15 Easy Meal Train Snacks to Add to Your Delivery
When someone you love is going through a challenging season, even the smallest comforts matter. These easy make-ahead snacks are simple to drop off alongside a meal that they can enjoy nibbling later when cooking feels like too much.
After the birth of my second baby, I was the lucky recipient of a meal train for several weeks. While I appreciated each and every dinner that was brought lovingly to our door, the ones that really stand out in my memory all these years later are the friends who thought to bring a few simple snacks we could enjoy in between meals.
Juggling a newborn and a toddler, I loved having ready-to-eat snacks I could set out to keep our energy going and little treats to lighten our moods. For a friend who is facing a loss, bite-sized snacks are easier to eat than a full meal when you're trying to eat during grief.
These meal train snacks are totally optional but for a friend who needs just a little extra special something, consider adding a crunchy snack mix, some fresh fruit and dip, or a batch of baked pastries for them to enjoy over a few days.
These recipes are all easy to make ahead, travel well, and can sit out on the counter or be tucked into the fridge for later. They're the perfect little extra love to pack into your meal train delivery.
Tips for Bringing Snacks
As with all your meal train deliveries, there are a few key things to keep in mind when packaging up snacks to bring for your gift.
- Pre-Wash and Prep All Produce: Wash it, trim it, slice it, the fruit and veggies should be delivered completely ready-to-eat.
- Disposable Packaging: Deliver every single thing in dishes and containers that you never need returned. They don't need the burden of tracking who's casserole dish is who's.
- Label Storage Instructions: If it needs to be in the fridge, stick a post-it on it. Can it be frozen? Let them know that, too. When a family is struggling, they may forget all your verbal instructions the moment they shut the front door. Write it down so they don't have to remember.
Best Containers for Delivering Snacks
You can keep it simple with plastic zip-top bags and foil bakeware, but these containers are budget-friendly and make the presentation a little nicer and easier for storing:
- Plastic Meal Prep Containers: You can get a pack of 50 lidded containers that work great for fresh veggies and fruit or chunks of cheese.
- Divided Containers: Prep a few snack trays in these divided containers to reduce the guesswork of what to eat completely. Bite-sized portions are so much more palatable for kids and for grieving families.
- 16 oz Lidded Containers: I keep this set of 36 food storage containers with airtight lids in my pantry. They work excellently for juicy fruits, creamy dips, or anything you wouldn't want to leak. You could also use them for delivery granolas or snack mixes that need to be kept fresh.
- 9x13-inch Foil Pans: I keep this economy stack of pans in my pantry, they work great for delivering the meal train kit that has multiple smaller containers that need to be wrangled.
Now let's get to the list of snacks! Here are a few of my go-to favorites:
Sweet and Salty Chex Mix
A classic sweet and salty Chex Mix is always a welcome option, especially for families with kids. It is easy to grab by the handful, doesn't need refrigeration, and can sit on the counter for anyone to snack on when hunger hits.
The homemade kind is so much more tasty than the expensive mixes you can buy at the store and the recipe makes a large batch to help the family for several days.
Honey Sriracha Chex Mix
This sweet and spicy honey sriracha Chex Mix is one of my personal favorites. It may not be the best choice for a nursing mom, but the bolder flavors pack a lot of flavor into each small bite so a little goes a long way. Even my kids loved this one when they were younger, it has heat but isn't too spicy.
Birthday Cake Popcorn
This cheerful birthday cake popcorn adds a lighthearted touch to a meal train delivery and could be used as a celebratory treat for a new baby meal train or especially appreciated in homes with kids who may need a small moment of joy.
Apple Cinnamon Chex Mix
Sweet and satisfying apple cinnamon Chex Mix brings familiar warm flavors for anyone who needs a comforting treat. I like to mix in yogurt covered raisins for a creamy accent.
Easy Seasoned Pretzels
You can choose from 16 different flavors for my easy seasoned pretzels making it an endlessly customizable recipe to bring to your friend. They're sturdy and mess-free. Deliver them with a honey mustard dip or raspberry mustard for a zesty afternoon snack.
Carrot Cake Granola
This chewy carrot cake granola works as both a snack or a quick meal train breakfast option which is incredibly helpful during unpredictable days. Deliver it with a tub of vanilla yogurt that could be spooned in a small portion or a as hearty bowl as the family needs.
Hard Boiled Eggs
Protein-packed and ready to eat, hard boiled eggs are one of the most practical snacks you can bring. They're simple, nourishing, and easy to grab straight from the fridge when someone needs something quick.
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Homemade Pimento Cheese Spread
This simple homemade pimento cheese spread turns simple crackers or bread into a satisfying snack with almost no effort. It's especially helpful for those moments when someone wants something a little more filling but easy to prepare.
Creamy and zesty all at once, it gives a little protein boost to the afternoon snack time or could be used to make grilled pimento cheese sandwiches for lunch.
Poolside Dip
In the warmer months, having a batch of this poolside dip ready to go in the fridge is such a treat. Perfectly scoopable, it pairs well with crackers, chips or even a raw veggie tray for sneaking in a little extra nutrition during challenging times. This one feels fresh and flavorful but is so easy to stir together.
Easy Fruit Dip
I nearly cried when a friend brought over freshly washed and prepared strawberries for easy snacking. Fruit just tastes better when someone else does the prep work for you.
Pair fresh strawberries or chunks of pineapple or freshly washed crunchy grapes with this easy fruit dip for a simple treat.
Homemade Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Homemade peanut butter granola bars taste a million times better than the packaged variety from the grocery store and are filling and portable for quick energy when it is needed most. The chunks of sweet chocolate chips add a simple sweetness that will lift spirits, too.
They can be stored on the counter but we love ours chilled from the fridge.
Sourdough Discard Blueberry Muffins
Soft and comforting and easy to eat, these sourdough discard blueberry muffins are a perfect meal train breakfast or quiet snack with coffee. They can also be frozen for later if the family is trying to juggling too much food right now.
Easy Pumpkin Bread
My easy pumpkin bread recipe makes 3 loaves from just one batch of batter so you'll have enough to bring for your meal train and keep for your family to enjoy, too.
They freeze and store beautifully so your friend can enjoy it now or later and you can keep one stashed in the freezer at your house for an emergency last-minute meal train delivery down the road.
Sweet Cheese Ball for Breakfast Spreads
This sweet cheese ball for breakfast spreads could be delivered with a package of mini bagels from the grocery store to be used as a simple treat in the afternoon or a quick and easy breakfast. It's a small upgrade from store bought cream cheese that shows how much you care.
More Meal Train Tips
Are you in charge of setting up a meal train for a loved one? Be sure to review my meal train etiquette tips, they're a good reminder for the entire group.
If you're helping a friend through a season of illness or loss, you'll definitely want to read about how to feed a family who is grieving.
And as you're planning what to bring, you'll love my 30 clever meal train recipes and easy meal train side dishes that travel well.
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