“Food always helps.”
Whether it is a birthday party, a wedding, or funeral reception, food is crucial. And the funeral is no different.
What to serve at funerals depends on your family traditions, your culture, where you live.Michael Scarpaci, a stakeholder at Scarpaci Funeral Home Services, explains that comfort food is different for everybody. For instance, southerners prefer hearty casseroles while the Northeast chooses Italian fare or meatballs. Similarly, in the Midwest, people love indulging in a plate of egg salad sandwiches.
Michael Scarpaci says, “no matter where you are from, you want to have a food menu that is easy to prepare, comforting, and economical.” Also, no matter what you decide to serve, it’s imperative to understand that the purpose of serving food at the funeral is to feed those who came to pay their tributes and respects to the deceased. You are not obliged to entertain your guests with food extravaganza. You are also grieving and you must consider your own needs.
If you have recently lost a loved one and are planning a funeral for him or her, Michael Scarpaci shares some of the best comforting food options to add to your funeral menu.
Macaroni Cheese – Macaroni cheese is available in a variety of different styles, including standard down-home to gourmet. And of course, the traditional form of macaroni cheese is still the best version. It’s easy to prepare yet comforting and is a great alternative for vegetarians.
Fruits and vegetable trays – what’s better than serving fresh fruits and vegetable tray at the funeral as a complement to savory items? You can prepare the trays a night earlier and serve them the next day. Moreover, it’s easy to eat so you don’t have to worry about cleaning up later.
Salad – Salad is something that nobody can say no to. It is the most convenient funeral food. You can even put out all the ingredients in different bowls and allow your guests to prepare their own salad as per their choice.
Meat and cheese trays – Meat and cheese trays are yet another popular comforting funeral food. Since you can purchase pre-prepared meat and cheese from a grocery store or a warehouse, it’s easier to heat it up in the oven and serve it immediately.
Potato casseroles – Potato casseroles are one of the most comforting food options available. If you are new to this, you can always ask for help.
These are some of the common comforting food options you can serve at a funeral. Remember, the idea of serving food at a funeral is not to entertain but to feed the people who are attending. So make sure you are not putting a lot of effort in preparing them.