How to Make Healthy Meals for Seniors When You Have No Time to Cook

Providing healthy meals for seniors is a difficult yet vital task for every volunteer caregiver. But whether you're a partner, friend or family member, you might struggle to find the time to provide a daily nutritious meal.

There should be no shame or judgment on volunteer caregivers who admit they simply don't have the time anymore or have burnout. Most of us have jobs, kids and other commitments to juggle.

But all-volunteer caregivers should take responsibility when their lack of time starts to inhibit their caregiving abilities to find alternative options.

Tips for Healthy Meals for Seniors When You Don't Have Time:

Thankfully, in the modern world, there are plenty of ways to get around the problem of not having time to cook healthy meals. Here are our top tips:

Meal Planning

It may seem obvious, but meal planning your week is a game-changer. You'll have all the ingredients ready and waiting, saving you time deciding what to eat. There will be far less discussion with your loved one when it's time to cook, as they've already agreed in advance. Plus, you can plan for leftovers used later in the week or for lunch the next day.

Meal Delivery Option

The common answer to healthy meals for seniors is meal delivery. There are plenty of options available these days, such as Meals on Wheels. However, meal delivery may not be a sustainable option financially and lacks the benefits of our next solution. Meal delivery can be a good option for emergency meals.

Consider Senior In-Home Care

Senior in-home care services provide a caregiver who comes to your loved one's home to cook and provide fresh, healthy meals for seniors and do pretty much anything else you need.

Imagine this:

• You no longer have the time to cook for your father on weekdays. So you try out a senior in-home care service provider.
• The caregiver arrives, helps collect the groceries with fresh ingredients, cooks a nutritious meal, cleans up the kitchen and even helps your loved one eat.
• They make a meal based on your loved one's tastes and nutritional requirements - no nasty surprises.
• Better still, they're not just limited to fixing meals. The senior in-home caregiver can do whatever your loved one needs with a customized personal care plan.
• So, the caregiver stays after dinner and helps with bathing, grooming, medication reminders and keeping your Dad comfortable and relaxed before bed.
• The professional caregiver can come when you want, for as little or as many hours as needed. Just a few hours on a Friday evening? Not a problem! From dawn 'till dusk? They'll be there.
  

If you're interested in senior in-home care services, you can contact Visiting Angels today.

Consider Eating With Friends or Community Centers

If you have no other option, you can consider making eating a social event. Invite a loved one's friend over to cook together or consider searching whether a local community center or place of worship offers meals.

Slow-Cooker Meals

Slow-cookers allow you to throw the ingredients, forget about it and eat immediately once done.

A slow-cookers can save hours and make great nutritious meals from fresh food, such as stews, chilies, casseroles, soups, lasagna, meats, curry, oats and much more.

Food Prep Earlier in the Week

Meal prep is often the most time-consuming part of any nutritious meal.

Prep certain foods earlier in the week, such as cleaning and chopping vegetables and placing them in sealed containers in the refrigerator.

Repeat Meals and Frozen Meals

Repeating meals isn't a bad thing and neither is storing food in the freezer, so your loved one can reheat it in the future.

So long as your loved one likes the recipe, and you've got balanced meals the rest of the week with healthy options, then you're good.

Tip: Cook larger portions, so you've got leftovers for repeat meals.

Essential Senior Nutrition Tips:

According to the U.S Department of Agriculture's 'MyPlate' program, seniors should follow the following guidelines to maintain good health conditions such as reduced blood pressure, reduced risk of heart disease and healthy quality of life:

• Ensure your meal program covers a good blend of all five food groups - fruit, vegetable, grain, protein and dairy.
• Every diet should focus on fresh food containing little to no added sugar, saturated fats and sodium.
• Consume nutrients such as potassium, calcium, vitamin D, dietary fiber and vitamin B12.
• With age, we lose our sense of thirst, but not our need for water - drink water often to avoid dehydration and maintain good brain health and digestive health.
• Alternatives to water include low or fat-free milk and 100% juice or lactose-free options.
• Minimize drinks with lots of added sugar and salt.
• Meal programs should focus on maintaining a healthy weight or preventing weight gain.
• Use meal planning sites such as 'MyPlate Plan' to determine how much of each food group your loved one needs and how many calories their body needs per day.
• Ensure food is kept and prepared safely to avoid illness. Learn more at FoodSafety.gov.
  

Easy Meals for Seniors to Make on Their Own

Although we know not every senior is in the position to cook, these healthy meals for seniors are considered 'easy' for those who still have the ability:

Breakfast Ideas for Seniors

• Eggs - scrambled eggs or boiled eggs require minimal effort and difficult utensils. Eggs can be eaten with pre-diced onions, mushrooms, tomato and chives.
• Fruit - Apples, pineapples, oranges and grapefruit sections can be eaten easily without any preparation. Add some yogurt for extra enjoyment and dairy.
• Whole grain toast - Easy nutrition that almost everyone enjoys with some naturally sweetened jam or honey.

Lunch Ideas for Seniors

• Salads - An easy to prepare, light and healthy option. Why not add cheese, tuna or bacon? For extra texture, add in some mayo and tiny pine nuts. Salad can be served alone or in a sandwich. You can also throw in your favorite vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and avocado.
• Soup - Soup can be premade or pre-bought for easy and healthy lunches—one of the easiest ways to consume a bunch of your favorite vegetables at once. Soup can also be made in a large batch and frozen for use anytime.
• Wraps - Pre-made tortillas can instantly be put together with cheese, vegetables and salad for a light but delicious meal with your favorite sauces.

Dinner Ideas for Seniors

• Baked or Broiled Chicken Breast - Boneless and easy to cook. Serve with salad or pasta.
• Slow cooker meals - Throw in your foods of choice and wait for the timer to end. Then you can serve a perfectly cooked meal with minimal effort, utensil difficulties and temperature concerns.

Contact Us to Arrange In-Home Care Services in Hillsborough and Pasco counties FL

If you need some helping hands with preparing healthy meals for seniors or any senior home care services, then contact Visiting Angels today to arrange a referral of a professional caregiver to provide In-Home Care in Tampa and the communities of Hillsborough and Pasco Counties

Whether you're ready to get started or would like to learn more, we'll be happy to have a conversation with you or your loved one.

You can call us at 813-909-2550 today.