[Snack Activity] Easy and Delicious: Snack Ideas to Make Together with Seniors
The time it takes to chill and set yokan in the refrigerator, the moment you add toppings like fruit, the aroma of steam rising from the steamer.
Making snacks together with older adults lets you share a sense of excitement and create warm memories that go beyond the recipe itself.
Traditional Japanese sweets are familiar to many seniors and are sure to delight them.
There are plenty of ways to enjoy everything while staying seated! When the sweet scent of the finished wagashi fills the room, it will surely bring back fond memories as well.
As hands stay busy, conversation flows, and the joy of savoring the finished treat is truly special.
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Chilled Summer Desserts (1–10)
Cream soda to be eaten slowly

Melon cream soda with a scoop of vanilla ice cream floating on melon soda—it’s a beloved menu item for kids and adults alike.
Still, some people may feel they have to rush because the ice cream melts too quickly.
This version is perfect for those people: it uses ice cream that’s slow to melt.
Mix ice cream base with milk and freeze it.
Combine melon shaved-ice syrup with carbonated water and a thickening powder, then stir gently until it thickens; pour it into a glass to finish.
Even with the thickener, you can still enjoy the fizzy sensation, making it a safe option for older adults with reduced swallowing function.
Strawberry and banana gelato

For July’s snack activity, let’s make some refreshing gelato! The fruits we’ll use this time are strawberries and bananas.
Remove the stems from the strawberries and slice the bananas into rounds, then put them in a zipper bag and freeze.
Once slightly chopped, place them in a food processor with sweetened condensed milk and soy milk, and blend.
Adjust the taste by adding more soy milk and condensed milk while checking the consistency and sweetness.
When smooth, transfer to a container and chill in the freezer again until firm.
Serve the gelato with strawberries and bananas in a dish, and it’s ready.
If you warm your spoon or disher beforehand, it will scoop more easily.
Watermelon sherbet

Watermelon sherbet is perfect for hot summer days and is highly recommended as a snack activity in senior care facilities! The ingredients are watermelon, sugar, lemon juice, and chocolate chips.
Use a spoon to scoop the watermelon into bite-sized pieces and remove the seeds.
Put the watermelon, lemon juice, and sugar into a zip-top bag and knead it by hand.
When freezing, the key is to lay the bag flat on a tray! Spreading it thin helps it freeze faster and makes it easy to crumble by hand.
Once it’s fully chilled and set, break it up by hand and serve in bowls.
Finish by decorating with chocolate chips to look like seeds, and it’s ready! It’s very easy to make, and there’s no washing up to do, which is a nice bonus.
Give it a try!
Peach compote jelly

Let’s make a refreshing-looking Peach Compote Jelly using peaches that are in season in July! Keeping the skin on, use a knife to score the peach as if you were halving it.
There’s a large pit in the center, so when your knife hits the pit, rotate the peach all the way around while keeping the blade against it.
This will let you remove the pit cleanly and easily.
Simmer the peach, skin on, for about 6 minutes, then remove the skin when you take it out of the pot.
Add gelatin to the remaining poaching liquid, chill in the refrigerator until set, and it’s ready.
This cute pink peach compote jelly is a treat that will help you enjoy and beat the summer heat!
Pineapple kanten (agar jelly)

Why not try making agar jelly using canned pineapple? Put sugar and the syrup from the can into a bowl, and divide the pineapple pieces among serving dishes.
Add powdered agar to the bowl with the sugar and syrup, pour in boiling water, and stir thoroughly.
Pour the agar mixture into the dishes with the pineapple, and once it has cooled slightly, chill in the refrigerator until set.
Since you’re using canned fruit, it’s easy to make—one of the best parts.
Summer can dampen your appetite, but this chilled, sweet pineapple agar jelly is sure to whet it.
Chilled Milk Mochi

Here’s how to make chilled milk mochi.
Prepare potato starch (katakuriko), milk, sugar, a bowl, a pot, and a food storage container.
Put the potato starch and sugar into the pot and mix well.
Next, gradually add the milk, letting it blend in, and cook over low to medium heat, stirring constantly.
When the milk mixture thickens to a custardy consistency, reduce to low heat and continue heating for 2 minutes while stirring well.
Transfer the milk mochi to a food storage container whose inside has been moistened with water, then place the entire container in an ice-water bath for about 30 minutes to cool to room temperature.
Cover the milk mochi with plastic wrap and chill it in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours to set.
It’s also great served with fruit.
Assign roles and have staff provide support so everyone can participate and enjoy the activity together.
Blue Sky Jelly

Perfect for early summer! Let me introduce a beautiful blue-sky jelly with a refreshing look.
First, dissolve gelatin in the microwave, then add soda and blue shaved-ice syrup and mix well.
Be careful not to let too much carbonation escape.
Do the same with a mixture of a lactic-acid drink and milk: add gelatin and combine thoroughly.
Once set in the refrigerator, plate the jellies.
By layering the blue jelly and the white jelly alternately, you’ll create a beautiful dessert that looks like white clouds floating in a blue sky.
It’s also delicious topped with vanilla ice cream, if you like.



