When someone close to you experiences loss, your first instinct is likely to visit them or send them a gift to express your sympathy. Food is a great way to show how much you care. If you prepare for a friend who is emotionally distressed, you’re not only expressing concern but you’re eliminating the need for your friend to have to prepare dinner. In addition to sending flowers or a card or sending them a wine box, here are some comfort foods you can bring to a friend who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

1- Hearty Chicken Stew with Quinoa and Butternut Squash

Few foods are more comforting than a delicious bowl of chicken soup. You can add hearty vegetables like butternut squash and a healthy grain like quinoa to make this soup even more filling. Prepare the soup in the crock pot so the flavors will have time to combine. A mixture of shredded roasted chicken, onions, celery, and broccoli with butternut squash and quinoa make this soup a warm, soothing dish that may evoke positive memories for your friend and show them just how much you’re thinking of them during this difficult time.

2- Soul Food Dinner

Prepare your friend a spread of Southern food that will show them how much you care. Some of these dishes may even bring back memories of the good times your friend shared with the family member who has recently passed away. Foods like corn bread muffins, macaroni and cheese, baked or fried chicken, and collard greens or cabbage make a satisfying dinner and the leftovers can last for days.

3- Crockpot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and meatballs is a delicious option for comfort food and you can easily adjust the portions your friend has to feed a crowd. You can make this tasty dish in the crockpot to keep the meatballs and noodles tender and warm so it will be ready to eat once you deliver this savory meal to your friend.

4- Cake or Pie

If your friend has a sweet tooth, a tasty dessert may help to lift their spirits during the grieving process. A classic dessert such as a pound cake that can be enjoyed with strawberries and whipped cream or an apple pie can make the perfect sweet treat after dinner. If you’re known for making certain desserts such as pecan pie, chocolate cake, strawberry cake, or sweet potato pie, you can take one of these treats over with the dinner you’ve prepared for your friend. Giving some of your best dishes to a grieving friend is a wonderful way to show your compassion and concern.

During a challenging time such as the death of a loved one, it can be hard to find the words to say to comfort a friend who is struggling with grief. However, preparing a meal for your friend can serve as a kind gesture that will let them know that you’re thinking of them and want to send a gift that will hopefully help them feel better in their time of bereavement.