Cooking can be an enjoyable activity to do with older loved ones — working side-by-side in the kitchen, sharing laughs, making a delicious meal together. We all need to eat, and preparing a meal together can be a wonderful way to turn that daily task into something fun.
If your older loved one lives here at our skilled nursing center in Lynden or in a nursing home somewhere else, cooking a simple meal together can be a fun way to spend an outing.
Below are five simple recipes that promote mind and body health and that are fun and easy to make.
Fried salmon: Salmon, plentiful and easy to access here in the Pacific Northwest, is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids. Why is that important? Well, more than half of your brain is made of fat, and half of that fat is made of omega-3 fatty acids. If you want to maintain brain health, salmon and other fatty fish offer a wonderful place to start.
This simple recipe from Allrecipes.com requires just 15 minutes of time and six basic ingredients: garlic powder, dried basil, salt, butter, a fresh lemon and salmon.
Blueberry jam: Given their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, blueberries are another simple food that are easy to acquire in the Lynden, Ferndale and Bellingham areas. Studies also link blueberries with a reduced risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes and with brain and weight benefits.
For a fun and easy way to eat blueberries, try this simple jam recipe, which requires just white sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon and blueberries. There’s no need to can or preserve it; just eat it fresh on a slice of toast.
Yogurt parfait: Rich in calcium and vitamin D, yogurt does wonders to protect bone health and density. This short recipe from Rachel Ray calls for yogurt (of course), granola and fresh and frozen strawberries (or blueberries or any other fruit or berry). It’s so easy to make you might just want to make every day — and that would not be a bad thing.
Sautéed spinach: Another food rich in calcium, spinach is delicious either cooked or raw. When sautéed with garlic and olive oil, as in this recipe, it’s delectable. The trick with cooking spinach is that you don’t want it to wilt — which basically means you don’t need to cook it as long. That’s a win-win! If you need to rinse it, be sure to dry it fully before cooking.
This spinach dish makes a great side for many meals, including fried salmon!
Dark chocolate: When you’re in the mood for something a little sweeter, why not choose something that sweetens your mood? Researchers say that dark chocolate reduces stress, boosts memory and has a host of other health benefits. Of course, dark chocolate can be high in sugar, too, so be warned.
Best of all, you can make it yourself with just four simple ingredients: cocoa powder, honey, coconut oil and vanilla extract. This can be a fun recipe to experiment with, too. Consider adding orange or lemon zest, peanut butter, coconut flakes, cinnamon, cayenne pepper, chopped nuts, peppermint or anything else that sounds yummy.