This is something my family does on occasion. My sister-in-law had a baby a few months ago. New mothers have a lot to deal with, and not a lot of time to shop or cook. Having literally months worth of vacuum sealed, frozen meals has been super helpful.
We've also had family members or friends who have been hospitalized. Giving their families some meals they can just heat-and-eat takes one thing off of their to do list.
We usually throw together some easy, home cooked meals. The kind of thing you make in a crock pot and serve over rice, for example. Enough servings for the number of people effected (i.e. For my brother and sister-in-law, it's just the two of them (baby being breastfed, later on baby food). If there are more people in the household, plan accordingly).
This is usually appreciated way more than a card or some balloons / flowers. It takes some effort, but even just a few meals can help.
Edit: as pointed out in the comments:
-
Make sure the receiving party has the freezer space. Not everybody does. If they don't, consider making them fresh food on a certain day per week (or on a repeating schedule, i.e. "Every Friday this month for dinner."). (/u/rumprustler332)
-
If you don't cook, you could offer to get take out for them as well (personally, I think "home cooked" adds a certain element to it, but not everyone can cook!). (/u/horribliadorable)
-
Other situations: people planning weddings, people dealing with someone's death. Both of these involve a lot of stress and planning, leading to less time for things like cooking. (/u/jerkstorefranchisee)
-
"Potluck rules" apply -- Don't use a dish you can't afford to lose. Even better, invest in a vacuum sealer. It'll stay fresh longer, and you won't lose any Tupperware. (/u/biking4jesus)
-
Ask beforehand. Some people might not feel comfortable eating food from someone else's kitchen (cleanliness concerns, for example), or they may have certain allergies / dietary restrictions you may not know about. (/u/opportunity_mocks)
