Taking a break from meat-filled meals is a great way to lower cholesterol levels, manage weight, and reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions. However, this doesn’t mean seniors need to eat foods with less than adequate nutrition or flavor. Many vegetarian recipes offer a delicious alternative to meat while ensuring plenty of nutrients. Here are a few enticing vegetarian meals your aging loved one is sure to enjoy.
1. Taco Lettuce Wraps
Combine cooked quinoa, black beans, and corn along with sautéed bell peppers, onions, garlic, and mushrooms plus taco seasoning. Put a heaping spoonful in a large lettuce leaf and top with shredded cheddar cheese and diced avocado. The wrap provides less than 400 calories plus 30 percent of the RDA requirements for potassium, 150 percent of vitamin C, 42 percent of iron, 38 percent of vitamin A, and 20 percent of calcium.
Switching to vegetarian meals is one of the many ways aging adults can boost their health. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional at-home care. Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life.
2. Vegetarian Pot Pie
Combine diced potatoes, sliced carrots, frozen peas, and sautéed onions with vegetable broth, low-fat milk, butter, white wine, and flour in a pot. Season with salt, pepper, and thyme to taste. Cook until the vegetables are tender. Empty the pot into a baking dish and top with puff pastry. Bake until the pastry is golden. Each filling serving offers vitamins A and C along with calcium.
Helping a senior make healthy lifestyle choices can be challenging. Families who find it difficult to care for their aging loved ones without assistance can benefit greatly from professional respite care. Richmond, Virginia, family caregivers who need a break from their caregiving duties can turn to Home Care Assistance. Using our proprietary Balanced Care Method, our respite caregivers can encourage your loved one to eat well, exercise regularly, get plenty of mental and social stimulation, and focus on other lifestyle factors that promote longevity.
3. Mushroom Fajitas
Sauté sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions in olive oil until tender. Add taco seasoning, then spoon the filling into corn tortillas and top with low-fat sour cream, shredded cheese, and sliced avocado. Each fajita provides vitamins A, C, and D along with calcium and omega-3 fatty acids.
4. Ratatouille
Combine and heat crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and Italian seasonings. Pour the sauce into a greased baking dish. On top of the sauce, create rows of vegetables using sliced eggplant, onions, zucchini, and tomatoes. Brush the top with olive oil and bake. Each serving provides 109 calories, vitamins A and C, and omega-3 fatty acids.
5. Lentil Chili
Sauté chopped bell peppers, onions, and garlic in olive oil until the vegetables are tender. Add vegetable stock, tomatoes, and lentils. Season with salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook until the lentils are tender. A portion of the chili can be pureed if desired and remixed in the pot. Top each bowl with a dollop of sour cream or shredded cheese. Each bowl of chili provides 350 calories, 74 percent of the day’s vitamin C requirements, and a healthy percentage of the daily recommended amounts of iron, vitamin A, and calcium.
6, Creamy Garlic Spaghetti
Prepare half a package of whole wheat pasta. Sauté chopped garlic and sliced mushrooms in olive oil until tender. Add a couple of tablespoons of flour and mix well, then add milk and stir until the mixture is creamy. Toss the pasta with the garlic/mushroom sauce and top with parsley if desired. Each serving provides 470 calories in addition to protein, vitamin C, and vitamin A.
If you’re unable to assist your loved one with meal preparation on a regular basis, consider hiring a professional caregiver. In Richmond, in-home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Home Care Assistance, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. We offer a revolutionary program called the Balanced Care Method, which encourages seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy. If you need compassionate professional home care for your loved one, call one of our friendly Care Managers today at (804) 207-4746.