Soup is an ideal meal for seniors because it’s easy to eat and can be loaded up with nutritious ingredients. It can be made in advance and heated up as required, so it’s also very convenient for caregivers who have to manage meals. Here are six tasty and healthy soup options for seniors.
1. Butternut Squash
Made of butternut squash that’s gently simmered and pureed, butternut squash soup has a pleasantly smooth texture that makes it suitable for seniors who are unable to chew. This hearty type of winter squash is loaded with nutrients. It’s a great source of potassium (an essential nutrient for reducing blood pressure), and it also has plenty of vitamin B6, niacin, thiamin, and vitamin E.
For seniors who have health conditions that make cooking alone unsafe, professional caregivers can be a great resource. Many seniors prefer aging in place over moving to assisted living facilities. If your senior loved one needs assistance to remain safe and comfortable while living at home, reach out to Assisting Hands Home Care, a leading at-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. Fish Chowder
A tasty fish chowder is a very satisfying and filling soup loaded with potatoes, onions, and salmon or cod. This soup is a great way to make sure your loved one is getting enough omega-3 fatty acids. These polyunsaturated fatty acids reduce cholesterol levels and mitigate asthma and Alzheimer’s symptoms.
3. Broccoli
A soup made of pureed broccoli, milk, and broth is a great way to make sure your loved one gets more cruciferous vegetables. The vegetables in this family, including kale, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower, are important because they contain special antioxidants that can reduce cancer and inflammation. Broccoli is also a great source of vitamin C, with a single serving providing all the vitamin C a senior needs in a day.
Some seniors need a higher level of assistance to ensure they get enough nutrition, exercise, and mental stimulation. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don’t all need the same type of elder care. Phoenix families can rely on Assisting Hands Home Care to provide individualized care plans to meet their elderly loved ones’ unique care needs. Our caregivers help seniors focus on healthy lifestyle habits such as eating nutritious foods, exercising regularly, and maintaining strong social ties, and we offer mentally stimulating activities that can boost cognitive health and delay the onset of dementia.
4. Potato
When made with the potato skins left in the soup, potato soup can be surprisingly healthy as long as you don’t load it with cream and cheese. A serving provides more than a quarter of the dietary fiber seniors need to maintain regular digestion. Potatoes are incredibly high in vitamin C, so this soup can boost the immune system.
5. Chicken
This staple comfort food is often served when a person has a cold, and it turns out it actually is as healing as folk wisdom claims. Broth rich in collagen and a little sodium is quite hydrating, and the carrots, celery, onions, and parsley traditionally used to flavor chicken soup are packed with antioxidants. If you want to make it more filling, add some whole-wheat pasta or barley for a side of healthy carbs.
6. Tuscan Bean
When you want to create a soup loaded with healthy ingredients, get your inspiration from Mediterranean cooking. This tasty soup has a lot of hearty beans in it, so it helps seniors get the fiber they need to maintain gastrointestinal health. You can make this soup even healthier by adding fresh vegetables such as spinach, mushrooms, carrots, or tomatoes.
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. The type of home care Phoenix seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. We are a trusted provider of respite and 24-hour care, and we also offer specialized Alzheimer’s, dementia, Parkinson’s, and stroke care for seniors. Call us today to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.
