Homemade soups are simple meals to make, and you have full control over the ingredients. Many recipes are delicious and nutritious, and several are also heart healthy. Surprise your aging loved one with a pot of one of the following homemade soups.
1. Bean Soup
Soak mixed beans overnight. Add mixed vegetables, cubed lean ham, and chopped onions along with low-sodium tomato juice. Cook until the vegetables are tender. Each serving provides 267 calories along with 23 grams of protein. The beans and vegetables also offer plenty of fiber along with potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B6, and C.
For seniors who want to prepare meals but have health conditions that make cooking alone unsafe, a professional caregiver can be a great resource. Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to an assisted living facility. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Home Care Assistance, a leading Oakville home care agency. Our dedicated in-home caregivers can assist with meal prep, bathing and grooming, exercise, medication reminders, and many other important tasks.
2. Tex-Mex
Brown chicken or turkey in olive oil until cooked through. Add chopped onions, corn, diced tomatoes, and a can of black beans. Cover the combination with water and cook on medium heat for 30 to 45 minutes. Garnish each bowl of soup with tortilla chips and shredded cheese. Each serving contains 187 calories and 17 grams of protein. The nutritious meal also provides several vitamins and minerals, including potassium, vitamin A, and folate.
3. Vegetable Beef
Sauté onion and diced lean beef in olive oil. Add a package or two of mixed vegetables, a can of black beans, and diced tomatoes. Cover the combination with water or low-sodium broth. Season with a package of fajita spices and cook until the meat and vegetables are tender. Each serving contains 167 calories and 17 grams of protein. The fiber-rich soup also provides a long list of nutrients that include potassium, vitamins A and C, and iron.
Some seniors need a higher level of assistance to ensure they get enough nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation. If your senior loved one needs hourly or live-in care, Oakville Home Care Assistance can help. Our caregivers can assist with exercise and mobility, prepare nutritious meals, provide timely medication reminders, and help with a wide array of other important daily tasks.
4. Chicken Noodle
Cook skinless chicken, chopped garlic, and onion in water until the meat is easily diced. Add diced celery, carrots, and potatoes, then cook until the vegetables are tender. Add whole-grain noodles or pasta and continue cooking until done. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and allspice. Each bowl contains 107 calories and 14 grams of protein. The dish also provides fiber and potassium along with vitamins A and C.
5. Green Veggie
Sauté an onion in olive oil. Add tomato paste and chicken stock along with cooked and pureed white beans, chopped celery, grated carrots, chopped cabbage, chopped tomatoes, diced potatoes, and a bunch each of kale and spinach. Cook on medium heat until all of the vegetables are tender. Add pre-cooked chicken sausage to increase the protein factor. Otherwise, each serving provides 246 calories, 17 grams of protein, and 9 grams of fiber. The heart-healthy soup is also rich in potassium and vitamins A, B6, and C along with copper, folate, iron, magnesium, and manganese.
6. Mushroom and Wild Rice
Sauté diced celery, garlic, and onions in olive oil. Add cooking sherry or white wine along with mushrooms and wild rice. Cover with chicken broth and water. Cook for up to one hour or until the rice is tender. Each serving contains 310 calories and 9 grams of protein. The soup is also rich in folate, vitamins A and C, calcium, and potassium.
If your loved one needs assistance with planning and preparing meals or accomplishing other simple tasks of daily life, help is just a phone call away. Seniors who want to remain healthy as they age can benefit in a variety of ways when they receive professional senior home care. Oakville, ON, Home Care Assistance is here to help your loved one accomplish daily tasks, prevent illness, and focus on living a healthier and more fulfilling life. If your loved one needs professional care, Home Care Assistance is here to help. Call one of our Care Managers today at (905) 337-1200.