Gift Suggestions for Food After a Funeral

Casseroles are traditional funeral foods.

Attending a funeral is never a fun prospect, but one that most people undergo at some point. Bringing along food is a tradition and in some areas, even expected. The food is often served at a wake or large potluck, which is held after the funeral. Guests bring food to take some of the work off the loved ones of the deceased. Gift suggestions for food after the funeral cover items served to the guests and items for the widow and family members.

Comfort Foods

When attending a funeral, it's helpful to bring some type of comfort food. Comfort food dishes are simple and often easy to prepare. The dishes immediately take guests back to a simpler time and may even make them feel better about the situation. In the south, traditional funeral dishes include macaroni and cheese, spaghetti, chicken and noodles and chicken and dumplings. A dish like pulled pork, chili or jambalaya is also helpful because the dishes are made in a crock pot and kept warm in the pot. There is no need for the host to heat up the dish before serving.

Casseroles

Instead of bringing one large dish to share at the funeral wake, consider bringing a dish over after the wake just for the widow or family members of the deceased. After a death in the family, it's likely that no one will feel like cooking or baking. A casserole is something they can keep in the freezer or refrigerator and heat later when they need food. Include a simple note that tells them how long to cook the casserole and at what temperature.

Desserts

Bring some type of dessert to the funeral, preferably one that reminds others of the deceased. If your uncle Jim loved your chocolate layer cake, then bring that to the funeral. Or, make several types of cookies and brownies. These single serving snacks are easy to pass out to kids and adults can quickly pick one up when moving through the buffet line.

Quick Sandwiches

Opt for cold sandwiches if you're worried about heating a hot dish or keeping it warm after the funeral. Make several types of sandwiches and serve them on a large platter. As some people can't eat certain types of food, you may want to bring along a sandwich fixings platter. Arrange different types of meats, cheeses and other toppings on a large platter and bring smaller bottles of ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise.

References

• Creative Funeral Ideas: Creative Funeral Foods
• "City Beat"; Funeral Food; Lora Arduser; April 16, 2008
• Deep South Dish: Traditional Southern Funeral Foods