Navigating Grief: How a Food Prep Professional Can Help Lighten the Load

Grief changes everything. It shifts the way we see the world, the way we interact with people, and even the way we take care of ourselves. Simple tasks—like making dinner—can suddenly feel impossible. You know you should eat, but your appetite is gone, or the thought of standing in the kitchen and cooking is just too much.

And yet, food matters. Not just because we need it to survive, but because it can comfort us, ground us, and give us a tiny sense of normalcy when nothing feels normal.

Why food becomes so important when you’re grieving

When you’re hurting, meals aren’t just about calories and nutrition—they’re about care. A warm bowl of soup can remind you of home. A familiar recipe can bring back happy memories. Even something as simple as having dinner ready at the same time every night can help restore a sense of routine.

The trouble is… grief can make it nearly impossible to make that happen on your own. That’s where having someone else step in—someone who knows how to make good food and take the work off your plate—can be a game changer.

Letting someone else cook for you isn’t indulgent—it’s healing

This is where Piston Annie’s Plate comes in. I'm Kristin, the heart behind the service, offering more than just food—I offer relief. You choose from monthly menus filled with comforting breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. I do the shopping, cook everything in a shared kitchen, and package it up so all you have to do is heat it when you’re ready.

It’s not a cookie-cutter service either—I'll work around your preferences, allergies, and dietary needs. Whether you just want one or two meals a week or a full set to get you through, I make

sure you have something nourishing and ready when you need it most.

For some, that might be a creamy Tuscan chicken that feels like a hug in a bowl. For others, maybe it’s a hearty vegetable beef soup that reminds you of your grandmother’s cooking.

Whatever it is, having it ready in the fridge or freezer means you can still eat well without having to think about it.

What this can look like in real life

I think of the morning I lost my mom. It was December 11th at 6:41am and the holidays were well underway. I'd made us Thanksgiving dinner the Sunday after Thanksgiving (I had to go back to Denver for work during the holiday), and I called the ambulance the following day. She never came home.

That time was so incredibly hard—coming home to a quiet house, the silence settling in like a weight.

On nights when I couldn’t bring myself to cook, I'd just go to bed. It was terrible, and it soon spiraled into a very sad place. I am committed to helping others not experience this if I can.

Small steps toward taking care of yourself

If you’re grieving, you don’t need to overhaul your diet or commit to some big routine. You can start small:

• Pick just one or two meals a week to have prepared for you.

• Choose dishes that make you feel safe, warm, and cared for.

• Let someone else handle the details so you can focus on resting, healing, and remembering.

Because here’s the truth—grief is heavy enough. You don’t need to carry the weight of “What’s for dinner?” on top of it.

A little help goes a long way

Piston Annie’s Plate isn’t just about feeding your body—it’s about creating space for you to breathe. The service is flexible, affordable, and built with real life in mind. Whether you need full meals or just help planning and shopping, I make sure you don’t have to navigate it all alone.

And sometimes, that’s exactly what we need when we’re grieving: to know someone else is in our corner, quietly making sure we’re cared for—even if it’s just one nourishing meal at a time.

If this sounds like something you—or someone you love—could use, take a peek at the monthly menus at pistonanniesplate.com. You might just find that a little help in the kitchen is exactly what your heart (and your stomach) needs right now.