For whatever reason a senior is single, they may not feel like cooking for one. Yet, getting good nutrition is so important for the preservation of a good healthy life. Food is fuel for life and we need to restore our supply of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients we need. So get back into the kitchen, bring out the pots and pans and follow these tips to make cooking for one an enjoyable and healthy experience.
The downfall of convenience meals
Yes, it’s easy to go to the supermarket and stock up on prepackaged meals but they have nutritious downfalls. Many are loaded with empty calories and the sodium content is extremely high making them not the healthiest choice for seniors. I must say there are some frozen meals that are catering to better nutrition, but it’s all in the label. You must be a meticulous label reader and opt for the good fats (not saturated), lower sugar and salt contents. Then boost up this frozen meal with a nice green salad or fruit to bring in those 5-7 servings of fruits and vegetables that the new food pyramid suggests.
Canned soups have always been an issue for me with the tremendously high salt content. I find it easy to make a pot of homemade soup, enjoy the meal and then freeze containers of this glorious soup for other meals in the future. Nothing like multitasking!
How about cooking with a friend?
Find another senior who cooks for one and trade nights cooking. This way you will not have to cook each night plus have company to enjoy an evening meal. Make sure your menu is nutritious and balanced. Socializing is so important in life and mealtime was always a sit-around-the-table situation. Now things have changed being single, but cooking with a friend is a win-win situation!
Other options for single seniors is adult-daycare centers, Social Services departments or even churches which serve one meal a day. These congregate programs make sure seniors are provided with a nutritious meal and an excellent way to socialize. Just sitting in front of the television can be lonely and sometimes opts for eating snacks instead of healthy foods.
Spend a day cooking for a week
Seniors, especially women, may miss the enjoyment of preparing a favorite meal. Why not make this meal and then freeze portions for other days. Take a day and prepare a variety of foods – this will be a sure way to get various nutrients that will safeguard from nutritional deficiencies.
Many types of meat are sold in packages for four to six people, where the senior may eat too much or end up throwing part of the meal away. The solution is to divide the food into single-serving portions and then freeze what you don’t need at the moment. Whether you cook the full meal and freeze or just freeze the meat for another cooking experience is up to you. People can find different ways to prepare the same food to make it different and enjoyable. For example, a good steak can be prepared as is, sliced over a Cobb salad, made into a sandwich or even a quesadilla. Same goes for chicken and fish.
And remember, going to the supermarket and purchasing food is always less expensive than dining out. And most of the time, more nutritious!
Source: Personal experience working with seniors
Cook for One and Have Fun
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