So many times as we age we do not get enough protein. Many elderly live off quick things as they don't want to fix a meal just for themselves or they don't eat very much and the first thing they usually miss is protein.
They eat fruit, cereals and sandwiches which don't have much protein. There is a way to make it more easy. Protein powder. You can sprinkle it on your salads or cereal. You can make smoothies with it which are simple and provide protein. Go to Dr. Oz. Tv and look under energy balls on his recipes and there are two recipes that make good energy balls.
My mom loves chocolate so I make up the protein balls that have chocolate chips, it helps her sugar cravings and her chocolate cravings but be sure and get the dark chocolate chips instead of the milk chocolate ones.
If you have some elderly people in your life if you have the time to take a day and cook for them it is great. You can google some recipes for freezer meals. My mom loves the Zeta and Lasagna ones. Get some of those aluminium containers and cook a big batch up and freeze with a label where all they have to do is put it in the oven.
Another one we love is chicken pot pies. Meatloaf freezes well too. This keeps them eating a meal instead of just a bowl of cereal. Remember to make small portions dinners and the recipes say how long to cook them.
You can also take zip lock bags and scramble eggs and put in bag along with their favorite things to put in an omelet. All they have to do is drop the bag in a pan of boiling water and cook until the eggs are done.
This is also a fun way for company. I have chickens and during the summer they lay to many eggs and during the winter they don't lay enough so I scramble the eggs and put them in a zip lock bag. If company shows up Friday night for the weekend just take a bag of eggs out of freezer and let defrost and the next morning chop up some onions, grated cheese, bacon bits, sausage (bacon and sausage can be froze too in sacks) and other favorite omelet items. The guests can get up when ever they want and go into the kitchen and get a zip lock bag dip some eggs and any other things they want and put in the hot water and everyone gets a personal omelet at the time they want to eat and not much work for you. You are not going into the kitchen each time someone gets up and cooking breakfast. Put the bread sack near the toaster.
The internet is such a great place for recipes. Just run freezer recipes and you will be amazed. Pick out some and try it out. You can make a whole months supply for your elderly mom in one day. They will be set for the week and you don't have to worry about them.
This also works so well for busy people as when you come home tired after working you can just throw one in the oven and have a healthy meal. For the working mom slow cooker recipes are also great, put it on, go to work and come home and eat.
I am not sure what the rules are for posting recipes of others on your blog so you are going to have to search for some. All people have different tastes so search for what you like. Just remember that the elderly need protein and a lot of them don't like meat as it is hard to chew so look for quick ways to add protein to their meals.
Mom also loves her smoothies and you can get veggies and fruits into her along with the protein. Her favorite I think is 1 cup almond milk, 1 cup blueberries, 1 banana, 1/4 cup of very well blended nuts, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1 tsp raw local honey, 1 scoop of the protein powder, 1 cup ice and blend away. I don't measure it, I just dump. This is my basic smoothie recipe when using fruit. I almost always use the banana but I use blackberries, raspberries, pineapple, apple etc. depending on what I have. She loves the banana and apple one which also helps keep them regular.
Another important thing for the elderly and for us is water, we need to have a glass of water in our hand all day sipping it off and on through out the day instead of drinking a glass here and there. Dehydration causes problems with balance, dementia, appetite, bladder infections and everything else. Water is so important to any living thing. If you are trying to loose weight you will find that drinking more water keeps you from getting hungry because a lot of the time when you body says you are hungry you are actually thirsty.
The other thing be sure to tell yourself something positive everyday to be thankful for. The old saying of counting your blessings really does work to keep a good attitude and remember to count your blessings not someone else's blessings. This works better to fall asleep then counting sheep too.
Also be sure and check with their doctors for some ideas and if they think these ideas that I use for myself and my mom actually work too before you start. I sure have felt better since I got a hydroflax and fill it with water and take it everywhere with me. When I set at the desk it sets their too.
Another good idea is to get you an eliptical machine that will go under your desk. I got mine from QVC and I will never be without it again. This one I can pull out and use like a regular one standing on it and also put it under my desk and it has a place for my feet where I can use it while I sit and type. I spend so many hours at a computer working on my photos that it is an amazing object. My knee I hurt has improved 200% also using it because of exercise with a small range of motion that doesn't stretch the injured tendons to far. I LOVE it.
Have a great day everyone and I hope this helps in a small way. Just remember to check with their doctor and they might also have more ideas to help. Our elderly are so precious.
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