Food menu programs feature all kinds of healthy recipes for seniors – including creative snack ideas. Serving between-meal bites that are high in vitamins, minerals and fiber helps ensure that older adults get the calories and nutrients they need each day.

 

Nutritional needs change as we age, and many seniors are better able to meet their dietary requirements by eating smaller amounts of food more often. Simple, healthy snacks are a great way to round out your assisted living facility food menu program.

Fruit Salad

Seasonal fruits make for delicious, nutritious snacks. Try slicing up some strawberries, apples and bananas. Mix together with blueberries, raspberries and diced kiwi, then toss with a bit of honey and orange juice for a healthy treat.

Homemade Granola Bars

Granola bars aren’t always considered healthy snacks for assisted living facility residents, but homemade versions can be. To pack yours with nutrition, stir together rolled oats, crisp rice cereal, chopped nuts and seeds with nut butter and maple syrup, then bake.

Turkey Wrap

Turkey wraps are low in calories and high in protein, making them a perfect snack choice for seniors. Spread honey mustard on a whole grain tortilla wrap, add sliced turkey, tomato, lettuce and shredded cheese, then roll up tightly and refrigerate before cutting.

Berry-Topped Waffles

Waffles aren’t just for breakfast — they can be healthy snacks. Top mini whole grain waffles with low-fat cream cheese and blueberries or raspberries for a snack time treat your senior residents will love.

Veggies with Hummus

Sugar snap peas, baby carrots, strips of red pepper and cucumber slices offer seniors much-needed nutrients – and serving them with hummus dip makes for an even healthier snack.

Apples with Nut Butter

Juicy, crisp apples are a senior favorite at snack time – and paired with nut butter, they’re particularly tasty and nutritious. Peel the apples for easier eating, and slice for dipping.

Finger Sandwiches

Tiny finger sandwiches are appealing to seniors and, with the right ingredients, they can be a healthy addition to your assisted living facility food menu program. Try serving tuna or chicken salad on rye, or nut butter with banana slices on whole grain bread.

Avocado on Crackers

Avocados are naturally nutrient-dense, so snacks featuring this superfood can be healthy for older adults. Spread slices of avocado on crackers or lightly toasted bread for a delicious assisted living facility snack.

Strawberries with Pudding

Strawberries are appetizing on their own, but who doesn’t love them with a little chocolate? Serve strawberries with low-fat or fat-free pudding for a sweet and healthy snack time treat.

Natural Popsicles

Homemade popsicles are refreshing, healthy snacks for seniors. Blend non-fat plain Greek yogurt with fruit puree – try strawberries with bananas or blueberries with raspberries — and pour into popsicle molds, then freeze overnight.

If you would like even more fresh ideas for healthy snacks, the Grove Menus software system – with a suite of user-friendly food menu program tools – features hundreds of delicious, dietitian-approved recipes designed to meet the nutritional challenges of older adults.

Meal and snack planning for seniors is much easier and more cost-effective with Grove Menus. For a complimentary, no-pressure demonstration of how our food menu program can benefit your assisted living facility, contact us today.