Want to Support a Struggling Mom? Consider Just-Good-Enough Food

When life gets overwhelming, even the simplest gesture can mean the world to a friend.

My son was sick, and we were stuck at home. When a friend reached out to see if I needed anything—maybe a cake?—I didn’t hesitate to accept. She showed up with a massive slab of mud cake topped with creamy chocolate ganache. I took a sliver to taste, then another. Soon, my husband and kids were enjoying generous slices too. I ended up never actually having a full piece myself.

Later, she revealed that the cake had been overcooked and the ganache was an attempt to save it. Suddenly, her gesture felt even more meaningful—she brought us an IMPERFECT cake!

I’m all about embracing imperfection and lowering the bar. If my friend hadn’t made that less-than-perfect cake, I would have missed out on a delightful treat. It’s a reminder that perfection often stands in the way of good.

This principle guides me in both cooking and life. I love to cook for my friends, especially when they’re facing tough times. But with three kids in primary school, two jobs, volunteer commitments, and a social life, I often find myself short on time. My perspective shifted when I experienced meal rosters after each of my children were born. I quickly learned that having a newborn doesn’t leave much time to cook, and when friends from our community brought meals over, we accepted them with gratitude, albeit a bit desperately.

The food we received was likely great, but what mattered more was the care behind it. I still catch myself hesitating when cooking for others. If my stir fry is a bit overcooked or my quiche needs more cheese, I sometimes think about abandoning the idea of sharing it.

But I remind myself that in times of stress, the sentiment and the energy saved for a friend outweigh my own ego. I’ve learned to offer my cooking—flaws and all.

There’s a strange truth in the idea that food tastes better when it comes from someone else. A friend recently reminisced about a “delicious” green chicken curry I made her, which I admitted was from a packet. Another time, I shared some frozen bolognese and pasta with a family, and the mother later told me it brought her to tears—not due to its taste, but because she was so touched by the gesture.

So here’s the takeaway: in times of illness, busyness, or stress, even B-grade baking can be an A-grade gift. Baking is about love and timing, not perfection, and so is giving.

For more insights and stories, check out our other blog post here. If you’re interested in home insemination, Make a Mom provides excellent resources, and the Cleveland Clinic has valuable information on pregnancy and insemination.

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In summary, offering support through food—even if it’s not perfect—can be a meaningful way to help a friend in need. The love behind the gesture often outweighs any imperfections in what you serve.

Keyphrase: Just-good-enough food for struggling moms

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