[Care Facility] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy and Delicious Recipes to Make with Older Adults
Among the activities at care facilities, snack-making sessions—where residents prepare and enjoy treats—are a popular time that naturally brings out smiles.
Many older adults likely look forward to these snack activities.
That said, staff members may struggle to choose menus that can be done safely and enjoyably.
In this article, we introduce ideas for making snacks that allow older adults to share tasks without strain and finish safely and deliciously.
From smooth, easy-to-swallow Japanese sweets to ideas for gathering around a griddle, it’s packed with lively, crowd-pleasing recipes.
Be sure to incorporate them into your snack activity plans.
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[Care Facility] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy and Delicious Recipes to Make with Older Adults (11–20)
Black Tea and Peach JellyNEW!
This is about making a jelly that combines fresh peaches and black tea, letting you enjoy overlapping aromas and flavors.
Brew the tea strong in sugared water so the fragrance really stands out.
Then dissolve gelatin in water, add it to the tea, pour it into cups filled with sliced peaches, chill, and let it set—simple steps.
If you add too much sugar to the tea, the peaches’ sweetness can become muted, so it’s best to adjust the sweetness to match the peaches.
Steamed breadNEW!
This is an easy recipe that’s done by pouring the batter into cups, placing them in a heatproof container, and steaming on a griddle.
Since it’s for Valentine’s Day, they’ve topped the batter with a chocolate bar.
You can tell how soft it is from the tasting scene—it looks delicious! There are microwave versions of steamed bread, but using a griddle lets you make a lot at once, so it’s great for trying different flavors.
It’s also nice that it’s ready in 10 minutes.
You can enjoy it piping hot right away, but be careful not to burn yourself!
Crispy Butter-Roasted Sweet PotatoNEW!
It looks like a manju bun, but it tastes just like roasted sweet potato! Peel the sweet potatoes, cut them up, soak them in water to remove bitterness, then microwave them.
Once they’re soft, mash them and mix in sugar, potato starch, and water.
Wrap the mixture in plastic wrap, shape it into a log, slice it into rounds, and pan-fry in butter until golden—done.
It’s the kind of recipe that’ll be impossible to stop eating if you serve it like pancakes with a scoop of ice cream.
If you’re bothered by the fibers, I recommend straining the mash.
HashimakiNEW!
This is a dish mainly eaten in Kyushu and the Chugoku region: okonomiyaki rolled up with chopsticks.
First, mix eggs, water, and okonomiyaki flour.
Then add cabbage, green onions, and pickled ginger and mix.
On a greased griddle, spread about one ladleful of batter thinly in a roughly rectangular shape and cook.
Once the other side is cooked, slightly open an un-split pair of disposable chopsticks, clamp the batter, and roll it up tightly from the edge.
Finish by adding sauce, bonito flakes, or other toppings to taste.
Adding a fried egg on top, or mixing in sakura shrimp or tuna, will make it heartier!
Chewy mini bread rollsNEW!
Quick and easy to make! First, mix shiratama rice flour and silken tofu until there are no lumps.
Then add pancake mix and knead well by hand.
Once kneaded, shape into balls and place them on a griddle, arranging them so they touch each other.
Close the lid and cook on low heat for about 10 minutes, then flip and cook again until done.
Mixing and kneading take a bit of strength, but these steps are easy for older adults to join in, so encourage them to participate! You can finish the buns with chocolate or whipped cream, or have fun drawing your favorite designs on them!
chijimi (Korean-style savory pancake)NEW!
Pajeon that you can enjoy easily is perfect for snack time too! Just add eggs, water, pajeon mix, and garlic chives, mix, and cook—it’s ready in no time.
Using a griddle makes it fun to cook yourself, and seniors will be excited by the toasty aroma and fresh-off-the-pan deliciousness.
From what I found, making it with flour and milk, or adding tofu, are also nutrient-rich and recommended.
Let’s all come up with variations that deliver both health and great taste, and make snack time fun.
[Care Facility] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy and Delicious Recipes to Make with Older Adults (21–30)
bread puddingNEW!
Here’s a way to turn everyday sliced bread into a superb dessert! First, cut about three slices of bread into a grid to make roughly 16 small pieces.
Beat eggs, then add milk and sugar to make the custard mixture.
Lightly oil a griddle and arrange the bread pieces randomly.
Pour the egg mixture over the bread until just covered, and cook over a relatively low heat.
Top with thinly sliced bananas, berries, or chocolate, cover with a lid, and cook for about 10 minutes.
When done, dust with powdered sugar to finish! It might be nice to have older adults help by placing the bread and bananas, or pouring the egg mixture, with all ingredients pre-cut in advance.