Planning meals for elderly persons just requires a little extra care. For example, you need to make sure that the food is both nutritious and easy to eat. Also, elderly people like variety in their meals too. So, in order to please the whole family, here are some helpful tips for you.
This meal would be light whilst ensuring the person does not go to bed hungry. Therefore soup should be high on the agenda, ensuring no hard, chunky pieces are present. Pureed or semi-pureed soups are delicious and can be tailored to their particular taste. Have you ever tried zucchini soup? It is delicious. Depending upon what they had eaten for lunch, half a sandwich, something light like Shepherd’s Pie, au Gratin dishes, fish mousses, vegetable medleys would all be satisfying and nutritious. Also, they would ensure a good night’s sleep.
Bearing in mind that portion control is essential for everyone who wants to maintain a healthy weight, not just the elderly, a mid-morning break is enjoyable and sociable. This could also be taken at 3 pm instead if a very light dinner had been decided upon. A cup of tea or coffee, favouring low-fat or fat-free milk or milk substitutes is probably a life-long tradition. Accompanied by healthy biscuits, soft, plain cakes such as Madeira or Tea Cake would certainly please, on one of these occasions.
Finally, remember to provide for hydration in the form of water, as well as water flavoured with slices of fruit for variety. Hot chocolate in the colder months and the odd glass of wine if this is appropriate will make your loved one both healthy and merry.
This soup is easy to prepare, easy to digest and delicious. It is lovely with the addition of cream, but the cream is optional and can be substituted for milk, soy milk or any preferred option.
Ingredients
Directions
This soup serves four people. Plus, it is delicious on its own but by adding hot toast younger family members get some crunch too. Furthermore, you can create variety by using similar vegetables in the same recipe.
Au Gratin is a French term for food that has been coated with a bechamel or white sauce, as for cauliflower cheese for instance, then topped with grated cheese and put under the griller to brown. White fish, carrots, zucchini, potatoes, asparagus and of course cauliflower are all delicious prepared in this way. Remember to finely chop the vegetables and flake the fish, paying particular attention to fish bones.
Ingredients
Directions
This meal serves four people. Plus, it can be enjoyed on its own or with a lovely salad and bread if appropriate.
Preparation time: less than 30 mins
Cooking time: less than 10 mins
Ingredients
Directions
This meal serves one person. However, to feed more people just multiply the ingredients accordingly.
This dish is similar to a vegetable stew, and it can be enhanced with the addition of beef stock which will give it a meat flavour, but without the addition of actual meat pieces. It is perfect for vegetarians, or people with high blood pressure or cholesterol problems who are watching their fat intake. It is also extremely versatile because it can be made from a combination of whichever vegetables the elderly person likes. Combinations can include potatoes, carrots, zucchini, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, asparagus, peas, onions, garlic and any variety of herbs, but especially thyme and parsley. A little tomato paste ill give it a lovely colour and depth of flavour.
Directions
This dish is very tasty served on its own or with rice, soft short pasta, or mashed potatoes. Plus, you can simply multiply the quantities to include family members or friends.
In part four of this article we will present you with some suggestions for light and healthy desserts. People often think of dessert as perhaps unnecessary or fattening. However, for the elderly they are seen more as a treat, and perhaps a compensation for some of the things they have had to give up in later life.
…or click here to go to back to part 1 of the article.
If you need more specific support for your loved one please contact Camberwell Gardens Aged Care on 1800 GOLDAGE (1800 465 324) or email us at enquiriesdeloraine@goldage.
If you need more specific support for your loved one please contact Camberwell Gardens Aged Care on 1800 GOLDAGE (1800 465 324) or email us at camberwellreception@goldage.com.au. You can also visit us at 15/15 Cornell St, Camberwell Victoria 3124.
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