The winter season is approaching and it’s one of the seasons that gives seniors nightmares due to excessive cold. One of the best ways that seniors can manage the winter season is by eating healthy foods. When they get proper nutritional support, their immune system becomes strong and they are able to easily fight off common colds and keep their body warm.
If you are having challenges selecting the best foods to feed the seniors, here are some of the easy cold-weather recipes to cook once the weather turns colder.
- Banana Split Oatmeal
One of the best meals that can spice up seniors’ breakfast is oatmeal. It’s easy to prepare, chew and digest. Here are the ingredients that you need to prepare a banana split oatmeal recipe;
- 1/3 cup oatmeal
- ½ sliced bananas
- ¾ cup of hot water
- ½ cup frozen yogurt
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
To prepare, slice the bananas and put them in a serving dish, and then add yogurt. Mix oat, honey, milk, and hot water in a small saucepan and stir. When it starts simmering, put the mixture in the serving dish and enjoy your delicious breakfast.
- Cauliflower curry soup
Curry Cauliflower soup is ideal for lunchtime as its rich in nutrients and vitamins that help fight cold weather. Here are the ingredients that you will require to prepare;
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
- 400g tomato sauce
- 2 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 400g canned coconut milk
- 1 whole lemon, juiced
- chopped cilantro or parsley
- 1 head fresh cauliflower, cut into florets
- 1 small carrot, peeled and sliced into rounds
- 2-4 slices fresh jalapeno (optional)
- 1 small onion, roughly chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon curry powder
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoons ground cumin
Cauliflower curry healthy soup is immune-boosting and it’s very tasty. It’s easy to prepare for seniors 55+ and it helps to keep your body warm during the winter months.
- Chicken Casserole
Chicken and root vegetable casserole is another delicious meal that is easy to prepare when the weather turns colder for older adults. It’s a perfect combination for a dinner meal and it can be spiced up to your preference to get different flavors.
The ingredients that you will require include:
- 30g plain flour (if you are gluten-free, use corn flour)
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- About 240g chicken thighs
- 2 carrots
- 1 turnip
- 2 parsnips
- 1 small onion
- 1 leek (can substitute a small swede)
- 250mls good quality chicken stock (free range if available))
- Roughly chopped flat-leafed parsley to serve
- Butternut Squash Bisques
If you are looking for a lighter meal that is not hearty, try butternut squash bisques. You can mix with veggies and other spices and it’s a perfect meal for those seniors who may have challenges chewing and swallowing thick foods.
I9t’s rich in proteins, fiber, and carbohydrates. To prepare a delicious butternut squash bisques, you need the following ingredients;
2-3 pounds butternut squash
2 ½ tablespoons olive or canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 rib celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
¼ teaspoon cloves
2-3 quarts Chicken Stock or Vegetable Stock (best if homemade or no/low sodium)
1 cup fat-free milk
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- Hot Turmeric Milk Tea
Hot turmeric milk tea is a great home remedy for seniors who are struggling with coughs, common colds, congestion, and inflammation. One can you a variety of milk types including; skim cow’s milk, coconut milk, and fortified almond milk. It also provides seniors with a good source of vitamin D which is usually a major deficiency during the shorter days of the winter season.
It’s fast and easy to prepare turmeric milk tea. Here are the ingredients that seniors can use to prepare this tasty drink.
- ¼ teaspoon ground turmeric, or to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground cardamom
- ⅛ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch ground ginger
- 1 pinch ground cloves
- 1 pinch ground allspice
- 1 cup milk
- ¾ teaspoon honey, or to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon vanilla extract
When seniors eat well during winter, they are able to build their body immune systems. With a good diet, they are more energized and they feel optimistic that they will manage the colder weather with good health. If you are looking for the best retirement community homes for seniors, join us at one of our Connect55+ active aging communities, for an outstanding experience.
