IMP provides so many amazing opportunities for us to build community during a transitional time of our lives. Some of us will only be in Iowa City for one year, others will be here for more than a decade, but all of us are part of a remarkable group that provides friendship as we survive the years of medical training.
One way IMP helps to support our members is through post-partum meal trains. This year, I am in charge of organizing meal trains. I want to share with you two things:
1) You can request a meal train even if you don’t “need” it!
2) It is easier to sign up and share a meal than you think!
Do not hesitate to put in a request for a meal train, even if you do not think you need it. I don’t mean to sound pushy; if you already received a bunch of freezer meals, have a different group providing you a meal train, or maybe it isn’t your thing, no worries! Do what is best for you!
However, I want to let you know, it is okay to sign up even if you do not think you need it. “Need” is a funny word. It can sound so desperate when the truth is most of us are very self-reliant. Guess what - it is okay to let ourselves get spoiled by our friends! We always say that we are here for each other to provide support. It is important to give others the opportunity to provide support too. This is how we build community: making space to let others serve us and seeking opportunities to serve others.
IMP post-partum meal trains are just one way that we can participate in creating a community of support.
Now, let me offer some suggestions so that you can sign up for a meal train! I usually cook a double batch of whatever I am going to make my own family for dinner. We eat half and I pack up half to drop off the next day.
One way IMP helps to support our members is through post-partum meal trains. This year, I am in charge of organizing meal trains. I want to share with you two things:
1) You can request a meal train even if you don’t “need” it!
2) It is easier to sign up and share a meal than you think!
Do not hesitate to put in a request for a meal train, even if you do not think you need it. I don’t mean to sound pushy; if you already received a bunch of freezer meals, have a different group providing you a meal train, or maybe it isn’t your thing, no worries! Do what is best for you!
However, I want to let you know, it is okay to sign up even if you do not think you need it. “Need” is a funny word. It can sound so desperate when the truth is most of us are very self-reliant. Guess what - it is okay to let ourselves get spoiled by our friends! We always say that we are here for each other to provide support. It is important to give others the opportunity to provide support too. This is how we build community: making space to let others serve us and seeking opportunities to serve others.
IMP post-partum meal trains are just one way that we can participate in creating a community of support.
Now, let me offer some suggestions so that you can sign up for a meal train! I usually cook a double batch of whatever I am going to make my own family for dinner. We eat half and I pack up half to drop off the next day.
1. Costco Rotisserie Chicken (aka: your best friend)
O, Costco chicken, thank you for all the easy meals you have provided my family! You can add the chicken to literally anything. Pasta, rice, salad, sandwiches, soup, tacos, waffles & casseroles. Plus throw the bones in a pot of simmering water, and now you have chicken broth to make soup out of for later in the week!
I have become an expert at prepping a Costco chicken.
My Tips: break off the wings, break off the legs, break off the thighs, pull the breasts away from the bones and slice. Then boil the rest of the carcass for soup.
O, Costco chicken, thank you for all the easy meals you have provided my family! You can add the chicken to literally anything. Pasta, rice, salad, sandwiches, soup, tacos, waffles & casseroles. Plus throw the bones in a pot of simmering water, and now you have chicken broth to make soup out of for later in the week!
I have become an expert at prepping a Costco chicken.
My Tips: break off the wings, break off the legs, break off the thighs, pull the breasts away from the bones and slice. Then boil the rest of the carcass for soup.
2. Tacos
Send a bag of tortillas, a protein (chicken, ground meat, beans, etc), a mixture of toppings (tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper, avocado, cilantro, lettuce, cheese, etc), a side of rice and beans, chips and salsa! I will literally put anything on a taco - butternut squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and lentils all frequently show up on tacos at my house.
You can do hard shell tacos, soft shell tacos, or even taco salad! Yum!
Send a bag of tortillas, a protein (chicken, ground meat, beans, etc), a mixture of toppings (tomatoes, corn, onion, bell pepper, avocado, cilantro, lettuce, cheese, etc), a side of rice and beans, chips and salsa! I will literally put anything on a taco - butternut squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini, and lentils all frequently show up on tacos at my house.
You can do hard shell tacos, soft shell tacos, or even taco salad! Yum!
3. Pasta
Send a box of pasta with sauce, protein and veggies. Or cook up the pasta and mix everything together so it is even easier (Costco pesto is an easy option here)! Anything can go in a pasta! Maddie (my 3 year old) “cooked” dinner for our family a few nights ago, and she picked carrots, asparagus, bell pepper and shredded chicken to be mixed into whole wheat pasta drizzled with pesto. And she ate every last bite on her plate.
Send a box of pasta with sauce, protein and veggies. Or cook up the pasta and mix everything together so it is even easier (Costco pesto is an easy option here)! Anything can go in a pasta! Maddie (my 3 year old) “cooked” dinner for our family a few nights ago, and she picked carrots, asparagus, bell pepper and shredded chicken to be mixed into whole wheat pasta drizzled with pesto. And she ate every last bite on her plate.
4. Stir Fried Rice
Fried Rice is another super easy meal because you can put anything in it! Chickpeas, eggs, cashews and any meat are good proteins. Any and all veggies work well! Make a ton of rice for dinner the day before, and then stir fry the rest!
Another bonus: it's easy to alter depending on allergies and extreme dislikes. Annnnnnd you get to use up random veggies you have from making other dishes. Easy peasy!
Fried Rice is another super easy meal because you can put anything in it! Chickpeas, eggs, cashews and any meat are good proteins. Any and all veggies work well! Make a ton of rice for dinner the day before, and then stir fry the rest!
Another bonus: it's easy to alter depending on allergies and extreme dislikes. Annnnnnd you get to use up random veggies you have from making other dishes. Easy peasy!
5. Crock Pot for Pulled Meat Sandwiches
Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and shredded beef are all very easy meals you can throw in the slow cooker. Send with buns, a salad mix such as coleslaw, some beans, a potato salad, veggie or fruit mix, cornbread, sweet Iowa corn on the cob… really the sky is the limit.
Pulled pork, pulled chicken, and shredded beef are all very easy meals you can throw in the slow cooker. Send with buns, a salad mix such as coleslaw, some beans, a potato salad, veggie or fruit mix, cornbread, sweet Iowa corn on the cob… really the sky is the limit.
I hope I have given you some inspiration to sign up for a meal train or the reassurance to take IMP up on receiving one. Let me know in the comments your favorite meals you have made or received as part of meal trains.
-Megan Pai
IMP Vice President
-Megan Pai
IMP Vice President
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