Add this to your meal plan for next Monday because the beauty of brisket is that it is even better when made ahead of time. Slow-Cooker Freezer-Pack BBQ Chicken Sandwiches. The wonderful lists of chicken marinades are especially great. Others require you to thaw and just warm them up (because theyve already been cooked). This site also has a great collection of freezer ready meals. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight, then warm in a medium saucepan, adding more chicken broth or water if the stew seems dry or too thick. Time for a freezer fiesta! Stocking it with make-ahead meals helps save yourself time (and money!) 100 Ratings. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. They offer instructions on how to freeze, thaw, and reheat, so no guesswork required! Hers are stuffed with cheese but you can add meat like shredded chicken or cooked ground beef to the mix if you prefer. Get the Raisin-Walnut Coffee Cake recipe. Make these customizable bowls at home using cauliflower rice, pork or chicken, beans, corn, and more. Walking into the kitchen at the end of the day knowing that dinner is prepped, cooked, and just waiting to be reheated feels like a total treat. For an even faster fix, freeze it in single portions up to three months. 1 / 45. When cooking in quantity, the first thing to consider is your loved ones personal preferences. Bake this sweet cake topped with a crunchy walnut, brown sugar, and cinnamon streusel on Sunday, and enjoy it for breakfast and snacks all week long. Save yourself both time and money by buying ground turkey in bulk to form these flavor-packed patties, then freeze them between layers of wax paper up to 1 month. Fruits and vegetables, healthy lean meats, and whole wheat bread are usually found along the edges, while junk food like chips, cookies, and soda is found within the inner aisles. Make a couple of batches to keep in the freezer for busy weeks when you know you'll have limited time for meal prep. While your hands are already messy, mix up a big batch of these make-ahead meatballs, then cook them and freeze up to two months. For main dish and side dish recipes, single-serving-storage can be a little more complicated. If you are looking for ideas from our second cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, simply refer to the icon index in the back of the book (page 247) and youll find a list of Fully Cook and Freeze recipes that will work for 1-2 people as well! Do your best, and you can always pour any leftovers into a smaller pan/skillet to cook alongside the rest of the dish. Filled with chicken, rice, black beans, corn, and salsa, these burrito bowls come together quickly with an Instant Pot. A good way to figure out whether a food is a whole food is where you found it in the grocery store. These are so good that we wouldn't blame you for making a batch for yourself, though. This recipe makes planning a weeknight dinner easier than ever. Submit your question or comment below. But as we age, it can be difficult to find the time, energy and motivation to cook healthy meals at home. If none of those things delight your taste buds, then make sure to put on some sunscreen and get some sunshine. Voila! This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. You can also freeze zucchini for all of your favorite zucchini recipes. Once you finish cooking, there are a few options. Once the foods sets up (and expands to its full extent), tighten the lids and bring the mason jars over to your loved ones kitchen. Id suggest storing them separately in small Pyrex containers with lids. Before packaging, the first thing you want to do, no matter the approach, is let the food cool to room temperature. A common question we get about freezer cooking is, What are some easy freezer meals for just one or two people? Weve compiled a fabulous collection of make-ahead recipe ideas that work to individually prep ahead, package, and freeze for one or two people. Freeze up to three months, then thaw in the refrigerate overnight before heating up on the stovetop. When thinking about make-ahead meals for seniors, be thinking about specific dietary needs and how best to accommodate taste and preferences. 3. If the food is something that tends to get soggy in the microwave (like frittata or bready casseroles), you have several options. My husband has a hearty appetite, our two kids never tire of pizza and I grow lots of zucchini, so this tasty tomato casserole is absolutely tops with us throughout the entire year. So we've put together some easy tips and recipes for seniors who live alone. As we move into fall, this is a make-ahead favorite you will definitely want to cozy up with. RELATED: 60 Incredible Brunch Recipes to Try This Weekend. We recommend our users to update the browser. 98 Ratings. The advantages of using mason jars are their convenience, durability, and reusability. If you freeze the sauces in ice cube trays, they can be used as a sauce for anything, not just chicken! We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. That way, the pies will be able to cook through without burning the crust. Cheesecake is one of our favorite make-ahead desserts: Unlike pies or cakes, this fridge-friendly recipe wont get stale or soggy as it sits. These individual-size casseroles taste just like everyones favorite appetizer: spinach and artichoke dip. As co-founder of Thriving Home, Pollys passionate about helping busy parents get dinner on the table. Sometimes doubling the pan size does the trick, but sometimes it requires a little more trial and error. plan ahead and map out your meals for the week; prep as much as possible ahead of time, such as chopping vegetables or . So plan ahead and go big. Learn more about our review process. Get the Katie Lee's Summer Pesto Pasta recipe. Then, you can write the instructions on the bag/Tupperware so that your loved one doesnt have to guess! We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer) as we strive to provide site experiences for browsers that support new web standards and security practices. Plus, since some of the cooking was done in advance, cleanup is easier, too! Get the Recipe: Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Do they need low fat or extra calories? Let our certified Caregivers help prepare and serve healthy meals and talk to your RN Care Coordinator about how best to implement doctor-recommended diets. From slow cooker chicken burrito bowls to red lentil soup to juicy boneless chicken thighs, these are our 18 most popular make-ahead meals. Jan Bartley, Evergreen, North Carolina. Get the Recipe: To reheat, remove the plastic (not the foil) and heat in a 350F oven for 45 minutes, then uncover and cook an additional 15 minutes until crust is crisp. Make sure to warn your loved one to take care when removing the Mason jar from the microwave,as glass gets hot when heated. Can I personalize my suite? Slow cookers are great for making big-batch meals ahead of time. Taco Chicken Bowls. Lets face it, the back of your freezer likely isnt sparking much joy. Check out the links below to learn more about senior nutrition and healthy practices! Heating times may require a bit of experimentation, so if you have the chance, figure out the optimal time before bringing over the jars, or have a thawed jar ready on delivery so that you can determine the proper heating time in your loved ones microwave. Get the Recipe: While make-ahead freezer meals require some cooling and defrosting, its important that foods always stay within a safe range of temperatures. Due to busy schedules, it is already difficult for one to look after the senior. But the best part of having all or most of your meal prep out of the way? This recipe tops the list. https://www.benefitscheckup.org/getsnap/?_ga=2.83877974.1764950063.1593192471- 1292703622.1583422207, https://www.ncoa.org/economic-security/benefits/food-and-nutrition/senior-nutrition, https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet -and-lifestyle-recommendations, Corporate Office1532 Liberty Road. The sauce is a guaranteed kid-pleaser: Rich, sweet and low on spice and tang. Get the Recipe: As we age, our metabolism slows and fewer calories are needed to stay healthy. Make an extra batch of meatballs and freeze for future enjoyment! Stock your freezer with meatballs for an easy pasta or sandwich any night. Ultimately, it boils down to your preference, the supplies you have on hand, and your judgment as to which reheating method will be simplest for your loved one. Get My Meal Plans NOW! Take comfort in knowing tomorrow night's dinner is waiting in the freezer! Now that youve finished eating, you have to decide on the best way to package and store the food for maximum convenience. Do you allow pets? Salmon Quiche. (If it isnt, I know its frustrating, but dont beat yourself up! Chicken Pot Pie. Get the Recipe: Drain off fat, reserving about 2 tablespoons. This post originally appeared on Ayudas blog. Frankly, there is a reason for that. Freezer Bag Chicken Fajita Stir-Fry. As deputy editor for Taste of Home magazine, Rachel has her hand in everything you see from cover to cover, from writing and editing articles to taste-testing recipes to ensuring every issue is packed with fun and fabulous content. Prepare this slow cooker dinner on Sunday, then stash it in the fridge and gently reheat it in the oven before serving. Get the Recipe: batch to freeze for later. This can be done simply by doubling a recipe and freezing half for later or it can be done in bulk and stocking your freezer with a bunch of pre-made meals that only require heating up. Casseroles and stews are the perfect stick to your rib foods. Good nutritionmeans nourishing our bodies with whole foods. Cook from frozen at 425F until warm and cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. Burrito Bowls. You can freeze the bags in your loved ones freezer or in your own before delivering them at your convenience. The 37 Simple Freezer Meals listed on this website all focus on lightened-up comfort foods, making it the perfect resource for picky eaters who refuse to stray from their standard favorites. Freeze this stew for up to three months. This flavorful salad is made with crunchy cucumbers, fresh cherry tomatoes and a bright lemon dressing. Try chicken noodle soups made with lean chicken, whole-wheat noodles, and hearty vegetables. Pasta with Broccoli-Spinach Butter. Just be sure you assemble it in an oven-proof, disposable aluminum pan when you make it. Healthy and Tasty Make-Ahead Meals for Seniors There's nothing like a nutritious mealto make you feel satisfied and renewed. Theres a high chance that someone out there has found a way to recreate your loved ones favorite comfort food without all the added fat, sugar, and calories. Ideally, you can test it out in your loved ones kitchen when you drop off the food, since microwaves have varying strengths. Newer jars all tend to be microwave safe, but if youre using older ones, be extra cautious. Photo credit: Raymond Hom; Food stylist: Vivian Lui; Prop stylist: Erin Swift, Photo credit: Steve Giralt; Food styling by Anne Disrude; Prop styling by Megan Hedgpeth, Con Poulos; Food Stylist: Christine Albano. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Transfer beef to slow cooker bowl and add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, mushrooms, and stir together. When ready to cook, remove the plastic and foil and transfer it right back to the dish before baking. I don't make bolognese nearly as often as I'd like, but when I do I always make a double batch. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Our test kitchen chefs recommend letting your shooters chill for at least 2 hours in the fridge before serving, so go ahead and make them the morning of your shindig. It won't get soggy in the fridge, so you could definitely meal-prep this one. Stow a few bags of this pre-assembled meal in the freezer to keep on hand for busy nights. But as the generally healthier alternative, it's important - especially for seniors! Between the half-empty ice cream boxes and that casserole dish from who-knows-when, we could all use a helping hand maximizing the room in our trusty freezer. First, lets begin with some tips weve learned over the years for making sure your freezer meals end up tasting like fresh meals. You can use free online meal-sharing calendars like Meal Train, which is interactive and includes a built-in invitation feature, email reminders, and more. Minced radishes help elevate this dish. Most whole foods are found on the perimeter of the grocery store. Freeze the bag up to three months. Sometimes, just a little prep is all it takes for the perfect freezer-friendly meal. Once the food is cool, carefully spoon a portion into each bag, seal it most of the way shut, and then remove the excess air by pressing gently on the bag or by gently inhaling through a straw placed in the opening. Or would they need to be separated. RELATED: 55 Easy Air Fryer Recipes That You Absolutely Need to Try. Food-borne illness can be life-threatening for seniors. So eat half now, and freeze the rest for another week. Lets make the most of your time in the kitchen! Nutrition & Recipes Resources. Stay tuned next week for a primer on Food Safety. French Dip Sandwiches (p. 198) We dont offer this in the freezer directions, but you can fully cook and then freeze small portions to warm up later. This Mexican-inspired stir-fry is the perfect quick weekend project: peppers, onions and chicken are tossed with a chili-spiced oil and frozen. Spread on a shallow roasting pan. They're easy to store in the freezer and can be customized to your loved one's preferences and dietary needs. She'll roll up her sleeves to try any new recipe in the kitchenfrom spicy Thai dishes (her favorite!) You will need a slow cooker, but mine was less than $25 dollars and has more than . But most of the time, this isnt a great option. When ready to eat, bake from frozen, adding 10 to 15 minutes to the cooking time. Set aside some extra time one weekend to make a dozen of these calzones. Soft Baked Vegan Sugar Cookies with Cashew Icing. With just a little advance prep, you can have a weeknight Indian-inspired stir-fry in a snap. The easy way and most affordable pans do not come with compartments, but if you like, you can craft simple food partitions by coving strips of cardboard . Steps: Rehydrate dried mushrooms in hot water for 30 to 45 minutes. This simple, easy dish brings us right back to Grandma's table. 1. You can win her over with a gooey piece of chocolate cake, a bitter Old Fashioned cocktail, or a really good book. Try out these delicious and easy recipes! Fast and Fabulous Egg and Cottage Cheese Casserole. Big-Batch Turkey Chili. Then, thaw and warm up. And if you're a caregiver to a senior, it can be challenging to find healthy meals that will go over well. .css-2ahkpt{display:block;font-family:Brandon,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-weight:normal;margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-top:0;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-2ahkpt:hover{color:link-hover;}}@media(max-width: 48rem){.css-2ahkpt{font-size:1.375rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.css-2ahkpt{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-2ahkpt{font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;}}60 Easy July 4th Recipes for a Tasty Celebration, 20 Best 4th of July Menu Ideas for Every Crowd, 71 Easy Picnic Food Ideas Everyone Will Enjoy, 40 Best Gifts for People Who Love to Grill, 34 Smoothie Recipes for a Healthier Morning, 80 Easy Easter Desserts for a Sweet Holiday. With her healthy Chicken Cacciatore. Get the Recipe: Is it possible to freeze a cooked meat and veggie in a glass container together and reheat within a week or so? Plus, some of . While noodles are boiling, heat up tomato soup in a medium pot. Weve got recipes for all your favorites like breakfast casseroles, meatballs, chicken pot pie, stuffed shells and more. Next time you have a free afternoon, start with one of the simpler freezer-friendly recipes and see what you can do! This bright, veg-loaded pasta tastes as good cold out of the fridge as it does at room temperature, so its especially leftover-friendly. From fresh summer salads that hold up in the fridge to make-ahead breakfasts like healthy muffins you can enjoy all week long, these picks are the perfect thing to prep on the weekend and eat throughout the week. Having just a couple of pre-prepped or partially prepped meals can be a lifesaver for a quick, weeknight meal for the family. Microwave-safe glass shouldnt get too hot, but try it out yourself before delivering the jars to your loved one in case potholders are necessary. This is the best chicken potpie recipe to have on hand when company comes over. Then pack your freezer with dinner that just has to be thawed, reheated and tossed with some pasta. You dont want to put steaming hot food in the freezer, as it will defrost and potentially ruin all your other frozen goods. As for casseroles, divide our recipes up and put into loaf pans (9 inch pans) to make about 2-3 servings. RELATED: 30 Easy Egg Recipes That Every Home Cook Can Master. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Get the Recipe: to classic Southern comfort food (OKalso her favorite). Food-borne illness can be life-threatening for seniors. This veggie-packed lentil soup is easy to make ahead. Learn more about our, 40 Best Make-Ahead Meals to Feed Everyone on Busy Weeknights, Soba Noodle Salad with Shrimp and Ginger Vinaigrette recipe, Chickpea Salad with Smashed Cucumbers recipe, 30 Easy Egg Recipes That Every Home Cook Can Master, 60 Incredible Brunch Recipes to Try This Weekend, 70 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for Lunch, Dinner and Everything in Between, 55 Easy Air Fryer Recipes That You Absolutely Need to Try, Make-Ahead Sausage and Egg Casserole recipe, 50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food. This shortcut gumbo eliminates the tricky step of cooking a roux for thickener. This quick, easy recipe is truly delicious. If you havent read my article from a couple weeks back, A Guide to Healthful Eating in Older Age, Ill sum it up. The simplest of all freezer techniques, this method only requires freezer Ziploc bags, either quart bags or snack bags, depending on your loved ones desired serving size. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Burritos. 2. They're super easy to make ahead and stock in the freezer to love later on. With a bag of prepped ingredients in your freezer ready to go, you can serve this favorite even on a weeknight. Best of all, reheating them is a breeze; just microwave for 3 minutes, or until warmed through. to clean your freezer, Contest-Winning Broccoli Chicken Casserole, these ingenious meal prep products youll actually use, these wonderful big-batch meal prep tips from one of our writers, these tips for keeping freezer burn at bay, these meal prep tips fromThe Pioneer Woman, Here are more foods that freeze surprisingly well, Spicy Sausage & Apple Overnight Casserole, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Preparing food for your loved one may seem overwhelming or like too much of a hassle, but dont knock it till you try it! Chicken Cacciatore. This cool salad keeps well so you can make a big batch to eat for no-cook lunches throughout the week. If you're planning a big brunch, great news: You can totally prep this quiche ahead of time! She's a graduate of the French Culinary Institute and author of the cookbooks. Cooking for someone else is much more pleasant when you reward yourself for your hard work, plus sampling the dish ensures that its something your loved one will like. After 24 hours, your loved one can spoon the meal onto a plate or into a bowl and microwave until warm. Long simmering makes this tough cut turn tender and yielding. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Plus, once you get the hang of it, you can keep a variety of different foods stocked in your loved ones refrigerator and freezer so that they have options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here are some of our favorite mason jar meals to meal prep for seniors. The butter can be frozen for up to 2 months, so a quick supper is never far away. RELATED: 50 Best Casserole Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food. Below youll find some of my favorite healthy recipe resources for freezer-ready-meals. You can also determine the time and temperature for reheating in the oven. Instead, a small amount of rice cooked low and slow gives the stew just the right amount of body. CON POULOS; FOOD STYLIST: VIVIAN LUI. It's easy to see why this is the number one favorite recipe of Budget Bytes readers. Chock-full of poultry, potatoes, peas and corn, this recipe for easy chicken pot pie makes two golden pies, so you can serve one at supper and save the other in the freezer for a busy night. We then spooned it into the containers to freeze! Apply Filters Clear Search. While any meal could technically be made ahead, some dishes are especially well-suited to a little extra fridge or freezer time: think stews, casseroles and grain bowl fixings. Barbara Roberts, Courtenay, British Columbia. How to Package Freezer Meals in Smaller Portions, From Freezer to Table: Freezer Meals for Two, From Freezer to Cooker: Recipes for 1-2 People, 7 Frozen Smoothie Packs (+ Printable with Shopping List), If youre making individual items like hamburgers, chicken tenders, or fish sticks, we suggest. If you or a senior loved one needs extra help creating make-ahead meals for seniors or simply need some extra help around the house, call 2nd Family at 1-888-4FAM. A simple combination of veggies, beans, and spices transforms into an easy, flavorful vegetarian chili you can eat all week long. When you have a recipe like this one by your side, there is no need for takeout. Sort by There are no results that match your search parameters. Don't throw it outsimply turn it into a delicious casserole that's destined for the freezer. With many dishes, you can freeze the entire batch in a single container, but unless your loved one is having a party anytime soon, its pretty impractical. Freezer meals are meals that are made in advance and then placed in the freezer to be used at a later date. Some require you to thaw and then cook. Ideally, you have multiple muffin tins so that you can freeze the whole batch of food in one go. Just serve with crusty bread for soaking up all the delicious sauce. Cook fully and freeze in small portions. On both websites, the nutritional information is listed below each recipe, and reviewers let you know whether they enjoyed the results. Im a firm believer that make-ahead meals are one of the very best gifts you can give to your future self. Tomato SurpriseRecipe courtesy of the Girod Family, 1 can of condensed tomato soup 1 1/2 cups of egg noodles (feel free to add more noodles!). Get the Recipe: Either way, mason jars can be thrown right into the dishwasher for easy cleanup, and you can recollect them periodically for the next batch! Get the Chickpea Salad with Smashed Cucumbers recipe. Seal the bag completely, label, and then stack the bags in the freezer so that the lay flat and the food is spread evenly. Get the Mexican Beef Meatballs With Chipotle Sauce recipe. Taste of Home is America's #1 cooking magazine. You can bring all the ingredients and supplies to their kitchen, divvy up the tasks, and package the meals together. Voila! Credit: Lil' Luna. 1. One of our favorites? Get the Recipe: Learn how your comment data is processed. Does brisket remind them of their childhood? While the noodles are boiling, heat up tomato soup in a medium pot. Or, it lasts for up to a week in the fridge after baking, so you can warm up a slice each morning! Add in matzo balls, egg noodles, or some . Good nutrition can limit or even eliminate a lot of issues that tend to plague our older generation. First, line up some meal-making friends and neighbors. Freezing in single servings is best solution. Below are well-tested recipes that will successfully work for smaller portioned freezer meals.
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