How to Make Meals Faster for Your Aging Parent

It is a challenge to eat healthy for yourself. When you add the needs of your aging parent to your to-do list, it can feel overwhelming and frustrating to keep up. You may struggle to buy for two households, and finding foods Mom will eat can be challenging. Mom and Dad still need to eat as healthy as possible. If you need help to keep it all together, seek support from a home care worker. They can step in with cooking when you cannot be there. Think of a professional caregiver as an extension of your family.

Suggestions to Get Nutritious Meals on the Table Faster

Ensure that your elderly family member has the healthy meals they need while saving time in the kitchen. Not every suggestion works for all families the same; here are some ideas to get you started:

• Meal plan. Write out all the meals your dad will eat for the week. Remember to include snacks. You can then make a grocery list and make one trip to the store, not several. Place the menu where your loved ones can see it, even if they are not the ones cooking. It just makes it less overwhelming for all parties. It also allows you to plan nutritious meals to meet their health needs.
• Invite Mom and Dad to help with meal prep. You save time and energy if you take a couple of hours to chop vegetables and prepare ingredients for other foods ahead of time. Your loved one can help with this, giving them a sense of accomplishment. Think of some of the memories you can make by spending time preparing for the week together. They may become some of your favourites.
• Rethink how to prep the ingredients. Often, we think that meal prepping means preparing one meal at a time. Save some time and energy by prepping ingredients, not meals. For example, if you use quinoa in three or four recipes, cook the amount you need for all of them in one batch. Then split it up as needed and place it in sealed containers.

Quick Meal Ideas

Finding meal ideas that don’t take forever to cook is possible. Here are some to get your creative juices flowing:

• Egg muffins
• Steel-cut oats with fresh or dried fruit
• Sausage and vegetable skillet
• Breakfast parfaits with fruit, yogurt, and granola
• Whole grain waffles or pancakes
• Smoothies
• Beef and barley soup
• Ham and cheese paninis
• Turkey, avocado, and tomato wrap
• Omelet with cheese and vegetables
• Homemade macaroni and cheese with ham
• Vegetarian spaghetti
• Roast chicken with garlic potatoes and glazed carrots
• Baked salmon with quinoa and steamed broccoli
• Beef stew with root vegetables
• Turkey meatloaf with mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and green beans

Life Is Easier with Home Care Workers

You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen each night cooking for yourself and your senior loved one. Make a meal plan and seek support from a professional home care worker from Home Instead Ottawa. Our team comes alongside and assists with customized senior care services to make your and your aging adult's lives easier. We offer tailored homecare services to ensure your loved ones get what they need to remain independent, and you can rest easier. Our team can help with cooking, light housekeeping, companionship, and even 24 hours care. Learn more when you call us today!

Call us at (613) 599-6906 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver every day, to families in Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Orleans, Rockliffe, Alta Vista, New Edinburgh, Manor Park, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Manotick, Sandy Hill, Hunt Club, Vanier, Richmond, Carleton Place, Gloucester, Kemptville.