As seasonal menus go, Thanksgiving presents some nutritional challenges for nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Although beloved and delicious, most of the traditional Thanksgiving dinner foods are high in fat, sodium, sugar and calories.
Fortunately, preparing a traditional holiday meal that tempts the taste buds without sabotaging senior health is easier than you may think. Here are seven seasonal menu tips to help you create a healthier Thanksgiving dinner.
No. 1: Stick to Turkey Breast
Turkey breast is an excellent source of lean protein. A three-ounce portion provides 24 grams or protein with just 160 calories and two grams of saturated fat. Serving turkey breast instead of dark meat is a healthier choice for your Thanksgiving food menu. And be sure to skip the skin, as it adds calories and saturated fat.
No. 2: Make Your Own Gravy
Canned or jarred gravy is convenient, but it often contains excessive sugar, fat and salt. Use unsalted turkey stock, skim milk and herbs to make an easy homemade gravy that’s tasty enough to please the pickiest senior care center residents.
No. 3: Be Smart About Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are must-have on any Thanksgiving food menu, but dessert-like candied yams and marshmallow-topped sweet potato casserole are not healthy options for your seasonal menu. Instead, try roasting them. Simply drizzle peeled and chopped sweet potatoes with a small amount of maple syrup and pop them in the oven.
No. 4: Slim Down the Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are an integral part of many seasonal menus – and Thanksgiving is no exception. To make them healthier, use low-sodium stock or low-fat milk in place of the cream. You can also sneak in some pureed parsnip or cauliflower for added nutrition.
No. 5: Switch Up the Stuffing
Traditional stuffing is packed with fat, sodium and calories. Make yours with less bread – using more veggies, fruit and nuts – and you’ll have a much healthier seasonal menu side dish. Swap out your usual bread choice for whole wheat or whole grain bread, and your stuffing will be even more nutritious.
No. 6: Skip the Canned Cranberries
Cranberries are rich in vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, all of which are beneficial to senior health. But canned cranberry sauce contains excess sugar and calories that seniors don’t need. Create a healthier version of this Thanksgiving staple by cooking down fresh cranberries and orange segments with a bit of brown sugar or maple syrup. Or make a fresh cranberry relish using the same ingredients, with some chopped walnuts or pecans added for texture.
No. 7: Pick Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin offers a host of health benefits, making pumpkin pie the perfect pick for your all of your fall seasonal menus. Make yours with fat-free evaporated milk and top with fat-free whipped topping for a lighter way to end your holiday meal.
Do you need cost-effective, healthy recipes for your nursing home or senior care center seasonal menus? The Grove Menus food menu program is a user-friendly source of simple, cost-effective dietitian-approved recipes for adult care facilities.
The Grove Menus meal planning software includes a suite of helpful tools designed to make it easier for senior care center to meet the nutritional needs of their residents while cutting food and labor costs – even on special occasion and seasonal menus. To schedule a complimentary, no-obligation demonstration of our food menu program, contact us today.