[For Seniors] Easy to eat and delicious: Recommended store-bought snacks roundup
Snack time is something to look forward to at senior day service centers and other elder care facilities.
It can be hard to decide what kinds of snacks will make people happy.
When offering snacks to older adults, the key is to choose items that are easy to eat.
Some people use dentures or have reduced swallowing ability, so make adjustments to ensure they can eat safely.
There are many store-bought snack options, so it’s a good idea to consider nutrition, ease of eating, and the preferences of older adults.
Please use these tips as a reference when choosing snacks.
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[For Older Adults] Easy-to-eat and delicious: Recommended store-bought snacks (21–30)
Edo-style wagashi (traditional Japanese confections)
How about giving Edo-style wagashi as a gift—delights that are exceptional in both appearance and taste? For example, a classic Edo wagashi, Fukiyose, is like a jewel box filled with assorted dry confections with different looks, such as konpeitō and sugar-coated peanuts.
There are also traditional sweets like kuzumochi and yokan that have been enjoyed since the Edo period, which might suit the tastes of older recipients.
Plus, unlike fresh confections, they keep well, making them perfect for gifts! It’s also thoughtful to research any dislikes or health considerations in advance.
Morinaga Moonlight
Morinaga Moonlight is known for its crisp, delicately crumbly melt-in-the-mouth texture.
It’s a cookie that brings simple happiness to everyone, from children to adults, regardless of age or gender.
The basic recipe highlights the rich, natural flavor of eggs, making it a treat that seniors will also appreciate.
Each pack contains two cookies, so it’s sure to satisfy those moments when one just isn’t enough.
We also recommend enjoying them with milk or café au lait during teatime.
Why not serve them as a snack during day-service activities?
Chestnut Daifuku with Candied Astringent Skins
Many older people probably used to make candied chestnuts with inner skins (shibukawa-ni).
Peeling the tough outer shell is hard enough, and to turn them into shibukawa-ni you have to keep parboiling and rinsing to remove the bitterness, which is quite a chore.
It’s a lot of work to make, but plenty of people would love to try daifuku filled with delicious shibukawa chestnuts! It’s tough to prepare, but if someone gives it to you, it’s such a treat—and when it’s tucked inside a daifuku, the flavor is different in a delightful way, making it even more exciting.
How about gifting it for chestnut season?
Obuse Chestnut Confection — Signature Sweet: Chestnut Rakugan
When you think of Obuse in Nagano Prefecture, chestnut rakugan comes to mind! It may seem a bit understated, but this traditional confection is addictive for its subtle chestnut aroma, refined sweetness, and delicately melting texture.
What’s more, the ingredients are simply peas, granulated sugar, and chestnuts—nothing else! With such safe, gentle ingredients that don’t burden the body, it’s an ideal treat to serve with tea for seniors.
If you’re tired of your usual snacks, why not make chestnut rakugan your companion for teatime? It pairs wonderfully with green tea, of course, but it also goes well with coffee, so give it a try!
Iwatsuka Fluffy Soft Shrimp Flavor
These are snacks that fill your mouth with a savory shrimp flavor.
They’re light and airy, making them highly recommended for older adults who don’t like hard rice crackers.
They’re also made with rice flour from Niigata-grown rice, so they’re gluten-free and gentle on the body.
Even seniors with reduced chewing strength will find themselves reaching for more.
Why not add them to the snack lineup at senior care facilities or day service centers?
anmitsu
Anmitsu is a dessert that lets you enjoy a variety of ingredients all at once—square agar jelly, green peas, sweet red bean paste, fruit, black sugar syrup, and more.
Since anmitsu is even a seasonal word for summer, how about giving it as a small gift? It may be quite substantial, but its cool, refreshing appearance makes it irresistibly tempting.
If you’re giving it to an older person, it’s best to choose one that isn’t too heavy and to pay attention to whether it contains green peas.
Green peas can be a bit hard, so they’re not ideal for people with dentures or sensitive teeth.
On the other hand, the slippery texture of agar is very easy to eat, and red beans are highly nutritious, so it’s a treat that can be enjoyed deliciously even as we age!
Kashihara Salt Yokan (Salted Sweet Bean Jelly)
Kashihara’s salted yokan has just the right amount of saltiness and is delightfully addictive.
The ingredients are very simple—sugar, fresh bean paste, starch syrup, agar, and salt—so you can enjoy it with peace of mind.
The azuki beans used for the fresh bean paste are highly nutritious, making this a perfect snack for seniors to supplement their nutrition.
It’s palm-sized and easy to carry, and you can eat it without getting your hands dirty—another nice plus.
It’s also great chilled on hot days, so why not add it to your day-service teatime lineup?