You love your parents and want to do everything you can for them, but sometimes cooking a meal is too much. Maybe they don't like what you make or it takes too long to prepare the food. If this sounds familiar, then you may be looking for some solutions. Check out our blog post below with tips on how to give your parents nutritious meals, even if you might be too busy to cook.
Subscribe to one of those "meal-in-a-box" services
The first thing to do if you're in this situation is to shop around for meal services. You can usually find some pretty great deals for cooking services for seniors, both in terms of the service and the food. Many of these services are tailored to specific dietary requirements, so you can even be sure that your parents' meals are healthy.
If you're worried about how much time it will take to shop around and figure out which dietary restrictions are important, don't worry. Some services even have online meal planners where you can select your parents' dietary needs and the services will put together a menu of meals.
Order takeout for you both
This is a quick and convenient solution. Your parents may not be able to get out of the house, but they still deserve a home-cooked meal. Instead of ordering from restaurants that don't provide healthy options or overpriced fast food joints, order takeout and have it delivered directly to your home. Most forms of takeout are pretty good for you if you're trying to watch what you eat. They are also usually pretty cheap.
Cook in batches and freeze a batch to reheat later
If you do feel like cooking, it is strongly suggested that you make enough food for two or three meals. This should at least ensure that your parents get one home-cooked meal per week. You can even make them larger portions each time so there is more food to freeze. Just remember to portion the meals out so they can be easily reheated in the microwave.
Find recipes that are easy to prepare
If the problem is that you don't know how to cook, then take some time to learn a few easy recipes and practice cooking them. This not only helps your parents enjoy fresh meals but also teaches you how to prepare foods that are quick and healthy. Remember this tip if you have children of your own someday.
Cook one dish at the beginning of the week and plan your meals around it
If you don't have much time to plan meals, then all you need to do is stay organized. If you cook one dish on Sunday, the rest of that week will be easy. Just grab some leftovers and throw them in a pan with some fresh vegetables for dinner each night. This ensures that your parents get home-cooked meals without the hassle.
Make sure you have all the ingredients on hand
This is so you don't get frustrated when you start to cook and something is missing. It's also a good idea if you're making something that could be easily spoiled. It's better to prepare the ingredients beforehand so they don't go bad in your fridge.
Keep frozen meals on hand and be sure to open them within 3 hours of cooking
Some people like buying dinners for their parents when they know they'll need someone to watch over them, but they only want to provide nutritious meals. Frozen dinners are a great way to give your parents cooked meals while also providing them with food that is healthy and low in calories. Just make sure you don't cook the frozen meal for longer than 3 hours -- it can lose nutrients and change color when reheated on a different day.
Use crockpots, slow-cookers, pressure cookers, or rice makers
These are excellent time-saving devices. You can fit a bunch of ingredients into one pot, close the lid and leave for the day. When you come back, your work is done. These tools are very useful if you don't feel like coming home from school to cook dinner. They also allow you to take care of other duties.
Cook meat with broth
Do this with chicken broth (or vegetable stock) instead of water because it will add much more flavor to the dish. Don't be afraid to cook meat with a little bit of salt either, you need some sodium in your diet. This meal will freeze and reheat better as well. You can use the broth to make a sauce for your dish as well.
Cooking for your parents is a great way to show them you care and spend quality time with them. It may be difficult if you have limited time or don't know how, but these tips can help. Don't be hesitant to use them and you'll be providing your parents with nutritious, cost-effective meals in no time.
