Creating Holiday Meals and Memories Seniors Will Love

Making the holidays special for seniors can involve such simple things as spending time together and cooking a special meal or two.

Nostalgia has a powerful effect on seniors. By making the holidays special for them, you can improve their quality of life. The magic of the holiday season doesn’t necessarily wear away with age. Seniors get nostalgic during the holidays, and many still want to celebrate.

Creating a Special Holiday Meal

There are many holiday meals that are heart healthy for seniors. You can find many recipes on web sites such as aplaceformom.com, tasteofhome.com, or health.com. Use these ideas to get started:

Main Dishes:

• Roasted, lightly seasoned turkey breast

• Sweet potato pasta with ground turkey

• Turkey meatloaf

Sides:

• Pan seared Brussels sprouts with cranberries and pecans

• Roasted green beans with almonds

• Lemon orzo salad

Desserts:

• Oatmeal cookies with cinnamon and raisins

• Peppermint tea

• Lemon bars

Dress the Meal Up:

• Use holiday napkins and/ or tablecloths

• Help seniors dress up for the meal

• Invite loved ones to share the meal with a senior

How to Make Holiday Memories

So much of the holiday season is about reminiscing, reflecting, and togetherness. For seniors, this can be a challenge due to memory issues, health concerns, or family members living far away. You can sweeten the season by intentionally spreading holiday cheer and making memories