[Elderly] Feel the Arrival of Spring with Snack Activities! Recommended Menus for March
March, when it gradually gets warmer, is such a pleasant season—you can feel spring approaching and it makes your heart skip with excitement.
Here are some snack activity recipes that are perfect for March.
A distinctive feature is that many of them are inspired by Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day), since it’s in March.
It’s great for staff to make them so everyone can enjoy a treat, and there are also relatively simple and safe options that older adults can make together and have fun with.
It’s still a bit too chilly to enjoy walks outside, but how about savoring spring-like treats indoors to get a taste of the season?
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[Seniors] Feel the arrival of spring with a snack activity! Recommended menus for March (21–30)
Amazake Soy Milk Pudding
People often drink amazake during the Doll Festival, right? Let’s try making a very healthy amazake soy milk pudding by mixing soy milk into that amazake! First, bloom the gelatin in water.
Meanwhile, heat amazake and soy milk in a pot; when it starts to gently bubble, turn off the heat and mix in the gelatin.
Then pour into cups, let it cool to room temperature, and chill in the refrigerator for about 1–2 hours.
It’s ready! If you use rice-koji amazake, it doesn’t contain alcohol, so even older adults can enjoy it with peace of mind.
Making chirashi-sushi cake
This is a “Chirashi Sushi Cake,” perfect for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) events.
Some older adults may have made chirashi sushi at home in the past, right? Making it at the facility might bring back memories of preparing it at home and sharing it with family.
It can also be a fun activity time, chatting with other seniors and reminiscing together.
For this chirashi sushi, we press vinegared rice into a round cake mold.
Some participants may find the steps a bit confusing at first, but by arranging the ingredients like cake toppings, you’ll create a beautifully decorated chirashi sushi.
It’s a chirashi sushi cake that’s just right for Hinamatsuri.
Simple recipe for making ohagi (sweet rice balls)
Doesn’t spring just make your heart flutter? How about “rice cooker ohagi,” perfect for this season? It’s a lovely way to spend time together, enjoying nostalgic flavors as you make them in a friendly, cheerful atmosphere.
With a rice cooker, they’re easy to prepare and turn out delicious with minimal effort.
You can customize them with chunky red bean paste or kinako soybean flour—whatever you like.
Share old stories as you enjoy a heartwarming snack time.
It’s sure to become a wonderful memory, enjoying both nostalgia and new discoveries together with older adults.
three-color steamed buns
Let’s make vibrant, tri-colored steamed cakes that look like the layered hishi-mochi displayed during Hina Matsuri! First, add milk, sugar, salad oil, and cake flour.
For the batters you want to color pink and green, mix in sakura powder and matcha powder, respectively.
Pour each batter into silicone cups in the same order as hishi-mochi’s layers.
Place the cups in a frying pan with boiling water and steam.
Insert a bamboo skewer, and if it comes out clean, they’re done.
They look so beautiful that eating them will be extra fun!
Kinako stick-style
This is a kinako stick-style treat that lets you enjoy an old-fashioned flavor.
It uses only three ingredients: water, sugar, and roasted soybean flour (kinako).
Just mix them together and chill, and it’s ready.
After that, feel free to add toothpicks or sprinkle on extra kinako to taste.
Its appearance is reminiscent of classic dagashi (old-time Japanese penny candy), so it’s sure to evoke a bit of nostalgia.
It’s nice to savor while reminiscing about the past.
The texture is pleasantly chewy, and the simple sweetness is quite addictive.
I think people looking for a snack that isn’t too sweet will enjoy it, too.
Making roasted marshmallows
The skillet, which became a huge hit because it can be used for cooking and brought straight to the table, is perfect for this: skillet-baked marshmallows with chocolate.
All you need are chocolate and marshmallows—just layer them in the skillet in order.
Bake in a toaster oven and it’s done.
It’s quick, requires no knives, and is an easy snack activity that many older adults can join.
It’s also great for White Day events at senior facilities.
For seniors who enjoy barbecues, toasted marshmallows may feel familiar.
For those who haven’t tried them, they can enjoy both the delicious taste of warm marshmallows and the fun surprise of toasting them.
Give it a try!
Easy Strawberry Pudding
Strawberries are in season in March and April.
These days, you often see strawberries in supermarkets starting in winter, but originally their peak season is spring, around March and April.
Let’s use those strawberries to make strawberry pudding.
If you use Fruiche—the dessert mix that thickens like yogurt when you add milk—it’s easy to make.
Dissolve gelatin in milk, add it to the Fruiche mix, and stir.
Pour it into molds and chill in the refrigerator for about an hour, and it will set like pudding.
Topping it with strawberries to your liking makes it look nice and delicious.
Some older adults may have made Fruiche at home before.