[For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes
At day service centers and other senior facilities, a variety of recreational activities are held every day.
Among them, snack-making activities are especially popular.
For older adults, planning the steps of cooking and doing fine handwork help stimulate the brain.
Another benefit is that making snacks together deepens interaction among seniors.
In this article, we introduce easy snack recipes that are simple for everyone to make together.
Give them a try in your snack recreation sessions!
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[For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes (51–60)
Baum rusk
Baumkuchen, known for its tree ring-like pattern, is often eaten as is, but with a little twist it becomes even more delicious.
Slice the baumkuchen thinly, spread butter on the surface, and bake it in the oven.
The soft cake will firm up and turn into something like rusk.
Dip it in chocolate and add toppings like dried fruit or dragées to make an adorable treat.
The steps are simple, making it perfect for preparing a snack together with older adults.
It’s also nice to enjoy tea and conversation with others while savoring the sweets you’ve made yourselves.
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.
bread pudding
Here’s a simple microwave bread pudding.
First, make the custard mixture.
Combine eggs, sugar, and milk, and mix well to break up the egg strands.
Prepare your favorite bread and cut it into bite-sized pieces.
Line a tray with the bread, then pour the custard over it.
Cover with plastic wrap and heat it in the microwave—ready in no time.
It’s a snack that checks all the boxes: no stovetop needed, easy steps, and easy to eat, making it perfect for recreational activities at senior care facilities as well.
strawberry candy
Why not try making strawberry candy apples so that seniors can enjoy a festival stall vibe? All you need are strawberries, sugar, and water—so simple and convenient! Remove the stems from the strawberries and skewer them with bamboo sticks.
Using 1 to 3 strawberries per skewer is ideal.
Next, add sugar and water to a pot and heat it.
The trick is not to stir or touch it while heating over medium heat.
Finally, pour the thickened syrup over the strawberries, and you’re done.
The crisp texture of the candy coating is delightful, so give it a try!
[For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes (61–70)
Easy botamochi made with a rice cooker
In March, there is a traditional Japanese event called the Spring Higan.
This time, we’re introducing “botamochi” made with a rice cooker, inspired by the Spring Higan.
You can make three kinds at once: kinako (roasted soybean flour), sesame, and sweet red bean paste.
We cook glutinous rice in the rice cooker along with regular white rice.
Doing so is said to keep the botamochi from hardening over time.
There are plenty of clever tips to make it easily and deliciously, even when homemade.
Some older adults may have made botamochi to offer during Higan.
It’s a recommended activity for March that’s likely to spark nostalgic conversations while you cook.
baked apple
When you think of baked apples, you probably imagine using an oven and taking your time—no complicated steps, but it does take a while.
Here’s a very easy and delicious baked apple recipe you can make just by microwaving.
Cut the apple in half, scoop out the core in the center, add butter in the hollow, and sprinkle sugar on top.
Wrap the whole thing loosely with plastic wrap and microwave it—that’s it.
You can enjoy it warm, or let it cool so the butter and sugar soak into the apple before eating.
chocolate fondue
Chocolate fondue, a familiar sight at hotel buffets, is a dessert where you dip fruit and snacks into chocolate sauce—perfect for parties and events at senior care facilities! If you want to keep it simple, try using a griddle.
Just place chocolate in a deep container and melt it on the griddle.
You can even toast potato chips and marshmallows alongside it, making it a win-win.
Using a colorful assortment of fruits like strawberries, oranges, bananas, and kiwis will surely delight the seniors!