[For Seniors] Making Snacks in Nursing Homes: A Collection of Easy Recommended Recipes
Eating snacks makes you feel happy, doesn’t it?
So why not incorporate snack-making into recreation activities at day services and senior care facilities?
Because older adults have a wide range of physical and mental conditions, there may be times when using fire or knives isn’t possible.
In such cases, recipes that use a microwave or oven, or ones that just require mixing and setting, are recommended.
They’re easy and safe to try, so many people can enjoy them.
Have the seniors share the tasks little by little, with care staff watching over and supporting as needed.
And at the end, how about everyone chatting together and enjoying a lovely tea party?
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[For Seniors] Making Snacks at Nursing Homes: A Collection of Simple Recommended Recipes (1–10)
[Microwave] Gateau Sweet Potato
![[Microwave] Gateau Sweet Potato](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/p9R7xn5p1x8/sddefault.jpg)
A sweet potato treat loved by everyone from little kids to seniors.
Here’s a recipe for Gateau Sweet Potato, made with sweet potatoes that work well in both Japanese- and Western-style desserts.
It’s super easy: peel and slice the sweet potatoes into rounds, microwave until soft, mash them, then mix thoroughly with sugar, eggs, and flour.
Give it another quick turn in the microwave, and it’s done! You can cut it into small pieces and drizzle with caramel or kuromitsu (black sugar syrup), too.
Best of all, it’s made entirely in the microwave—simple and convenient.
Since cutting sweet potatoes can be tough, please have staff handle the cutting as a safety consideration.
Tarte Tatin
Speaking of tarte Tatin, it’s a dish that whets your appetite with the toasty aroma of apples.
Some people might think it seems difficult to make.
The version introduced here is very easy to prepare on a hot plate.
Apple peels and cores are packed with nutrients, so just trim off the hard parts and use the rest.
Dice the apples into bite-size cubes, put them in a heatproof container, and microwave them.
Make caramel by heating sugar and water in aluminum cups, then add the apples.
Pour in the batter made with flour and butter, and steam-fry for about 2 minutes on each side.
It’s a recipe whose aroma alone could make you happy!
Apple cake
Making an apple cake as a recreational activity for seniors is simple, easy to prepare, and gives a great sense of accomplishment when it’s finished.
Prepare pancake mix, eggs, milk, apples, and a large plastic storage container.
Gently mix the eggs into the pancake mix, taking care to avoid lumps.
Place thinly sliced apples into the plastic container, then pour in the batter you made, spreading it evenly.
Microwave at 600W for 5 minutes, then chill in the refrigerator to finish.
Depending on how they’re feeling that day, have participants help with making the batter or slicing the apples.
[For Seniors] Making Snacks at Nursing Homes: A Collection of Simple Recommended Recipes (11–20)
[Microwave] Snowball Cookies
![[Microwave] Snowball Cookies](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WI4KQUxY42Q/sddefault.jpg)
Just 90 seconds in the microwave! These snowball cookies have a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture and can be made in no time.
Put cake flour and sugar into a plastic bag and mix, then add vegetable oil and knead until the dough comes together.
Once it’s cohesive, roll into balls, arrange them on a plate, and heat in the microwave.
Coat the outside with powdered sugar, and they’re ready in a flash.
Cookies often seem tricky because of the dough and baking, but with this method, anyone can make them easily without special techniques!
Shirayuki Sweet Potato
The method is simple, and I’ll introduce how to make easy-to-eat, delicious “Shirayuki Sweet Potatoes.” Prepare sweet potatoes, butter, sugar, water, and salt.
Cut the sweet potatoes into cubes and soak them in water for 5 minutes.
Drain, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 3 minutes.
Stir, microwave for another 1 minute, then drain again.
Heat butter in a frying pan, sauté the sweet potatoes until lightly browned, and set them aside on a plate.
In the same pan, mix sugar and water; stir until it turns pale.
Add the sweet potatoes and salt, and keep stirring until the sugar coats the sweet potatoes and turns pale—then it’s done.
Be careful when using heat to avoid burns, and make sure staff can provide support as needed.
Kinako sticks-style with 3 ingredients
Here’s a simple, three-ingredient kinako-stick style recipe.
Prepare a bowl, water, sugar, kinako (roasted soybean flour), plastic wrap, and chopsticks.
Put the water and sugar in the bowl, stir, and microwave at 600W for 2 minutes to thicken slightly.
Mix in the kinako thoroughly.
Once the dough comes together, transfer it onto plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator until firm.
Take out the chilled dough, shape it into easy-to-eat sticks, and it’s done.
Topping with extra kinako or inserting toothpicks for easier eating is also recommended.
The aroma of kinako and the nostalgic flavor might make your activity time even more fun!
Grilled sweet red bean mochi
Let me introduce grilled sweet red bean mochi you can make with just three ingredients.
First, add water to shiratamako (glutinous rice flour) and mix well until it comes together into a single mass.
Divide the dough into five portions, roll each into a ball, then flatten it with your palm.
Place sweet red bean paste (anko) in the center and wrap it with the dough.
Heat a lightly oiled frying pan, then press the mochi down slightly as you cook to brown the surface.
The key is to cook over low to medium heat to prevent burning.
In Japan, there is a tradition of making mochi for New Year’s and many other events.
In senior care facilities, making it together while sharing stories of the past can be one of the enjoyable activities.
