Healthy Winter Meal Ideas for the Elderly

‘Tis the season for you and your family to overindulge in sweets. The sheer volume of cookies, candy, chocolate, cake and more that are available at work, at parties and even as samples at the grocery store means that you’ll be wanting something healthy and delicious to offset the sweets.

Seniors need all the nutrition they can possibly get, and you would also benefit from a hearty winter meal. These two meal ideas are full of protein sources like beans and beef. Also, they are easy to make and taste just wonderful on a cold winter evening. Elderly care has never been easier with these simple yet satisfying meal ideas.

Elder Care in Lehi UT: Healthy Senior Winter Meals

See what you can do to incorporate these three healthy winter meal ideas into your elderly care menu this holiday season:

Slow Cooker Cannellini Bean Soup

Ingredients:

-3 strips bacon

-2 large leeks, thinly sliced

-2 large celery stalks, diced

-2 dried bay leaves

-1 large sprig of fresh rosemary

-1 lb cannellini beans, rinsed and picked over

-6 cups low-sodium chicken broth

-Pinch kosher salt

-Pinch freshly ground black pepper

In a saucepan or skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy. Remove the bacon and chop it into crumbles. Leave the rendered fat behind. Add the sliced leeks to the saucepan and reduce the heat to medium-low. Sauté the leeks until they are just barely soft, about 4 minutes. Add the diced celery, dried bay leaves, and fresh rosemary sprig, and sauté for an additional 5 minutes.

Pour the vegetables and herbs into the slow cooker. Then add the cooked bacon, plus the rinsed cannellini beans and chicken broth. Stir everything together. Cook on low heat for 8 hours. Don’t forget to remove the dried bay leaves and rosemary stalks. Take one cup of soup and put it in a blender or food processor. Pulse until pureed. Return the puree to the slow cooker and stir it around. Serves 6.

Easy Beef Bourguignon

Ingredients:

-1 cup frozen pearl onions

-1 pound beef tenderloin, cut into 2-inch chunks

-1 Tbsp canola oil (do not substitute)

-2 bacon slices, finely chopped

-2 cups mushrooms, quartered

-2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

-1 tsp chopped fresh thyme

-Pinch of sugar

-1 Tbsp tomato paste

-1/2 cup red wine

-1 cup low-sodium beef broth

-2 Tbsp water

-1 Tbsp all-purpose flour

Place pearl onions in a small bowl and cover with a paper towel. Microwave them for just 3 minutes, then set aside. Season the tenderloin pieces with salt and pepper, then heat them in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Heat a large, wide non-reactive skillet over medium-high heat. Add the canola oil and swirl to coat the pan. Place the large beef chunks to the pan and brown them on all sides. Add in the bacon, stirring frequently. Add the cooked mushrooms and saute until lightly brown stirring occasionally. Then add the garlic, thyme, sugar, and tomato paste, stirring frequently. Pour in the wine and bring to a boil, stirring and scraping the bottom of the pan to release all the browned bits. Keep the mixture simmering until the wine is reduced by half. Add in the pearl onions and broth. Whisk flour and water together, then add to the pan, stirring constantly. The mixture will thicken. Serve over rice or mashed potatoes.

Are you or a loved one considering elder care in Lehi, UT? Please talk to the friendly staff at December Rose Senior Care at Home.
Providing Home Care in Highland, Utah and Surrounding Communities.
801-427-ROSE (7673)

Source:
Abeautifulplate.com
Realsimple.com