time, super responsible and reliable when serving someone else a meal!
This was my five tips for meal train hospitality! I hope you find these helpful and enjoy serving your community!
What are you best meal train tips and tricks?
