I’m sure this has been talked about before. (What hasn’t at this point!)
I got news this weekend that one of our neighbors is going into hospice. It was quite a shock, it is winter and I don’t see my neighbors as much but we talked after Christmas, things were ok then.
Anyways, I’m not much of a cook and I really struggle with sending a meal over. My default is baked ziti and I’m sure it’s fine but I’d like to go with something else.
It seems like everyone goes with Italian.
When my twins were born, I had 3 young children (including a 1 year old). Friends set up a meal drop off for us, which was wonderful. Lots of lasagna, eggplant/chicken parm, baked ziti, pasta vodka, sausage and peppers, meatballs (we also live in a very Italian American area). Luckily most freezed well. Since then, I do not make red sauce meals for drop offs. I’m a big quiche fan, soups, stews - one dish meals with protein/vegetables, can be frozen.
Great topic to introduce! I think lots go with Italian/pasta because it is relatively gentle on stomachs and re-heats well.
Another idea might be something like chicken & biscuits. I’ve cooked that up quite often as again, it is gentle on tummies and it is the closest thing I could think of to chicken soup (I use Pioneer Woman’s recipe) but more substantial and a good meal.
Barefoot Contessa - Chicken and Biscuits. A fancier chic pot pie and I cheat and use rotisserie chicken.
Great minds think alike 
Sometimes hospice patients like watermelon. My mother had been known for her sweet tooth and ice cream habits… but in her last days usually turned food ideas (including ice cream), except watermelon.
Egg casserole is my go-to, since it is a breakfast, lunch or dinner food. I usually add mild green salsa and chips too for a variety of meal and snack possibilities.
Last year I delivered a meal for the dear matriarch of our church and her family caring for her at home during hospice. I opted to send an egg casserole… same recipe that had often been served at church events (and many other items, including of course watermelon). Imagine my surprise reading the status blog when the family mentioned their surprise of her eating as much of it as she did.
Brownies or Apple pie.
What about some kind of soup? Or Mac and cheese?
I agree that Italian gets overused (delicious, but how much pasta can one eat?!)
I think the quiche idea is great and so easy to make a simple quiche. Can be eaten any meal.
A standard for me would be a hot chicken salad I’ve made forever. Still a casserole but not too heavy and lots of protein and vegetables.
Enchiladas in a casserole.
I wouldn’t take anything overly spicy.
I’ve made baked chicken, mashed potatoes, and a vegetable…packaged it up so it can be reheated in the oven.
I made a crockpot Mac and cheese, and put it in small containers that could be frozen and then defrosted and reheated. Same with soup.
I like to do a taco bar because it’s easy to reheat small portions and you can customize it to a point. I cook and season the ground beef and/or shredded rotisserie chicken, provide both tortillas and hard corn shells, shredded cheese, lettuce and tomato, the individual guacamole snack cups, usually a taco sauce and a salsa (one hot, one mild) and a small thing of sour cream.
I do breakfast food – muffins, quiche, fruit. If I want to do a meal, I do rice, green beans, and roasted chicken lined up like you buy prepped in a grocery store. And speaking as a person who has spent time on the receiving end, small microwaveable containers are the best gift of all. Bless you for letting them know they are not forgotten or alone (which is really the point of taking food)
Sorry remembered another one (for vegetarians): vegetable soup with orzo. Keeping orzo separate is a good idea if there’s a large volume (more than a couple of servings). Use zucchini, canned tomato with the liquid, veggie broth, onions, peppers, oregano, celery, garlic, mushrooms, greens like spinach (add at end), etc. hard to mess up.
I’ll also say there is nothing wrong with buying a quart of soup or something else prepared from a tried and true restaurant in town and then adding your own touch in the form of a salad or some cookies. Or if you bake bread (yeast or a quick bread) that also can be used for breakfast, snacks, etc.
Our local Chinese food shop makes a “Care” package of Egg Drop soup. When I don’t have time to make anything, I order this and drop it off at the person’s home with low salt Ritz crackers.
Otherwise, it they can tolerate cream of broccoli, I make that with some french bread from the local bakery.
Dot’s Microwave Cream of Broccoli Soup
2 small pkgs of frozen broccoli (must be frozen) or one larger bag
½ C. of chopped onion (I use green onions)
1 stick butter (½ c.) (not margarine)
¾ C. flour
2 cans chicken broth (or 26 oz.) I use 3 bouillon cubes and add water to make 28 oz
2 C. half and half
Optional
This is the hot chicken salad I like to make. I cut the mayo in half or more. Not so much crushed chips on top.
Great ideas, thanks!
My friend said that her kids are coming to help their dad say goodbye 
. They have 4 kids so I think there will be a crowd.
I think I’ll do a breakfast, I like that idea. And I know my friend likes quiche. I’ll do that, fruit and muffins.
I know it’s about feelings and not about the actual food. He was a career army officer and they are just the nicest people.
As someone with a relative currently in hospice the best is separate items that can be frozen separately - soup, roast chicken, roasted veggies, bread type stuff - that way they can use right away or freeze all or part of the meal for another night. Casseroles and quiche are also good as they also freeze but I’ll point out if they need to be on a sodium restricted diet red sauce - esp if jarred - is very high sodium. So are prepared soups. So good to know if they have that restriction.
I hated to go into many specifics but my understanding is that my dear friend will not be on hospice very long. He’s already in kidney failure so I’m hopeful that his suffering will be short.
So I think that I’m going to concentrate on feeding the family as they will be numerous. I know they have a freezer and I’ll be mindful of things that can be frozen.
I do think about sodium content usually if I know I’ll be feeding the patient, unfortunately I don’t think I will. 
Great thanks for all the tips.