During a recent visit with your mom, you noticed that she let others do the cooking – which is unusual, because she’s always loved preparing family meals.

Has she lost interest?

Is she having trouble remembering or reading the recipes?

Is arthritis limiting her ability to pick up heavy pots and pans?

What does she do when others aren’t there to help? Are her meals healthy or just convenient?

“There could be many factors at play”” said Austin Blilie, Chief Operating Officer at Trail Ridge Home Care’s parent organization, ABHM.   “We know that, for some of our clients, cooking just isn’t fun anymore – especially if they live alone and are just cooking for themselves. For others, limited mobility, cognitive decline and worsening vision can make it more difficult to put a healthy meal on the table and clean up afterward.”

Advanced meal preparation is one way to make mealtime easier for aging loved ones and their caregivers. It also promotes healthy eating habits and reduces the amount of wasted food.

Here are a few tips to make meal prep easier.

Start small. Trying to do too much too soon can be overwhelming. Start by planning/preparing a few simple snacks and meals. Expand the menu as time allows and your confidence grows.

Customize the cooking space. Reducing kitchen clutter and organizing the fridge and cabinets will ensure you will always know where everything, so you can find it quickly.

 Always include healthy foods. A good meal plan includes fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein. Avoid foods with too much sugar and salt.

Pick recipes with shared ingredients. A rotisserie chicken, for example, can be used in several different ways throughout the week – an entree, chicken salad, chicken soup, chicken tacos and more.

Keep the pantry/fridge stocked with basic ingredients. This is especially important when prep time is limited. Some basic, quick and easy ingredients you might want to keep on hand include pasta, pasta sauce, ground beef, rice and cheese.

Repurpose leftovers. Don’t toss the leftovers! They could make for a good lunch the next day, with little or no extra effort.

Use high-quality storage containers. To make storage, re-heating and clean-up easier, choose freezer- microwave- and dishwasher-safe containers.

“At Trail Ridge Home Care, we know that it’s not always possible for families to make sure their aging loved ones are eating healthy, nutritious meals. That’s where we come in,” Blilie said. “As part of our customized care plans, our professional caregivers can help seniors shop for healthy foods, prepare balanced meals and clean up afterward. They also add an ingredient not found on any plate – companionship. When meals are shared with others, they’re more enjoyable and often more nutritious.”

If you think your aging loved one might benefit from our meal prep services, visit TrailRidgeHomeCare.com to learn more.