There are many reasons why some seniors have difficulty eating well. Some reasons are the changing taste buds, side effects of medications, and lack of interest because the same food is probably served over and over. Good thing there are elderly home care services in Illinois and around the world; home care ensures that your loved ones are not only provided with the best care and assistance that they need, they are also provided with healthy meals!
In order to remain healthy, older people have to consume fewer calories. However, that does not mean they can’t have dessert at all. Sweets and desserts are not entirely off-limits to the elderly. Since nutrition is more complicated and specific for them, you just have to remember not to include foods that have heavy fat content when making desserts for older people. The following desserts are easy to make, low in saturated fat, and of course, delicious too:
Vanilla Lemon Berry Parfaits
Parfaits are perfect as light desserts or even breakfast. However, if you are making one for your older loved ones, it would be better to switch out the full-fat ice cream with low-fat yogurt and fat-free vanilla pudding instead. To make a delicious vanilla lemon berry parfait, all you have to do is whisk the yogurt, pudding, lemon curd, and vanilla extract in a small mixing bowl. Set it aside then pour honey, lemon zest, and lemon juice in another mixing bowl. Stir them up then add some frozen or fresh berries. Gently mix until all berries are covered with the honey mixture. Assemble the parfaits in four glasses by using measuring spoons. Carefully portion the yogurt mixture into the glasses before topping it with berries. Alternate between berries and yogurt then garnish each parfait with fresh mint if desired. You can serve the parfaits immediately or, if you want, you can also cover and refrigerate them for a couple of hours before serving them.
Banana Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies
If your elderly loved one is a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies, don’t worry. You can make this classic snack without using flour and full-fat milk. All you have to do is combine raw sugar, oat flour, old fashioned rolled oats, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, whisk canola oil, soy milk, and vanilla. Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients then stir to combine them. Once the mixture is thick, carefully fold in chopped bananas, walnuts (or any kind of nut that you want) and dark chocolate chips. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees then line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Use a small ice cream scoop to portion out the dough on the tray before baking for 25 minutes or until the cookies turn golden brown. Let them cool on a wire rack and enjoy!
Quick Baked Pears
If you don’t have much time but still need to make dessert, then Quick Baked Pears are your best friend. They are delicious, juicy, and take less than 15 minutes to prepare. Take a ripe pear and cut it in half before taking out the seeds using a spoon or a melon baller. Combine sugar and cinnamon then evenly sprinkle the mixture on each pear half. Combine granola and the dried fruit mix of your choice then put them in the hollow where the seeds used to be. Pour some apple juice in and around the pears before loosely covering the fruits with wax paper. Cook the pears in high heat in a microwave for 6-8 minutes or until the pears are tender when pierced with a fork. This dish is best served hot and with a good dollop of yogurt on the side.
With these low-fat desserts, you won’t have to worry about your elderly loved ones enjoying their meal. Go ahead’head over to the kitchen and start making these delicious treats!
Leave a Reply