For Seniors: Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activity
November is known as the season of hearty appetites, a time when we encounter many delicious ingredients.
Why not try a snack activity that incorporates seasonal flavors at day-service centers or senior care facilities?
Here are some recommended snack activity ideas for November.
We’ve gathered easy and tasty snack recipes for seniors using ingredients like sweet potatoes, pumpkin, chestnuts, and grapes.
The steps are simple, so it’s easy to give them a try.
If you’re unsure about planning November snack activities, please use this as a reference.
- [For Seniors] Making Snacks in Nursing Homes: A Collection of Easy Recommended Recipes
- [Snack Activity] Easy and Delicious: Snack Ideas to Make Together with Seniors
- For Seniors: Simple and Fun! November Recreation Ideas
- [For Seniors] Snack Recipes We Want to Make in the October Recreation Activity
- [For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! Snack Activity Roundup
- [For Seniors] Recommended Snack Activities: Easy, Large-Batch Recipes
- Recommended November craft ideas for day service centers
- [For Seniors] Delicious Snack Recipes to Get More Protein!
- [For Seniors] Liven Up November Day Services! Fun Autumn Event Ideas
- [For Seniors] Easy Snack Activity Perfect for September
- [For Seniors] Simple crafts that feel like autumn: a fun creative activity
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- [For Seniors] Let’s Make It Together! Wonderful November Wall Decoration Ideas
[For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activities (1–10)
Pear custard tart
When it comes to autumn flavors, apples come to mind, but this recipe using pears—Pear Custard Tart—is also highly recommended.
Start by making the custard cream.
Add sugar to the eggs and mix, then sift in cake flour and mix again.
Add milk and stir, then heat in a 600W microwave for 2 minutes.
Take it out, stir lightly, and heat for another 1 minute.
Repeat this twice to thicken.
Cover the surface with plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator.
Next, thinly slice the pears and cut them into bite-sized pieces.
Add sugar and lemon juice, mix, and microwave at 600W for 3 minutes.
Let it cool slightly, then chill in the refrigerator as well.
Finally, fill the tart crust with the custard cream, arrange the well-drained pears on top, and it’s ready! Since all the heating is done in the microwave, it’s safe and convenient for older adults too.
Kintsuba (a traditional Japanese sweet made with sweet bean paste coated in a thin batter)
Kintsuba packed with sweet red bean paste is an irresistible wagashi for anko lovers! How about featuring this familiar treat as a snack activity for seniors? Azuki beans, the main ingredient in anko, are highly nutritious, making them perfect for seniors who may be prone to nutrient deficiencies.
You make the yokan and the batter separately, then coat the yokan with the batter and simply cook it in a frying pan at the end.
It’s ready when the batter dries; be careful not to overcook.
You can also enjoy variations by using fillings other than anko, such as sweet potato or matcha-flavored bean paste.
Steamed apple bread
Steamed pancakes made with apples, which are in season from fall to winter, are easy to eat and very delicious.
When making steamed pancakes, it’s clearer if staff explain using photos or illustrations, which also makes it easier for older adults to understand.
Encouraging comments from staff while mixing the flour, cracking the eggs, and enjoying the scent of the steaming pancakes can make the cooking activity even more enjoyable.
It’s also recommended to prepare pre-cut apples in advance to make the process smoother.
Be mindful of safety and have fun making them!
[For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activities (11–20)
Mont Blanc muffin
How about enjoying Mont Blanc muffins stuffed with whole candied chestnuts in November as a snack activity? Make a thick batter with unsalted butter, sugar, flour, and more, spoon it into muffin cups, then plop a candied chestnut on top and bake.
Once baked, pipe on whipped cream and chestnut cream to decorate, and finish with another candied chestnut on top.
Savor autumn with the big chestnut nestled in the fluffy cream and cake!
sweet potato pudding
This is a recipe for sweet potato pudding made with just four simple ingredients and only a microwave.
Soften the sweet potato in the microwave, then mash it thoroughly.
Mix milk, sugar, and eggs together, and gradually incorporate them into the mashed sweet potato.
Pour the mixture into a heatproof container, cover with dampened paper towel, microwave, then chill to finish.
Garnish with whipped cream or mint leaves if you like for an extra touch of elegance!
grape jelly
Jelly is an easy activity everyone can make together.
When making this grape jelly, you’ll use hot water to dissolve the gelatin, so please be very careful to avoid burns.
You can also cut the grapes in half to make them easier to eat—it still turns out delicious.
By making a jelly packed with grapes, the king of autumn flavors, together as a group, you can boost communication and increase interest in seasonal foods.
Have fun giving it a try.
It would likely be tasty with fruits other than grapes as well.
candied sweet potatoes (Daigaku-imo)
With classic candied sweet potatoes (daigaku-imo), deep-frying can sometimes be a bit demanding.
In this version, we use a rice cooker instead of frying in oil.
That way, even seniors can enjoy cooking safely without worrying about burns.
The method is simple and easy to remember, so you can make it with confidence.
Try creating an environment that encourages participation—like letting people toss the sweet potatoes in the sauce or plate them—and make delicious daigaku-imo together.
Sprinkling black sesame seeds adds a toasty aroma and makes it even tastier.