The Trump Administration announced that people receiving food assistance would receive half their typical SNAP benefits; however, the pause in normal assistance has led to an uptick in food pantry visits among many recipients. If you’re financially fortunate enough not to need to visit a food pantry to feed your family, but can instead donate to those in need, it’s helpful to know what to donate.
One TikTok user puts together affordable food pantry meal kits so families can use them to create a complete meal. Here’s how she does it.
How to Organize Ingredients for Food Pantry Meal Kits
Recipes don’t need to be complex or require many ingredients. When preparing her meal kits for donation, TikTok user @reviskitchenn embraced recipes that use minimal ingredients.
Here’s the breakdown of the shelf-stable ingredients she included in each kit:
- Chicken Alfredo
- Canned chicken
- Pasta
- Jar of Alfredo sauce
- Can of spinach
- Taco Kit
- Taco shells
- Microwavable rice packet
- Can of refried beans
- Can of corn
- Spaghetti
- Spaghetti noodles
- Marinara sauce
- Grated parmesan cheese (the shelf-stable kind)
- Can of mushrooms
- Chili
- Kidney beans
- Black beans
- Diced tomato
- Jiffy cornbread mix
- Chili seasoning packet
- Holiday Stuffing Bowls
- Box of turkey stuffing
- Can of green beans
- Brown gravy mix
Extra Touches
To organize her meal kits, she put all of the ingredients in a gallon storage bag, which keeps everything neatly together and easy to transport. For good measure, she also printed recipe cards to slip in each kit. Following a five-meal format, she made four of each kit and donated 20 meals to her local food bank, with each serving four to six people.
The meal kits were inspired by another TikTok user, @DollarTreeDinners, who has shared a variety of inexpensive ideas for similar kits.
More Useful Tips You Might Like
- Alternative Resources for Those Facing Reduced or Delayed SNAP Benefits — Here are several alternatives worth exploring and sharing with those in need.
- What You Can and Can’t Buy With SNAP Benefits — The guidelines are specific when it comes to what SNAP benefits can be used for. Here’s the full breakdown.
- The Cheapest Grocery Stores in America — As grocery costs continue to rise, shoppers are increasingly seeking affordable alternatives. Here’s where to look.
