Are there any healthy foods that seniors can eat without cooking?
You don’t need to worry about a short and limited list of meals if you’re looking forward to preparing healthy foods and tasty dishes for your loved ones without cooking. Pre-cooked whole grains like brown rice and quinoa will increase your fibre intake and lower the risk of heart diseases, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes. At Walmart, you can find pre-cooked grains in the frozen food case or ready-to-eat bowls or pouches that can be microwaved immediately.
Added sodium may concern seniors because they may experience increased blood pressure after consuming more-than-usual sodium levels. You can mix them with veggies or pre-cooked meat and serve the final result as the main dish to your loved one, or spice and flavour the pre-cooked rice with dried greens and serve it as a tasty side.
Professionals recommend getting frozen veggies from time to time, as these products have the same nutrition value as their fresh counterparts and sometimes retain those nutrients even better. You can heat them on the stove or in the microwave without grabbing a knife to shell or shackle them. You won’t even need to soak them before heating.
These products shouldn’t concern those who monitor their blood sodium, as they don’t contain the extra sodium, unlike most canned goods. Pre-cooked chicken strips are an excellent alternative option to have from time to time, as they can deliver the body’s needed protein intake efficiently by just getting heated up in a microwave, but they do contain high sodium levels. Still, you can manage your overall sodium intake by balancing the sodium levels of the frozen chicken strips by enjoying a healthy green-plate salad on the side with some whole-grain mixed with veggies.
Professionals also recommend sticking with lean grilled food items like breaded strips to compensate for the lack of fat, sodium, and other nutrients.
Also, if you’re looking to wrap a yummy snack, you can trust easy-to-slice produce like tomatoes and cucumbers to serve with your main dish. If you think the overall mixture will appeal to you, you can add some low-sodium canned chickpeas and veggies and sprouts as well. Hummus is one of the most nutritious sides that many cultures use as the main ingredient in their heavy meals, such as lunch. Depending on your preference, it can go well on flatbreads such as lavash or tortillas.
It would be best to make some low-sodium soups as even some healthy soups contain high sodium levels. You can also boost your nutrients and overall health by adding a handful of veggies and chopped rotisserie chicken strips to canned soups. This will make them heartier and more delicious than they are already. You can use some shaved Parmesan cheese to garnish your hearty soups for an extra flavour punch.
Tuna and salmon fish are two of the most reliable sources of getting nutrients for one’s body. Most canned salmon fish are wild-caught, making them lower in calories and saturated fat than their farmed counterparts. Dress some salmon with frozen veggies and pesto for a stomach-filling meal.