Ham slices on the bottom of a baking dish, assemble scalloped potatoes on top, set to go in the oven. I've never made it, but years ago someone brought me this dish.

First, I would find out about diet restrictions or preferences. Roast chicken with vegetables, a meatloaf with baked potato and green beans.

I do a chicken kiev that is assembled in the morning. You can transport it uncooked and they can refrigerate and bake when they want it.

Potato soup--I add chopped sauteed carrots, celery, and onions, and at the last minute, cooked lentils, mushrooms, and frozen peas. Include a loaf of crusty bread.

My mother just had bilateral knee replacements, so last evening I made soup using 10#s of potatoes. I have several containers ready to go, and this morning I'm making a big batch of her favorite hot rolls. We'll have it for a couple of meals, too.

ETA, if they eat meat, make a big batch of meatballs, and freeze one meal's worth (for two people in your friend's case) in a ziploc bag with a small amount of broth. Squeeze out all the air, and you won't need much liquid. They have the option to use them as is, with tomato sauce, or added to soups or sandwiches.

I just printed a recipe from ragu.com for skillet lasagna, done in 30 minutes. You could bring that, some french bread, salad, and maybe some cookies. They can freeze what they don't eat.

I'd back off on anything spicy, or make two dishes, one with spice for family members and one for the patient without spice.

I hope somebody brings them some lighter options! Simple chicken soup with vegetables, ingredients for fresh salads, etc. Gifts of ginger teas, crystallized ginger, ginger candy, and other ginger products are sure to be soothing for chemo patients.

It's so thoughtful of you to pitch in and ease their burden.

Cabbage rolls made with ground chicken instead of ground beef. I use a lighter tomato sauce (crushed whole tomatoes/celery/onions/garlic etc) because my own ground beef cabbage roll sauce is spicey (not Ukranian or Polish I know) and thicker than what recipes call for. You can also use the chicken/rice filling in peppers but I hate cooked peppers so it's a no go here ;)

Quick and simple chicken alfredo..with a bought sauce, combine browned chicken breasts cut into bite sized pieces, some onion and garlic, simmer gently, pour over pasta or rice at serving time. steamed broccoli or veg of choice on the side...sounds odd..but it's quite basically simple and yummy.

Not sure if they're available everywhere, but breaded boneless pork cutlets, pan fry them on the outside..put in baking pan, cover with your own tomato sauce, again mine tends to be spicey cover with grated cheese..bake. I use spaghetti squash as the veggie..instead of pasta/rice etc..you can change that up..it's easy to portion, easy to throw together. I've heard you can use chicken breast pounded flat too..but not done it.

Thanks for helping a friend..these are rough times for everyone. Try to take care of yourselves too..helpers get tired and stressed too :)

I'll throw one out:

Simple white bean soup, A nice green salad and multi-grain bread.

I usually try to stay away from anything chicken only because I have a friend who when she was going through cancer treatments once said to me, "I don't want to appear ungrateful but I never knew there was so many ways to prepare chicken." In other words she was chickened to death. I do check with recipient first and have brought a shrimp dish or meatloaf. The nice thing about the meatloaf is if you make a good sized one, it provides meatloaf sandwiches, too. I liked the ham and scalloped potato idea, too.

He may not be able to eat the same as his wife. During chemo there are special considerations and things that will not taste good or not be good for him. He may be on a special diet, he may not be. Some people like cold foods some like hot foods. Some people have good appetites until a few days after chemo some don't. Some have problems eating at all. Some just snack their way through it.

While I think your heart is in the right place basically since there are just two of them you will be providing food for one. It's not like there is a large family they have to feed. I predict a lot of food going to waste and her being overwhelmed by a fridge full of uneaten food.

You don't say what this couples activity level is normally. He's doing chemo, he's not in hospice. Being in your 70s is not that old these days. I know a lot of people who have done chemo that led active lives except for the bad days. What does he like? Give them a gift card to a restaurant or the movies if he will be able to go out.

Why not ask what they would like? One thing I would definitely do is try to take the wife out for a meal once a week. Or a movie, or both. Give her a break from the caregiver role. If he can't be left alone for some reason offer to sit with him while she goes out. Offer to do some shopping or run other errands for her. Offer to come by and walk the dog if they have one. Take over a chore they can no longer do or don't have time for during this time. Offer to drive him to an appointment.

One of the hints I was most grateful for from my husband's chemo team while he was going through treatment was that an increased intake of liquids helps to dissipate the nasty side effects of the chemo more quickly....along with a nice long nap. Most chemo patients lose their discerning taste buds after a few treatments and some foods taste completely different from what they tasted like before treatments. So...keeping that in mind for the patient...most fancy or seasoned dishes are lost to them. Juices...teas...water based drinks and/or soups/broths are all helpful and welcomed by most patients. And...if you're planning on contributing an eating surface [dish/platter, etc]...it's helpful to remember that anything metal has a vile taste to many chemo patients. Stick with plastic or ceramic.

Just some thoughts to help.

Chicken Divan

Shepherd's Pie

Potato soup and chicken and dumplings.

I second the chicken and dumplings. To me that is my favorite comfort food.

Not a meal per se, but one thing I made for my grandmother when she was going through chemo was peanut butter banana smoothies. It is very helpful for a chemo patient.

Also, lots of liquidy brothy soups. I made up big batches of Japanese onion soup (commonly served in Japanese Steakhouses as an appetizer) and when she couldn't eat, a cup of that was welcomed.

The big thing is the caregiver needs hearty meals, the chemo patient needs lighter fare and, I've seen more than once, the chemo patient can't stand the smell of stronger spices.

Perhaps prepare batches of single serving food for each of them?

I would sauté peppers and onions with thin strips of beef, seasoned with a mild fajita sauce and give them a package of tortillas with sour cream and guacamole sides. They could have a very casual but tasty meal that would be just a bit different and if there was a little salad, it would make a nice lunch or dinner.

navy bean soup and cornbread

Whenever I have had surgery, my appetite was not good...and so many are on a limited diet....no onions, spices, tomatoes, or anything that makes gas on stomach. I enjoyed more cold things than a heavy meal....and cookies to munch on as I felt like it. Do ask about specific diets....but good for you taking something for them.....just a pleasant face helps greatly!

I'd second: find out what they don't like, and what they can't or shouldn't eat. The one undergoing chemo might not like a large portion, since appetite goes down under chemo.

Things that can freeze up nicely are good, in part because of this.

Hopefully, both members of the couple have similar taste buds! If not, provide one or the other (whichever it happens to be) a small treat of his or her not-shared favorites on occasion. In addition, each might have different medical conditions to take into account, but this is a laudable endeavor you and your friends are undertaking!

I agree that it's important to check with them not only as to what's best to provide in the best manner for the patient's recuperation, but to take into account their personal likes and dislikes.

Also, you'll soon learn what quantities and frequencies are indicated.

Thanks to you and the others involved for your kindness .

ole joyfuelled ... whose routine is, thankfulness offered, unchanged related to illness

Thanks for all these suggestions. I'll probably end up using many of them over the next weeks. For the first I've settled on potato soup, slaw salad, crusty bread, cut up fruit.