The 5 Things That Always Belong in a Food Care Package

Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold
Cambria Bold is the Executive Editor of Cubby, and one of Apartment Therapy Media’s first full-time editors from way back when. She was The Kitchn's founding Design and Lifestyle Editor as well as Managing Editor of Re-Nest, Apartment Therapy’s late '00s green living site. She now thinks a lot about design, kids, and designy kids' things. She lives with her two daughters and their father in St. Paul, MN.
updated Jun 8, 2019
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5 Loaf Cakes and Quick Breads That Make Perfect Gifts (Image credit: Faith Durand)

When a friend or family member is sick, overwhelmed, homebound, or taking care of a new baby, we say what we can — So sorry. Thinking about you! — and then, because we know that won’t make everything better, we do the next best thing: We bring them food. Food speaks for us when words fail, which is why putting together a thoughtful, personal food care package is one of the kindest things you can do for a struggling friend or loved one.

We’ve thought a lot about what makes a great care package, and we finally think we’ve cracked the code. Here are the five things that should go in every one.

The New Baby Taco Box (Image credit: Sara Kate Gillingham)

First, get a box!

All the following suggestions are tailored to those who want to cook and deliver a care package locally. (For advice on assembling and mailing care packages, see here, here, and here.) Even though you may not be shipping anything, you’ll still need a box to assemble everything!

If you want to keep it simple, get a medium-sized cardboard box (perhaps repurposed from an Amazon delivery), and cut off the flaps so they don’t get in the way. If you’re feeling fancy, drop by your local wine store and see if they’d give you a wine crate, which makes for a lovely care package box.

Make sure whatever box you plan to use is clean and sturdy — you’ll be packing a lot in there, and you don’t want it to come apart! — then line the bottom of the box with a tea towel. (You’d be surprised how special this little detail feels.)

Baked Black Bean and Avocado Burritos (Image credit: Kimberley Hasselbrink)

The 5 Things to Put in a Food Care Package

1. A homemade main dish.

Of course, right? This is the heart of a good food care package, and where it all starts. You want to feed your friend. You hope that some good food will comfort and sustain him while he deals with all the other things you can’t fix.

The goal here is to make something delicious and satisfying. Cook a big pot of this wonderful soup and deliver it alongside a just-out-of-the-oven loaf of bread with stick of the best butter. Drop off a pan of these baked burritos and one of these hearty salads to get him through the week. Choose a dish that makes great leftovers so he’ll get a few meals out of it.

Our big list of favorite comfort food recipes

Smoked Almond Snack Bars (Image credit: Emma Christensen)

2. A few snacks.

Every food care package should have one or two quick snacks that can be grabbed out of the box and eaten immediately on the couch in the midst of a Netflix marathon, or in the middle of the night while nursing a newborn. They can be nutritious, or just really delicious (nutrition optional).

If you’re up for making a homemade snack, we have plenty of ideas. But this is a great time to hit up the grocery store, too, since there are plenty of foods you can buy that’ll hit that snacking sweet spot.

A few favorite homemade snacks

Store-bought snack ideas

Dark Chocolate Walnut Cookies (Image credit: Sara Kate Gillingham)

3. Something sweet.

A bar of chocolate, a plate of cookies, a pan of brownies, maybe even a pint of your friend’s favorite ice cream — any of those ideas would work! Just don’t forget to pack a little something sweet for your friend. It’s the last food piece in a well-rounded care package. You’ve fed them a main meal, provided snacks for the rest of the day, and now you’ve satisfied their sweet tooth. (I’m partial to giving chocolate desserts. They feel the most indulgent!)

A few favorite dessert recipes

Barolo Chinato: The Best Wine to Pair with Chocolate (or Drink for Dessert) (Image credit: Faith Durand)

4. A nice card or small gift.

Before you drop your care package off at your friend’s house, remember to write a nice note. Go the extra mile and throw in a small gift — a copy of their favorite movie, a good book you think they’d like, or a bottle of their favorite wine or a six-pack of beer.

Lovely small gifts you could include in a care package

(Image credit: Gabriela Herman)

5. Flowers.

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of a fresh flowers to lift the spirits. Throw a few blooms in a vase, place it in the corner of the box, and let the stems peek out over the top. It’s the perfect finishing touch!

How do you pack a food care package for a loved one?

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