Making Healthy Autumn Snacks for Seniors

Undoubtedly, one of the best things about fall is the food. Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, apple cobbler, and other fall-themed desserts are laden with excessive amounts of sugar and fat. These are not healthy snack ideas for the elderly. You might wish to save the fall snack recipes below, which are healthy snack ideas for seniors. Even their live-in caregivers can cook some of these and enjoy them with them while providing home care for seniors in ontario.

Olive oil popcorn with garlic and rosemary

When the chilly weather drives you indoors for your next movie night, make a batch of this delicious, heart-healthy popcorn. With flavours like olive oil, fresh rosemary, Parmesan cheese, and minced garlic, it takes popcorn to another level. You can change the ingredients or the recipe to suit your tastes. Replace the rosemary with fresh thyme, oregano, or Asiago, and swap the Parmesan for Romano or Asiago.

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil, 1/4 cup
• 1 tablespoon of garlic, minced (about 3 garlic cloves)
• 5 teaspoons of fresh rosemary, cut finely.
• Two teaspoons of canola oil
• Popcorn kernels, 1/3 cup (2 oz.)
• Grated parmesan cheese, about 1/2 cup, 3/4 ounce
• 1/8 teaspoon of sea salt, finely ground

Instructions

In a small skillet, heat olive oil and garlic for 2 minutes over medium heat, stirring regularly, until sizzling. After adding the rosemary and giving it a quick toss, it takes about 2 minutes for the garlic to soften and the rosemary to begin to smell. Turn off the heat and set aside.

In a big pot with a lid, the canola oil needs to be heated on high. When the kernels start to pop, add 2 popcorn kernels, cover the pan, and shake it for 2 to 3 minutes. When the kernels stop popping, add the remaining kernels, cover, and shake vigorously for about 2 minutes.

Immediately pour the popcorn into a large basin. Stir in the garlic-rosemary oil after adding it. Cheese and salt should be combined after adding. Serve immediately.

Avocado ice-cream

Avocados, which are high in beneficial fats, fibre, folate, copper, and other nutrients important for senior health, are in season during the fall. In addition, the uncommon fruit serves as the base for a creamy, nutrient-rich avocado “ice cream” with a fall flavour! Avocados are a major component of many fall snacks.

Ingredients:

• Three ripe avocados
• Peeled, cut, and frozen three medium-sized bananas
• Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon
• 1/4 cup of your preferred unsweetened milk (cow’s, almond, or cashew milk), plus as much as you need (1 Tbsp at a time)
• 2 Tbsp of pumpkin in a can
• Pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon (or use a homemade mix of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger)

Instructions

Cut avocados in halves, remove the pits, and scrape the edible flesh into a food processor. Frozen banana, canned pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, and milk should all be added.

Blend the ingredients in a blender until they are completely smooth. If milk is needed to soften the mixture, add it as needed, pausing occasionally to scrape the sides.

Immediately serve or freeze until required. The ice cream may need to be thawed after freezing before being served.

For a hint of natural sweetness, sprinkle with toasted nuts and a drizzle of maple syrup. (Optional, but recommended)!

Flavoured apple chips

In Ontario, the beginning of apple-picking season signifies the start of fall. Thus, apples are a central ingredient in many fall treats. Delicious and nutritious fall snacks include apple pie, apple cider, and homemade apple crisps. This autumn snack recipe just calls for apples and cinnamon . They take a while to bake at a low temperature, but the aroma of freshly baked fall treats will fill your house.

Ingredients

• 3 large apples, either Honeycrisp, Fuji, Jazz, or Pink Lady, that are sweet and crisp.
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon powder

Instructions

Preheat oven at 200 degrees F with racks in upper and lower halves. Two baking trays should be lined with parchment paper.

Apple cleaning: Core the apples to remove the seeds. Apples should be cut into 1/8-inch-thick rounds and separated horizontally.

Apples should be arranged in a single layer on the heated baking sheets. Sprinkle on some cinnamon. Bake for an hour in the upper and lower thirds of the oven. Remove the baking sheets from the upper and lower racks to rearrange the baking sheets. Bake for an additional one to two hours, or until an apple chip removed from the oven becomes crisp after being exposed to room temperature air for two to three minutes. The apples can continue to crisp for up to an hour after you take them from the oven (unless you overcook them, in which case remove the pan immediately and let it sit at room temperature).

Pumpkin seeds roasted in honey

Pepitas, another name for pumpkin seeds, are loaded with nutrients. They are actually among the richest sources of zinc.  Pumpkin seeds are conveniently available at your neighbourhood grocery or natural foods store. If you’re carving a jack-o-lantern, you can retain the seeds and roast them with some garlic salt and olive oil. Pumpkin seeds toasted in honey make a healthy autumn snack that is both sweet and salty.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cleaned raw, fresh pumpkin seeds
• ¼ cup butter
• 1 tablespoon of coconut oil or olive oil
• 3 tablespoons of honey
• 1 cinnamon stick

Instructions

Turn the oven on to 275 degrees. After washing, gently dry any moist pumpkin seeds with a paper towel or a fresh dish towel. Place the pumpkin seeds in a medium bowl.

Put the butter, oil, coconut oil, and honey in a tiny bowl that can go in the microwave. Microwave until the honey is liquid and the butter has melted. Then, blend the honey mixture with the pumpkin seeds. After adding the cinnamon, stir once more.

A baking sheet with a rim should have parchment paper extending over both edges. Spread the pumpkin seeds evenly across the paper’s centre and then put it in the oven. Bake the seeds and honey for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring every ten minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown.

After taking the toasted seeds out of the oven, give them another stir. Stir them a few times while they cool to keep them from clinging to one another. Eat the seeds as soon as they are cold enough to hold. Keep uncovered for up to a week.

Halloween-themed trail mix

Fruit and nuts are two deliciously healthy fall treat options. But much too often, they are coupled with gloppy, sugary, harmful calories. The nutritious ingredients in this autumn snack recipe can be eaten by the handful or used as a yoghurt topping.

Ingredients

• 1 cup whole, unsalted almonds
• Rolled oats, 1 cup (gluten-free, if needed)
• 1 cup of sliced unsalted pecans
• One cup of salted, roasted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
• 1 cup of half-walnuts
• One-fourth cup coconut sugar (or cane sugar)
• 2 tablespoons of cinnamon powder
• Paprika, two tablespoons
• Pumpkin pie spice, 1 teaspoon
• 1/4 cup pureed pumpkin
• Two tablespoons of pure apple juice
• 3 cups of cranberries, dried
• 3-4 cups of raisins

Instructions

Bake at 250 degrees. Put the oats, almonds, pecans, pepitas, walnuts, and pecans in a sizable bowl. Pour the pumpkin purée and apple juice combination over the nut mixture and toss to evenly coat the nuts. The mixture needs to be spiced with pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, coconut sugar, and paprika. Toss to evenly coat. Distribute the trail mix evenly between two baking pans. Stir once at the midway point of the 30-35 minute baking time. After  cooling add the cranberries and raisins. Store in an airtight container. the snack will have a shelf life of up to a week at room temperature, one month in the fridge, and three months in the freezer.

Smoothie with pumpkin pie

The flavour of this drink is similar to that of pumpkin pie. Additionally, there is no need to turn on the oven. It is an easy recipe for low-fat autumn snacks that just takes five minutes to prepare.

Ingredients

• 5 oz. of frozen fruit
• Pumpkin pie spice, 1 1/2 tablespoons
• 5 cups of light or low-fat coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons of maple syrup,
• 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree

Instructions

All the ingredients should be combined beginning with the coconut milk. Blend until very smooth and creamy. Pour into glasses and add pumpkin pie spice as a garnish.

Apple caramel nachos

Caramel apples are a favourite fall snack, despite the fact that they can be difficult to eat and contain a lot of sugar.

Caramel apple “nachos” are a fantastic fall snack recipe that will satisfy your craving for caramel apples.  And the apple “chips” are far less tough to crunch on.

Ingredients

• Cut-up peanuts
• Crushed pretzels or Graham Crackers
• A few chocolate chips
• Broken coconut
• Feel free to substitute your choice apple, a peanut butter drizzle, and other preferred toppings since this healthy autumn snacks recipe is customizable.

Ingredients

Put a green apple on a dish, core it, and slice it. Add a drizzle of caramel sauce and top with the toppings of your choice.

Want to learn more?

Please reach out to us at wecare@considracare.com, or call us at 1-855-410-7971, and we will be happy to help you arrange care for a loved one.