[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.
- [For Seniors] Making Snacks in Nursing Homes: A Collection of Easy Recommended Recipes
- [For Seniors] Snack Recipes We Want to Make in the October Recreation Activity
- For Seniors: Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activity
- [Elderly] Feel the Arrival of Spring with Snack Activities! Recommended Menus for March
- [For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! Snack Activity Roundup
- For seniors: Easy homemade snack activity using a hot plate
- [For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes
- [For Seniors] Recommended February Snack Activities: Easy, Enjoyable Sweet Treat Ideas
- For Seniors: Delicious and Fun! Christmas Snack Activity Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy Snack Activity Perfect for September
- Snacks and activity ideas for seniors to enjoy in January
- [For Seniors] Snack Recipe Collection Rich in Calcium
- Menu ideas to enjoy for a June snack activity (for seniors)
Chilled Summer Desserts (1–10)
Mikan Calpis Jelly
With mandarin Calpis jelly, you can enjoy a refreshing taste.
The process has three main steps.
First, make the Calpis jelly using Calpis and gelatin.
Next, make the mandarin jelly using canned mandarins and gelatin.
Then layer both in the same glass, and it’s done.
This time I introduced a recipe using mandarins, but it should turn out delicious with other fruits as well.
If you take the flavor of Calpis as a guide, you can choose fruits that pair well with it.
milk ice
When it comes to summer, shaved ice is a classic—but here’s a step-up idea: milk ice.
The great thing about this milk ice is that you can make it without a shaved ice machine! Microwave milk with dissolved sugar, pour it into a storage bag, and freeze it… that’s all it takes.
You might think it would freeze rock hard, but the finished product becomes a sorbet-like texture that you can scoop with a spoon after a quick fluff.
Plate it up, top it with strawberry jam or your favorite flavors, and dig in! That piercing chill will make you forget 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.
Melon cream soda
Melon cream soda is loved by people of all ages.
Many of you probably enjoyed it at restaurants when you were kids.
How about making it as a snack-time activity? It might even bring back some nostalgic feelings.
The process has just the right level of complexity, so even those who enjoy making sweets should feel satisfied.
Try decorating it with a cherry if you like, and have fun with it.
Using a retro-style glass would also help set the mood.
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!