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.
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- 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 (11–20)
Sweet potato chakin-shibori
Satsumaimo chakin-shibori are cute to look at and a great way to enjoy seasonal flavors.
When mashing the boiled sweet potatoes, be careful not to burn yourself, as they’re hot.
When wrapping the sweet potato mixture in plastic wrap to shape it, using toppings like black sesame seeds or kinako (roasted soybean flour) might make it even tastier.
Shaping them into various forms like little chakin pouches so they’re fun to look at can further boost interest in the food.
It’s also a good idea to create a pleasant environment—play some music or add decorations—so you can work safely and enjoyably.
Tofu Mitarashi Dango
Here’s a healthy mitarashi dango recipe made with tofu that you’ll love! It’s a great idea that older adults who enjoy traditional Japanese sweets may also appreciate.
Mix shiratamako (glutinous rice flour) with silken tofu until the dough is about as firm as an earlobe, then shape it into small balls.
Boil them in water; once they float and are cooked, transfer them to cold water to cool.
For the mitarashi sauce, put all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat until it thickens—done.
If you’re making these for a group snack activity, it’s safer to shape the dumplings flat without skewers—highly recommended! You can also lightly grill them to add a toasty aroma and deepen the flavor.
Chocolate-coated honey apple
If you like chocolate, why not try making these Chocolate-Covered Candied Apples? They take a little time, but the steps are very simple! First, peel the apples and cut them into eight wedges.
Arrange the sliced apples in a frying pan, add granulated sugar and lemon juice, and simmer until the apples’ moisture cooks off.
Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Once the liquid has evaporated, lay the apples on a sheet and dry them in the oven at 100–120°C (212–248°F) for about an hour on each side.
Coat the apples in chopped, melted chocolate, chill until set, and they’re done.
Since the baking time is long, it’s the perfect chance to enjoy a good chat while you wait!
Marron cream
Why not try making chestnut cream using store-bought candied chestnuts? To make it, blend the chestnuts with sugar and milk until smooth, then transfer to a pot and cook until thick and velvety.
Chill to finish.
If you don’t have a blender, you can press the mixture through a sieve instead.
Sieving can be hard work, but taking turns with everyone can make it a fun way to chat together.
It’s great spread on bread or crackers, or paired with sponge cake to make a chestnut cake.
Apple tarte Tatin
Let’s make a delicious-looking apple tarte Tatin! First, mix eggs, milk, and pancake mix to make the batter.
Next, peel the apples, cut them into quarters, then slice each quarter into 5–6 pieces.
That’s the prep done.
Heat butter in a frying pan, and once it melts, add granulated sugar and stir until it turns a caramel color.
When it does, turn off the heat and arrange the apple slices in a radial pattern.
Cook over low heat for about 10 minutes, then pour the batter over the top and cook for another 10 minutes.
Check doneness with a bamboo skewer, and it’s ready.
Enjoy the sweetness of the caramel and the texture of the apples!
Chestnut ohagi (sweet rice cakes with chestnuts)
Here’s a recipe for super-cute “Chestnut Ohagi”! Put cooked rice, sugar, and salt in a bowl, mix well, and mash until it becomes slightly sticky.
Once ready, divide the mixture into five portions in the bowl.
Place some rice on plastic wrap, put a candied chestnut on top, and use the wrap to shape and wrap it.
Make five of these.
Roll each rice ball in kinako (roasted soybean flour) to coat it all over, then cover the top half with smooth red bean paste and shape it like a chestnut.
Using plastic wrap here also makes it easier.
The kinako is optional, so you can leave the rice plain if you prefer.
Finally, use sesame seeds to make the chestnut’s eyes, and you’re done! Since this recipe requires no heat or knives, it should be safe and comfortable for older adults to make as well.
[For Seniors] Easy and Delicious! November Snack Activities (21–30)
Japanese-style parfait with matcha mizuyokan and brown sugar syrup
Let’s try making a Japanese-style parfait topped with kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup) over soft matcha mizu-yokan.
You can use store-bought matcha mizu-yokan, and kits that include the ingredients make it easy to prepare.
These days, you can enjoy parfaits casually at family restaurants and cafes, and even supermarkets sell cup parfaits.
However, there was a time when parfaits weren’t so readily available and were considered an occasional luxury.
Some older adults might still feel that way about parfaits.
During a snack-making activity where you make parfaits, why not ask people what kind of image or impressions they have of parfaits? It could spark a lively conversation.
