What Would You Make With the Ingredients From One Food Basket

Struggling to create delightful meals for your family on a tight budget? We understand your situation; it can be quite challenging. Fortunately, organizations like Yad Ezra V'Shulamit are dedicated to assisting families in such circumstances.

Every week, Yad Ezra V'Shulamit distributes food baskets designed for households of six. These baskets include essentials like chicken, fish, bread, pasta, rice, canned goods, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Stretching these ingredients into varied, well-balanced meals throughout the week takes creativity and resourcefulness. Allow me to provide you with some tips to help you skillfully transform these groceries into delicious, nourishing dishes that will be enjoyed by everyone.

Meal Ideas with the Food Basket

Chicken is likely the most versatile ingredient in this basket, offering many possibilities for different dishes.

Among these, a standout option is the combination of chicken with rice and roasted vegetables. Begin by coating bone-in chicken thighs or drumsticks with a mixture of olive oil, salt, pepper, lemon juice, and preferred herbs, then roast until they achieve a desirable golden hue. Meanwhile, prepare rice and roast vegetables such as potatoes and carrots for a harmonious ensemble.

In times of feeling under the weather, few things surpass the comfort offered by a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup. Alternatively, a chicken pasta bake caters to a wide audience, appealing to both children and adults.

The adaptability of chicken knows no bounds. It can be shredded for tacos or sandwiches, diced for stir-fries, or experimented with using a variety of sauces and spices.

Fish, an additional source of lean, healthful protein, lends itself to multiple cooking techniques. For swift weeknight meals, consider baking fish fillets with a simple blend of salt, pepper, and any available fresh herbs. Pair the cooked fish with pasta tossed with vegetables like spinach and tomatoes, enabling the fish's natural juices to infuse the pasta with enhanced flavor.

Let's not overlook the potential of vegetables in crafting meatless culinary wonders. Dishes such as vegetable fried rice, non-dairy pasta primavera, and spicy vegetable chili can be remarkably fulfilling. Success lies in maximizing the incorporation of fresh produce available to you.
There are so many possibilities for turning these food basket ingredients into crave-worthy meals.

Yad Ezra Weekly Food Basket

Shalom Zidel, Yad Ezra V'Shulamit's Development Officer, in collaboration with Elana Heideman, Founder of the Israel Forever Foundation, explored recipes to extend the use of a single box of food.


This video sheds light on their creative journey to address the challenge of sustaining impoverished families and their meals, exemplifying the dedication that fuels their vital mission.

Thousands of impoverished families across Israel depend on the weekly food basket distributions facilitated by the Yad Ezra Project to secure their survive. A weekly food box can mean the difference between a child going to bed hungry or having a nutritious meal.

Sustaining the provision of these crucial resources requires ongoing support for Yad Ezra V'Shulamit. Even a small donation can serve to sponsor a weekly food basket, ensuring that no child is left without a meal.