Fun & Healthy Foods for Seniors

Ingredients:

• 1⁄3 cup oatmeal, quick-cooking (dry)
• 1⁄8 teaspoon salt
• 3⁄4 cups water (very hot)
• 1⁄2 banana (sliced)
• 1⁄2 cup frozen yogurt, non-fat

Preparation:

1. In a microwave safe cereal bowl, mix together the oatmeal and salt. Stir in water.
2. Microwave on high power for 1 minute. Stir. Microwave on high power for another minute. Stir again.
3. Microwave an additional 30-60 seconds on high power until the cereal reaches the desired thickness. Stir again.
4. Top with banana slices and frozen yogurt.

Caregivers’ Creamy Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Ingredients:

• 5 large Portobello mushroom caps, gills removed
• 1 container of plain hummus, like Sabra brand
• 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese*
• ¼ cup chopped pimento peppers
• 1 can no salt added spinach
• 1 can small artichoke hearts in water, without seasonings or brine
• 2 tsp garlic powder or fresh minced garlic
• ½ tsp dried rosemary
• ½ tsp paprika
• ¼ tsp Italian seasoning (optional)
• 1/3 cup panko bread crumbs or plain bread crumbs
• Additional rosemary for sprinkling on top

Preheat oven to 350°. Carefully drain spinach and remove as much liquid as you can. This can be done by straining the spinach through a cheesecloth or placing in a colander in the sink and gently pressing with a clean towel. Place into a large mixing bowl.
Drain artichokes and pimentos and add to bowl as well, followed by cheese (if desired), garlic, rosemary, paprika and Italian seasoning. Stir a few times to incorporate seasonings, then add the hummus. Continue mixing until all ingredients are combined well.
Gently wash each mushroom, pat dry and brush with a little olive oil to keep them moist in the oven. Place gill-side up in a glass baking dish and fill each with a heap of the hummus mixture. Top with bread crumbs (about 1 tbsp) and a sprinkling of additional dried rosemary.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or until mushrooms are softened and bread crumbs slightly browned.

Makes 5 servings.

Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Bake Time: 25-30 minutes
Total Time: 30-40 minutes

*Optional if less sodium is desired

The spinach and artichoke hummus can also be prepared as a dip! Instead of piling it high on top of a mushroom, bake it by itself in a glass baking dish for 20-25 minutes at 350° and serve as an appetizer the next time guests are visiting. Tastes great on pita chips or crisp vegetables like celery and baby carrots.

Marinated Three-Bean Salad

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 can lima beans (8.5 ounce)
• 1 can cut green beans (8 ounce)
• 1 can red kidney beans (8 ounce)
• 1 onion (medium, thinly sliced and separated into two rings)
• 1⁄2 cup bell pepper (chopped sweet green)
• 8 ounces Italian salad dressing (fat-free)

Preparation:

1. Drain the canned beans.
2. Peel and slice the onion and separate into rings
3. In a large bowl, combine the lima beans, green beans, kidney beans, onion rings, and green bell pepper.
4. Pour the Italian dressing over the vegetables and toss lightly.
5. Cover the bowl and marinate in the refrigerator for at least one hour. The salad can be left in the refrigerator overnight.
6. Drain before serving.

Spring Vegetable Soup

Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1⁄4 red cabbage (medium head, about 2 cups, finely shredded)
• 2 ripe tomatoes (medium, seeded and chopped)
• 1⁄2 cup canned artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
• 1 cup green peas (frozen or fresh)
• 2 1⁄2 cups vegetable juice (low-sodium tomato or)
• 1 cup water
• 2 teaspoons dried basil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preparation:

1. In large soup pot, heat oil over medium heat. Sauté cabbage, tomatoes, artichoke hearts and peas for 10 minutes.
2. Add tomato juice and water. Bring to boil. Reduce heat, add basil and simmer for 10 minutes, or until all vegetables are tender and soup is piping hot.
3. Serve in individual serving bowls. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Pan-Grilled Salmon with Pineapple Salsa

• 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
• 1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
• Cooking spray
• 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets (about 1/2-inch thick)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

1. Combine first 5 ingredients (through pepper) in a bowl; set aside.
2. Heat a nonstick grill pan coated with cooking spray over medium-high heat. Sprinkle fish with salt. Cook fish 4 minutes on each side or until it flakes easily when tested with a fork.
3. Top with salsa.

How can Oxnard Family Circle help?

At Oxnard Family Circle Adult Day Health Care Center, we provide two home-cooked dietary meals per day to ensure that our participants are getting the nutrients that they need. One of the main issues our seniors have with eating healthy foods is that foods with low salt and sugar generally do not taste as good as unhealthier foods. Oxnard Family Circle makes a point to not sacrifice taste for health. While our meals are all low fat, low sodium, and low sugar, we utilize healthy foods that still have flavor by cooking all food fresh from scratch and using a variety of spices as an alternative to salt and sugar.

Oxnard Family Circle implements fish, chicken, and beef in our meals, as well as soups, salads, rices and grains, hot cereals, and sandwiches. We always offer alternative dishes for individuals who may not like the main course for the day, and blended meals are always available for individuals who have problems chewing or swallowing. We always make sure the meals offered provide a balanced serving of fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy carbohydrates and proteins.  Both meals are served at consistent times to ensure that participants are eating at regular intervals. A dietitian is also available for nutritional counseling and specialized meal plans are available for those who need it. Low-potassium diets, low sugar diets, and other specialized diets are offered for those who may need it.

One of the great benefits of having two nutritional meals per day at Oxnard Family Circle Adult Day Health Care is that if a participant has a light dinner once they come home, or even chooses to have a T.V dinner or frozen meal on occasion, they are guaranteed to have gotten a substantial amount of nutrients and vitamins from their first two meals of the day. Dietary counseling and eating healthy meals routinely may also help individuals make smarter eating choices once at home on their own. At Oxnard Family Circle Adult Day Health Care Center, our main goal is to make sure your loved one is happy and healthy both at our center and at home.