Serving food on a tray is a nice way to show love and caring when a family member is sick. A hundred-year-old home economics textbook had the following advice:
There is one thing that you can do and no doubt will enjoy doing, – preparing an attractive tray to carry to a person who is not well enough to come to the table. Of course, if the person is very ill, the doctor must tell you what to prepare, but there are many times when a person who does not “feel like eating” will be tempted to eat if some easily digested food, daintily prepared, is served.
The tray should be made attractive with a clean cloth or doilies, and dishes that look well together. Nicked or cracked dishes should not be used if there are others to be had. Try to think of all of the utensils that are needed to eat what is served so that the person will not have to ask for anything. Butter, sugar, and salt should not be forgotten if they are to be used, and a glass of cold water is nearly always desired. On the other hand, do not carry any unnecessary things. Try to keep hot food hot by having dishes warmed and the food covered. It is just as important to serve cold food cold. Be careful not to spill anything.
Household Arts for Home and School (Vol. 2) (1920) by Anna M. Cooley and Wilhelmina H. Spohr
A Hundred Years Ago 
Aw, how lovely. IT might even be worth getting )slightly) ill to be waited on like that.
I think people used to allow themselves the luxury of lying in bed for longer when not feeling well. These days people tend to spring up pretty quickly, and it’s much harder to find someone willing to cater to us in such a way!
I’m all for having my food “daintily” prepared! I agree with Arlene that we used to stay in bed and get better rather than feel compelled to go to work and spread the flu and colds!
I like the “be careful not to spill anything” reminder. 🙂
How nice. After I had surgery, I still made dinner every night.
Can I just say, preparing a tray for someone is one of my favorite things to do. Their eyes light up when they see the extra special touches. It is fun and nurturing. Like me! 🙂 haha
I had to laugh at the last admonition not to spill! Easier said than done, especially if the invalid is the mother of children who bounce on the bed to be closer to their mommy!! (at least from my experience)
What a sweet article! Even careful not to use cracked or nicked dishes. It’s also fun if you serve toast to use a small cookie cutters to cut little bits in cute shapes.
These are lovely ideas for pampering someone. At the moment I can’t remember ever eating in bed or serving anyone in bed.
They should add: be prepared not to demand, when rejected.
What a find, Sheryl!
When I was sick as a child I did get food on such a tray. My favorite item on it was a glass straw that we got to use only when we were in bed.
How sweet! Taking food to a sick person is a nice way to show you care, especially if you are so careful to make it a nice meal.
I was often sick as a child and sometimes served in bed. I do not remember that it was daintily set. But since I was not much interested in eating even while well and given that my mother often felt overwhelmed with household chores, that’s not surprising.
You’d just stay in bed and milk it!xxx