Elder Care: Your mom wants to age at home, but she’s having a hard time with meals.
She isn’t hungry, so she doesn’t eat as much as she should. Cooking isn’t as enjoyable to her. Arthritis pain limits her time in the kitchen. Elder Care should be considered to help.
You’re worried about her and want to help. Sometimes, make-ahead meals that she can quickly reheat in a slow cooker or the microwave are ideal. Here are some make-ahead meals that offer the nutrition she needs and are easy for her to heat and eat.
High-Fiber Taco Casserole
Drain and rinse two cans of low-sodium black beans and two cans of lentils. You can use dried lentils and cook them if that’s more convenient. Mix in a large container of pico de gallo, a half-cup of fresh cilantro, a tablespoon of chili powder, and a teaspoon of cumin.
In a pan, saute an onion, three bell peppers, and three cloves of garlic in a half tablespoon of olive oil. Stir that into the bean mixture and divide in microwave-safe dishes. Top with shredded cheddar. When your mom is hungry, she can microwave the single-serving casseroles for a couple of minutes and eat it with tortilla chips.
Individual Pot Pies
Make a pot pie filling with a mix of vegetables, cooked chicken breast, and homemade gravy. Cut sheets of pie crust that fit custard cups. Add the pot pie filling and cover with more pie crust. Bake until the crust is golden.
Cool the pot pies and store them in the refrigerator. When your mom is hungry, she can reheat them in the microwave.
Slow Cooker Stew
Cube carrots, pearl onions, and rutabaga and mix them with cubes of beef. Toss that in flour and move into freezer bags.
In the morning, your mom will transfer the vegetable and beef mixture to a slow cooker. Add a small bag of peas, a couple of cubed potatoes, a cup of red wine, and her favorite herbs. Let that cook all day. She can freeze leftovers in microwave-safe containers.
Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup
This soup is easy to make. Your mom will pour two 32-ounce boxes of vegetable stock into her slow cooker. Add a large bag of mixed vegetables, a 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes, dried Italian seasoning, and a cup of barley. Let that cook for eight hours. You can move leftovers to freezer containers for easy reheating.
Elder Care: Have You Thought About Meal Preparation Services?
What can elder care do to help your family take care of your mom? She can live independently at home with a helping hand. Meal preparation is one of many available services. Talk to an elder care specialist to learn more.