At Home Care Assistance we understand the importance of having a comfort food for all our clients as it is one of the proven backbones of both physical health and longevity. Ensuring we get enough protein is of extra importance in older people as it helps maintain overall health as well as muscle mass strength, agility, and balance. It is also important for building and repairing cells and body tissue.
Comfort food often gets the reputation of being high in calories and low in nutrients. But not always! At Home Care Assistance, to help satisfy your Winter cravings we have listed our favourite healthy and scrumptious comfort food. You can cook these foods with your Care Worker as a fun activity or try it yourself. And don’t forget that sharing a meal with someone is a great opportunity to connect.
Soups
Not only will soup warm you up, but it is also a great option for lunch or dinner. With so many recipes you will no doubt find one that you will like. They are a fantastic way to get more vegetables into your diet with no compromise to the taste. You can have protein rich soups using meat protein but also plants can be an excellent source of protein by adding lentils, chickpeas, or black beans. This will add texture and fibre too to your soup. Soups are also a great option to pre-make and then freeze.
Sunday Roast
You can’t go past a classic and what better nostalgia does a Sunday roast evoke? Whilst it is fun to try a new recipe, you can’t beat a time-tested, foolproof classic especially in Australia! A Sunday roast is both nutritious and comforting. The options of protein for a roast are endless and fortunately in today’s world supermarkets often have roasted chicken or pork ready to serve, now that is convenient if you don’t have the time to cook a whole chicken. If you have any leftovers the next day, you can fry them up, especially if there are potatoes you can have bubble and squeak!
Pasta
When it comes to comfort food, often you can’t go past a hearty pasta dish. The carbohydrates from pasta increase serotonin levels in the brain and as a result a feeling of calm. A firm, family favourite in Australia is spaghetti bolognaise, filled with great serves of protein and fibre. Along with soups, pasta is considered a soft food, which is particularly important as you age with increased teeth problems or related issues.
Eggs
For a high protein meal that is easy to prepare, soft in texture and inexpensive, look no further than an egg! They are extremely versatile when it comes to cooking and they hold six grams of protein per egg. From breakfast to a snack, to dinner, eggs are a fantastic option. You can pre-boil and store cooked eggs in your fridge for an easy ready-to-go snack. To having a larger meal with eggs on toast, an omelette, adding an egg to a salad or even some fried rice. Just remember that like everything in life, moderation is key. Please let the team at Home Care Assistance know and your Case Manager will update your Care Plan if you do have high cholesterol.
Thanks to the internet, your options for recipes are endless. What are you waiting for? Get cooking today with your Home Care Assistance Care Worker and fill up your body with nutritious comforting meals. Your body will thank you!
The top 100 old fashioned Aussie dinner recipes can be found here:
