Co-op Cooking

Trish Berg of Dalton, Ohio tells CW she swaps meals with friends to save time and money, with delicious side benefits.

CW: What is supper swapping?

Trish: It’s women helping women—sharing the cooking for their families by preparing food in bulk and swapping meals. You can join with two to four other friends and each choose a day to cook supper for the entire group. Keep one meal for your family and deliver the rest.

CW: How did you get involved in a swap group?

Trish: Five years ago, a friend asked me if I’d like to try swapping suppers to simplify our lives. I knew I needed help since my family was bored with grilled cheese, and I was tired of the 4:30-and-nothing’s-in-the-oven panic.

Our group includes a stay-at-home mom, one who works full-time and two with part-time careers. I’m a farm wife, mom, writer and professor at a local university. Between Herefords and homework, I’m busy!

CW: Does supper swapping work for people other than young moms?

Trish: Definitely! Empty-nesters, single parents, retirees and coworkers can form cooking groups. Some choose to swap on a daily basis, while others prepare frozen meals and exchange weekly or monthly.

CW: What ground rules do cooks who swap need to establish?

Trish: First, determine what a “meal” is. Our group swaps a main dish and either a side dish or dessert.
Four times a year, we meet to plan meals for 3 months ahead. We note birthdays and anniversaries on our calendars, so we can add a celebration treat to the menu.

CW: How does exchanging meals with others save money?

Trish: Swapping can save thousands in a family’s annual food costs. You shop with a plan, buy in bulk, purchase fewer frozen or fast foods and eat out less. A typical supper swap meal costs 83¢ to $2.50 a person.

On weeknights, Trish, husband Mike, their children and drop-in friends enjoy the tasty collaboration.

CW: Do you need to be a great cook to be in a meal exchange?

Trish: We’re looking for simplicity, not gourmet dishes! Our meals are hearty, healthy and family friendly.

In our group, Kelly is our resident Mexican chef; Nancy’s stuffed shells are incredible; Nann makes stromboli that’s to die for; and my Saucy Meatballs go over big.

CW: Besides simplifying mealtime, what benefits does supper swapping offer?

Trish: Shortly after I started swapping, my youngest child was hospitalized, taking me away from home for a week. When we got back, there was a fridge full of meals from my swap group waiting.

When you feed a family, you deliver love, caring and compassion along with the food.

CW: How can family members play an active part in the swap group?

Trish: My husband, Mike, often delivers meals for me—and our 12-year-old, Hannah, loves to help prepare our weekly meal. Daughters Sydney, 10, and Riley, 5, and our 8-year-old son, Colin, are mostly eager eaters.
A couple of times a year, our group’s families get together for a huge cookout with all 18 of us.

CW: Explain how a supper swap group can expand and help the community.

Trish:While cooking in bulk for your group, it’s easy to prepare an extra meal and deliver it to a shut-in, new mom or family in need. Supper swapping helps you go beyond your own front porch and reach out to others in a personal way.

Bonding over food and friendship…what could be better?

Editor’s Note: You can order Trish Berg’s book, The Great American Supper Swap, and find out more about cooperative cooking at her Web site. Connect to it on our links page.

Photos: Teri Weaver