Squashing your Fall Appetite!
The autumn months are here which means all the squash is happening in grocery stores and even on front porches for decoration. It’s officially squash season and there are so many different types of squash.
Colorful and Nutritious
With more than 100 varieties including squash for summer and squash for winter. There’s bound to be one to your liking. There are also different ways to prepare them and the best part is squash tends to be a soft vegetable after it’s cooked making it easier to eat for elderly.
It’s also a high fiber food and has loads of vitamins to keep you healthy and full. For instance, butternut squash has antioxidants to help slow cellular damage and reduce risk of chronic diseases. Squash such as butternut can also be turned into a soup making it an easy to eat meal for senior citizens.
Fresh, Frozen, or Canned
If buying a whole squash is out of the question, you can try buying frozen squash or other prepared dishes to help make meal time easier. You can also buy soups made from squash. Just be on the lookout for soups that are lower in sodium especially if heart disease is a concern.
Thankfully, many grocery stores offer frozen packs of squash and delis may have prepared dishes ready to bring home and heat up.
Have some fun!
You can also make squash preparation a fun activity to do with family, friends and grandkids. This is particularly a good idea with pumpkins and other larger squash that may be harder to cut and prepare.
Grandkids will probably not mind getting messy scooping out the insides and seeds and if you have to use a knife always take precautions or have another friend to help out.
Fall and Winter Squash
As for the different types of squash, yellow squash is relatively small and one of the popular types. They are also smaller squash so cutting or dicing will be easier when preparing and cooking. They are normally available during summer but depending on where you live, you may still be able to find some.
Other winter squashes such as acorn, butternut, spaghetti and delicate squash among many others are hearty and filling and can be made into a variety of recipes or eaten simply. Butternut and spaghetti tend to be on the bigger side so assistance may be necessary depending on the abilities and health and well-being of the senior.
Butternut Squash (or Pumpkin!) Bisque (serves 2-4)
| Here’s one simple recipe to try that will fill your health with many nutritional benefits and keep you warm during the cold months. Keep in mind that you can also buy frozen vegetables or already cut up vegetables if needed. Ingredients:
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Directions:
• Sauté onion in oil until soft, then mix in everything else except the cream.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Take out batches at a time and puree in a blender until smooth. Return to pot on low heat and add cream.
**If using puree, you may skip the blender.
• Sauté onion in oil until soft, then mix in everything else except the cream.
• Bring to a boil and simmer for 30 minutes.
• Let cool for 15 minutes.
• Take out batches at a time and puree in a blender until smooth. Return to pot on low heat and add cream.
**If using puree, you may skip the blender.
Call us today and let our dedicated In-Home Caregiver Staff help your loved one with Fall meal preps and other household tasks!
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