The older you get, the trickier it can be to cook for yourself. Creating meals on your own requires standing up for long periods and coming up with ideas for what you will eat. It’s expensive to hire someone to manage your meals, so the solution is finding simple meals. Older adults will have little trouble creating for themselves.
According to one study, older adults mastering cooking basics (especially men) do much better in their health than those who don’t learn to cook. Thus, we did the tricky work to find some recipes a senior can make their own. These require minimal effort from the cooking seniors and can be served to a large group or stores for use throughout the week.
1. Vegetable Lasagna
According to one study, eating healthy is vital to increase longevity and remain in excellent condition as an older adult. It can be tricky for older adults to get everything they need, but this vegetable lasagna is an ideal start. It’s tasty, healthy, and easy to keep in the fridge for several days for meals or serve to a large audience in your home.
Whatever you choose, you’re sure to fall in love with the delicious flavors of this vegetable lasagna. If you want to make it more protein-centered, consider adding some ground turkey or chicken. It takes a little longer to make and can be heavy when pulling it out of the oven, but it’s worth it for the taste to look forward to all week.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Vegetarian, optional meat addition
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Recipe Link: Vegetable Lasagna
2. Salmon Poke Bowls
Hawaii is the location of origin for salmon poke bowls, combining island flavors over rice to create a mixing meal that can be prepared quickly and mixed to bring every possible nutrient you could think of. Poke bowls are always excellent because it’s simple to cut up the items and won’t require too much time on your feet.
One critical item to note is that salmon poke bowls traditionally have a base of raw fish, which could be problematic for some. If you don’t want to deal with raw meat, consider adding something like cooked chicken.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Protein-based, veggie-packed, Pescatarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Recipe Link: Salmon Poke Bowls
3. Berry Chicken Salad
There is nothing better than a fresh salad with all the flavors and nutrients you can think of, and we are confident this berry chicken salad falls into that category. It’s full of greens, fresh fruit, and protein to ensure older adults get every nutrient they need.
If you want more protein and healthy fat, place in some avocado and crumbled bacon to the recipe. The options are endless.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Protein-based, veggie-packed
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Recipe Link: Berry Chicken Salad
4. Creamy Tuna Pasta
Nothing is more comforting than good pasta, and this creamy tuna pasta will draw you back to your childhood. It comes together with simple ingredients you probably already have in your pantry and makes enough to freeze and keep for weeks. You can even adjust it to be vegetarian, gluten or dairy-free, and more, depending on your dietary needs.
The biggest step this recipe requires is some sauteeing of the vegetables, which shouldn’t be too much work and won’t keep you on your feet for more than twenty minutes. Once the pasta is cooked and the veggies are together, everything is mixed in a bowl for something you can easily prepare for yourself or a whole gathering with family and friends.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Pescatarian, optional gluten-free and dairy-free adjustments
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Recipe Link: Creamy Tuna Pasta
5. Spinach and Feta Pastries
It can be tricky to cook as you get older, but ironically, the older you get, the more critical it becomes to get all the ingredients you need. These spinach and feta pastries are fun to cook without too much intensity. Once you have the finished product, it’s tasty and filled with all the greens you need. You can store them and freeze them for later.
The recipe looks far more complex than it is, so we are confident any senior will be able to complete it with practice under their belt. The recipe is also something you could make with the little ones in your life, whether that’s your grandchildren or some of the neighbor children who come over to visit. It’s easy for seniors to pull together.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Vegetarian, veggie-centric
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Recipe Link: Spinach and Feta Pastries
6. Four Bean Salad
One of the best meals older adults can prepare ahead of time is this four-bean salad. It’s filled with potluck-inspired flavors and packed with protein that’s ideal for lunch or dinner. Also, it works as an excellent side dish at any meal.
Typically, with a salad like this, the longer it rests, the more vibrant the flavors. We advise seniors to let it sit before enjoying the first bites.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Vegetarian, veggie-centric, protein-filled
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Recipe Link: Four Bean Salad
7. Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
It can be tricky to try new things in the kitchen as you get older, which can make it impossible to get the necessary vegetables and protein for the day. Luckily, you can’t go wrong with a good quiche. This recipe provides four delicious portions for you to freeze and reheat during the week for a simple breakfast experience on the go.
Not only does it taste good, it’s one of the easiest things you’ll make all week. It’s just eggs, some nutritious toppings, and a good crust. Then, everything goes into the oven. This meal isn’t spicy, it’s vegetarian, and it’s able to be customized to meet a dairy or gluten-free diet if necessary.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: High protein, vegetarian, optional gluten and dairy-free, spice-free
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Recipe Link: Spinach and Mushroom Quiche
8. Tortilla Soup
There’s nothing better than a comfort meal that takes no time to make, and that’s what you’ll find with this tortilla soup. It makes enough soup for 6-8 people, which means you can freeze it and save portions for later or have family and friends over for a cozy afternoon. It’s also easy to adjust, no matter your diet.
You can add more protein and even increase spice levels to whatever your heart desires with this tasty tortilla soup. You can also purchase precut versions of all the ingredients to save even more time in the kitchen. This soup is the ultimate comfort meal every single day of the year.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: High protein, vegetarian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Recipe Link: Tortilla Soup
9. Salmon and Vegetables
According to one study, fish like salmon help the heart, which means it’s a must for senior adults. A simple sheet pan with salmon and vegetables doesn’t require too much time on your feet and is a foolproof recipe.
Salmon and vegetables don’t provide too many servings, but it’s so easy you will have little trouble making it again. It’s a recipe for excellent meals and quality long-term help.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: High protein, pescatarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Recipe Link: Salmon and Vegetables
10. Couscous Salad
Nothing is easier than a salad, and this recipe is beyond the typical leafy greens you’d find in a mixed bag at the grocery store. Couscous salad is a healthy option and makes enough for five people, so you can freeze it for eating throughout the week or serve it to multiple guests. It requires minimal time on your feet.
One of the best parts about this couscous salad is that it’s well-balanced and very nutritious, which means you’ll get health benefits in every bite. It isn’t spicy, which is excellent for those who can’t deal with significant flavor. However, if you want to add more spice, it’s an easily customizable recipe.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Nutritious, vegetarian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Recipe Link: Couscous Salad
11. Vegetable Stir Fry
Last on our list is a vegetable stir fry, which might be one of the simplest dishes here and makes it an ideal choice for older adults who have trouble pulling together all the ingredients they can. This recipe feels gourmet with a few simple steps and offers enough of a basic profile that you can add sciences and even the vegetable of your choice.
Without doing anything additional, couscous salad is free from dairy and doesn’t have any meat for senior adults who want to eat less of these items and are concerned about simple recipe selections. You can store these leftovers, and keep them for lunches and dinners throughout the week. Vegetable stir fry is easy to turn into whatever you want.
Ideal for These Senior Diets: Vegetarian
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
Recipe Link: Vegetable Stir Fry
