6 GREAT HOLIDAY MEALS FOR SENIORS
With Thanksgiving and Christmas right around the corner, the time has arrived to plan menus for both festive events. Both holidays present the challenge of having your proverbial cake and eating it too. You want to create holiday menus that taste delicious, while at the same time not packing on the pounds. At the MorningStar senior living facility in Everett, Washington, we take resident health seriously by offering nutritious meals for all occasions.
Eating nutritious meals, especially around the holidays, is one of the most effective ways seniors maintain robust health. Let’s review six holiday meals for seniors that taste good and even better, help you feel good.
Roasted Turkey Breast
White turkey meat served without the skin contains little, if any, saturated fat, which makes it the perfect protein to serve for seniors managing their weight. Just one serving of this lean meat delivers 34 grams of protein. Protein is essential for strengthening muscles, as well as increasing the healing process and maintaining a healthy immune system.
Butternut Squash Soup
Choosing the right healthy appetizer can be difficult to do during the holidays when fried dishes are a part of most menus. However, nutritious butternut squash soup is a highly nutritious alternative to less healthy fried appetizers, as just one serving contains more than 450 percent of a senior’s daily vitamin A requirement. Vitamin A is a necessary nutrient for sustaining robust eye and skin health.
Pomegranate Avocado Salad
Another healthy alternative to unhealthy fried appetizers is serving a nutrient-packed pomegranate avocado salad. Pomegranate seeds contain loads of antioxidants and vitamin C, both of which are important for maintaining heart health. Avocados also boost heart health by containing healthy fat. This salad enhances the festive ambiance of a holiday meal by featuring bright red and green colors.
Roasted Vegetables
It is not a question of whether you should serve vegetables with a holiday meal, but how you should prepare the vegetables to maximize the health benefits. Tossing vegetables such as carrots, onions, and butternut squash with rosemary and sea salt represents the ideal way to roast the vegetables until they reach golden brown. Roasted vegetables not only deliver a wide variety of nutrients, but they also represent a healthy source of fiber.
Red Mashed Potatoes
Seniors with dental issues appreciate the serving of softer foods around the holidays, such as red mashed potatoes. However, the true value of this dish lies in the nutrient-packed benefits of red potatoes. They contain high levels of vitamin B6, as well as potassium and phytonutrients, both of which regulate blood pressure.
Baked Apples
The toughest course to plan a menu for during the holidays concerns the last course, dessert. After going to all the work to serve a healthy entree and appetizer, how do you complete the menu with a healthy dessert? The answer is to serve baked apples, which are a great source of fiber. Core the apples and then fill them with a mixture of cinnamon, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts. Bake the apples until they feel soft to the touch.
Serving Healthy Holiday Meals at MorningStar at Silver Lake
Like other MorningStar residences across the United States, our assisted living facility near Arlington makes a commitment to investing in the health of our residents. This includes serving nutritious meals throughout the year, but especially during the two biggest holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas. If you are searching for the best assisted living facility in Lynnwood for a loved one, we encourage you to visit MorningStar at Silver Lake to take a comprehensive tour.