8 Quick & Easy Recipes for Caregivers + Healthcare Workers

Family caregiver’s daily routine is packed with activities that range from caring for the elderly to keeping the house clean. For a caretaker, keeping the environment safe is a huge task and when it comes to taking care of their diet, many caregivers end up neglecting themselves. What they need are quick meal prep ideas to make their life easier.

And if you are a caregiver who is caring for an elderly relative or an older individual, you may have been given the task to prepare meals for them as well. Whatever a caretaker’s scenario or situation is, making elaborate and time-consuming dishes becomes difficult and stressful. When time is of the essence, we all want to make something quick but nutritious. While it may not be easy all the time, organizing some meal prep material beforehand can save you the trouble of whipping up last minutes dishes.

Here are some ideas for quick and easy recipes that are great for seniors because of their nutritional value and they are equally beneficial for you, the caretaker.

Breakfast

Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day and rightfully so. Whether you are preparing breakfast for your senior or elderly loved one or if you are making something for yourself, this is when you can give yourself the energy to tackle the rest of the day.

Overnight Oats

There are so many ways of making oatmeal and it is one of the easiest yet one of the most nutritious breakfast options. Caregivers or healthcare workers can make overnight oatmeal in a slow cooker while they complete other tasks. They can also make oatmeal in the microwave which takes seconds. No matter which method you opt for, caregivers can make their breakfast healthy by adding berries, chia seeds or raisins. You can make some extra oatmeal and store it in the fridge so you can tend to other urgent tasks.

Poached Eggs

Another quick and easy breakfast option is poached eggs. Poached eggs are great because they are not prepared in oil. But if you, the caregiver, or your senior loved one don’t like poached eggs, you can always scramble them by adding a little butter and some milk. Sprinkle a little pepper while you are making them in the pan. Pair it with a slice of avocado for added benefits.

Yogurt Parfait

Making yogurt parfait does not need fancy ingredients. You can also make extra and store it in the fridge. Make your parfait extra nutritious with Greek yogurt because it is packed with protein. Add chia seeds, berries, and granola for some added crunch.

Lunch

Avocado Toast

Avocado toast became an internet sensation for the right reasons. It’s a quick and easy recipe that doesn’t require much time to make but it is loaded with nutrition! In a small bowl just combine avocado, lemon juice, salt, and pepper, mash it well. Top your toasted bread with this avocado mixture and drizzle some olive oil and toppings if you like. Avocado’s smooth and creamy texture makes it perfect for seniors as well and it is loaded with healthy fats, fiber, and various important nutrients.

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Quinoa Salad

The best thing about quinoa is its versatility. You can add quinoa to salads, or you can pair with some fish or steak. Quinoa is very nutritious because it is high in fiber and protein and it is gluten-free which is a huge bonus for some. A lot of people replace rice with quinoa for health benefits. You can make small meal boxes and pair the quinoa with your choice of side or main.

Egg Salad Sandwich

Tried and tested egg salad sandwiches are easy to make and nutritious to eat. Caregivers and seniors, both, can get their dose of protein with the eggs and they can load their egg salad on whole-wheat toast, bagel, or lettuce wraps.

Dinner

Pasta with shrimp

Looking for easy dinner recipes? If you have a pack of frozen shrimps (or fresh) in the fridge or freezer, put them to good use by making pasta! Stir fry the shrimps in little oil and other condiments based on your liking. If you have some pasta sauce in the fridge you can use that for your shrimp pasta dish. Looking for more ideas on what to do with shrimps? Here are 24 ways to add shrimp to your pasta.

Baked Salmon

Simply one of the easiest, healthy, and wholesome meal you can have is baked salmon. Preparing and cooking salmon does not require extensive preparation. Do you have salmon in the freezer? Thaw it, drizzle lemon zest on it, and use the spices you love most. Usually salt, pepper, minced garlic, and olive oil works best (or you can replace olive oil with butter). Marinate your salmon in the fridge for 30 minutes and bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or till its cooked through. How do you know when the salmon is done? You will know when the salmon is flaky and remains moist.

Do you have any easy quick meal ideas that you want to share with other caregivers? Please leave a comment and let us know!