My schedule at my peak of organization, lowest stress, and high fitness: get up at 5:30 am and walk my dogs, work all day M-F, get home around 7 pm, walk my dogs, and cook myself a healthy dinner of a lean protein and lots of greens. It took 20 minutes to cook and I'd be sitting down to eat around 8:30 pm. But because I wasn't eating carbs for dinner I had no trouble falling asleep and woke up rested. I also made the choice to have NO TELEVISION, video games, or Internet. When I wanted entertainment I'd read, watch a movie, or listen to music. It's all about discipline. It's all about being disciplined enough to put limits on the demands of caregiving if you want to remain sane and healthy. Every week the local grocery store sends out a circular with proteins and veggies that are on sale. If something is important then make time for it. Habits take approximately 3 weeks to develop. Perhaps shifting from having a big dinner to having a big meal at lunchtime may work better for people caring for elders. I keep coming back to the fact that not everyone is cut out to be a caregiver to an elder in which case I suggest signing your elder up for Meals on Wheels and, if you can afford it, make the $2 per meal donation. Cooking used to be when families came together to share something special - a meal - and to hear that it's become a chore for so many is disappointing.
Some of the suggestions are quite appropriate and helpful. The current "Gluten Free" fad, however, is nonsense. If a person doesn't have a documented case of Celiac disease or documented gluten sensitivity, there is no scientific basis for eliminating it from one's diet. In fact, GF products are frequently higher in calories, cost, and inorganic arsenic from the over abundance of rice in those products.
Everything in moderation is the best policy. Avoiding refined and/or processed foods as much as possible is also important. I tell my patients to eat the way they would if they lived in a forest (lean meat, fowl, fish, root crops, and stuff you harvest from trees and bushes). There are no naturally occurring Twinkies to be found in the forest.
The other point that is frequently neglected is exercise. Simply walking for 30 minutes daily is good for physical and mental health. Getting the person you care for up and about works wonders. Most will benefit from simple stretching, especially if they have been sedentary for a long time.
If you can microwave it or steam it then you can cook it in no time flat.
I’m retired, I’m a 24x7 in-home caregiver, I function in a world that needs a 36 hour day. I enjoy eating good food that tastes good and provides a healthy diet.
I cheat occasionally and prepare meals that are home-cooked and combined with takeaway food deliver to us.
Every meal has one or more of the following: fish, chicken, tofu along with mixtures of vegetables.
Fish I put in a pie-plate, season and microwave for about 2 minutes per pound and test for being cooked OK.
I have a counter top electric steamer. This is used at noon and dinner time. Frozen veggies get seasoned and steamed until cooked to our wants. Frozen packaged dinners, containing chicken nuggets, rice and veggies get steamed until cooked.
One of my favorites is to get takeaway eggplant in garlic sauce and serve with fillet of fish. We also get all sorts of varieties of steamed tofu dinners delivered.
Breakfasts are a challenge to me. I seem to settle on microwaved dishes of egg substitute with mixed peppers or alternate of frozen strawberry waffles.
The local pizza shop has wonderful veggie pizzas, wraps etc.
I serve a lot of "dandfunk" meals from left-overs mixed together.
This is how I cooked before my brother became ill and I became his caregiver. I don't have the luxury of time or funds to prepare meals on the weekend now, and he is quite particular about what he eats. There is no way he'd drink a smoothie. Meal planning is as individual as the situation, these suggestions are great for people who are feeding flexible individuals but people who require care as someone suggested are typically quite the opposite.
For me, I wish science would make a pill that one can take and that would be my lunch and dinner. I dread cooking, it always turns out like a science project gone wrong.... talk about MAJOR stress.... I won't go into talking about cleaning up that science project :P
Right now it's Lean Cuisine, Chinese carry-out, or frozen bags of vegetables that aren't half bad if you like veggies. Plan a menu??? That only works if you are Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray.
I agree I love my crock pot, and we all love leftovers! When I get time to cook, I make big batches and freeze it... soups work well. And I stock up on frozen microwave vegies when they are on sale. Also healthy TV dinners, safeway has some great ones that are less than $2.oo and are labeled low sodium, low fat, whatever.
I think that Taji presents some good suggestions in this article. I'm not convinced she is writing for the correct audience, though. She envisions someone who works out of the home, maintains a home for a family, AND is a caregiver to an elder. And she talks about all "free time" this person allegedly has on weekends? Ho ho ho. :D
There doesn't seem to be enough acknowledgement of how set in their ways seniors can become, and how dementia can adversely impact the willingness to try new things. A green smoothie for breakfast? OMG, Mother would be gagging before I set it in front of her.
My endocrinologist told me eating instant oatmeal is the equivalent of eating a bowl of sugar. Even though it starts with whole grain, by the time it has been ground into "instant" powder our bodies treat it as a very simple carbohydrate. Why bother?
Pasta salads freeze well? Really? That hasn't been my experience. Pasta hot dishes, yes. Salads, with ingredients like apple chunks or grapes and celery and raw green onions, chopped hard-cooked eggs and Greek yogurt or mayonnaise? I just can't picture it. Maybe there are some salads that would work better than the ones I make ... ??
Planning ahead is essential for survival. It is often nearly impossible to get in one shopping trip a week. It has to count.
Freezer foods are a godsend. But for the particular audience this is aimed at, discussing how to select healthy already-frozen meals might be more to the point.
Having easy ingredients on hand makes a lot of sense. And remembering to use up the perishables (bananas) soon after shopping day and save the long-shelf-life items (almonds) for later is important, too!
Free range, organic eggs? Because when you raising a family and caregiving you can afford to pay triple the usual price for eggs?
By the way, not everyone loves the idea of healthy eating. My mother doesn't give two beans for it. My son is actively opposed to it. I personally think it is a terrific idea. I think the suggestions here mostly make sense -- for me. I'm not sure how they fit into the context of over-worked under-funded exhausted caregiving.
I think the article contains good advice but failed to take into account the constrainsts a working caregiver faces. It is important to figure out the prioities of the meals. Just because you are home all week end does not mean you can or want to spend the time cooking batches of meals for the following week and planning menues.. iI may cost a little more to buy convenience foods such as frozen vegetables especially those you can cook in their packets in the microwave but its still cheaper and healthier than take out. Nothing wrong with buying a pre roasted chicken on the way home from work, microwaving the veg and using dried potatoes for a meal on the table in the time it takes you to change your loved ones depends.. Make friends with your slow cooker. Throw the fixings for a stew together the night before keep in the fridge and start the cslow cooker before you leave in the morning..Buy a premade pastry case and use to make a quiche. pop it in the oven for ten minutes to cook the pastry while you prepare the fillings then add the fillings and return to the oven. this will take about 45 minutes to cook so relax and pay some bills over a glass of wine and tell your loved one about your day at work or heaven forbid listen to their list of complaints about day care. Cook a large roast or a turkey at the weekend and you will have the basis for many dishes during the week from sandwiches to curries and everything in between. hard boiled eggs make a quick breakfast even if Book does not have time to eat before work. Book why don't you throw one in your purse and a banana and eat them with your mid morning coffee break. A bagel and cream cheese fills a big hole as does cereal or even a hunk of cheese and crackers. Scrambled eggs take about two minutes in the microwave which is about the time it takes to toast a slice of bread. deserts can be a pie with fresh or canned filling you bake with the quiesh the night before. ice cream is a good standby as is fresh or canned fruit with a little cream. frozen fries in the oven take about 18 minutes and taste as good as fried. A potato in it's skin takes about 5 minutes in the microwave. if the ingredients are pre prepared a stir fry takes only as long as the rice takes to cook which is about 15 minutes. It may be even good to buy the mixed veg either frozen or from the supermarket. Purchase a pre cooked pizza shell throw on the toppings and about 20 minutes in the oven out comes fresh pizza. buy a frozen on or takeout if you must but it's fast. This is not a frugal lifestyle but that is not the object here it is about surviving in the modern world when you have to wear so many hats you can hardly remember which one you are wearing at the time. Book you can use canned or frozen fruits or veg in those smoothies which are a lot cheaper. living frugally takes a great deal more time and effort but that was not the purpose of this article.
I'm not into cooking/preparing meals. I don't have the time in the mornings to grab something for breakfast. As it is, I don't even have time to crack a hard boiled egg and eat it. I've accidentally found out that an egg for breakfast can sure help stave off the hunger when it's not yet 11:30am. As for smoothies, I bought The Bullet. When I went to the store to buy the berries/fruits, I was shocked how expensive those little package of fruits cost. So, smoothies are no longer an option. But, I do like to read tips for quick meals.
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How to Make Healthy Meals When You Have No Time to Cook
Everything in moderation is the best policy. Avoiding refined and/or processed foods as much as possible is also important. I tell my patients to eat the way they would if they lived in a forest (lean meat, fowl, fish, root crops, and stuff you harvest from trees and bushes). There are no naturally occurring Twinkies to be found in the forest.
The other point that is frequently neglected is exercise. Simply walking for 30 minutes daily is good for physical and mental health. Getting the person you care for up and about works wonders. Most will benefit from simple stretching, especially if they have been sedentary for a long time.
If you can microwave it or steam it then you can cook it in no time flat.
I’m retired, I’m a 24x7 in-home caregiver, I function in a world that needs a 36 hour day. I enjoy eating good food that tastes good and provides a healthy diet.
I cheat occasionally and prepare meals that are home-cooked and combined with takeaway food deliver to us.
Every meal has one or more of the following: fish, chicken, tofu along with mixtures of vegetables.
Fish I put in a pie-plate, season and microwave for about 2 minutes per pound and test for being cooked OK.
I have a counter top electric steamer. This is used at noon and dinner time. Frozen veggies get seasoned and steamed until cooked to our wants.
Frozen packaged dinners, containing chicken nuggets, rice and veggies get steamed until cooked.
One of my favorites is to get takeaway eggplant in garlic sauce and serve with fillet of fish. We also get all sorts of varieties of steamed tofu dinners delivered.
Breakfasts are a challenge to me. I seem to settle on microwaved dishes of egg substitute with mixed peppers or alternate of frozen strawberry waffles.
The local pizza shop has wonderful veggie pizzas, wraps etc.
I serve a lot of "dandfunk" meals from left-overs mixed together.
Right now it's Lean Cuisine, Chinese carry-out, or frozen bags of vegetables that aren't half bad if you like veggies. Plan a menu??? That only works if you are Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray.
There doesn't seem to be enough acknowledgement of how set in their ways seniors can become, and how dementia can adversely impact the willingness to try new things. A green smoothie for breakfast? OMG, Mother would be gagging before I set it in front of her.
My endocrinologist told me eating instant oatmeal is the equivalent of eating a bowl of sugar. Even though it starts with whole grain, by the time it has been ground into "instant" powder our bodies treat it as a very simple carbohydrate. Why bother?
Pasta salads freeze well? Really? That hasn't been my experience. Pasta hot dishes, yes. Salads, with ingredients like apple chunks or grapes and celery and raw green onions, chopped hard-cooked eggs and Greek yogurt or mayonnaise? I just can't picture it. Maybe there are some salads that would work better than the ones I make ... ??
Planning ahead is essential for survival. It is often nearly impossible to get in one shopping trip a week. It has to count.
Freezer foods are a godsend. But for the particular audience this is aimed at, discussing how to select healthy already-frozen meals might be more to the point.
Having easy ingredients on hand makes a lot of sense. And remembering to use up the perishables (bananas) soon after shopping day and save the long-shelf-life items (almonds) for later is important, too!
Free range, organic eggs? Because when you raising a family and caregiving you can afford to pay triple the usual price for eggs?
By the way, not everyone loves the idea of healthy eating. My mother doesn't give two beans for it. My son is actively opposed to it. I personally think it is a terrific idea. I think the suggestions here mostly make sense -- for me. I'm not sure how they fit into the context of over-worked under-funded exhausted caregiving.
It is important to figure out the prioities of the meals.
Just because you are home all week end does not mean you can or want to spend the time cooking batches of meals for the following week and planning menues..
iI may cost a little more to buy convenience foods such as frozen vegetables especially those you can cook in their packets in the microwave but its still cheaper and healthier than take out. Nothing wrong with buying a pre roasted chicken on the way home from work, microwaving the veg and using dried potatoes for a meal on the table in the time it takes you to change your loved ones depends.. Make friends with your slow cooker. Throw the fixings for a stew together the night before keep in the fridge and start the cslow cooker before you leave in the morning..Buy a premade pastry case and use to make a quiche. pop it in the oven for ten minutes to cook the pastry while you prepare the fillings then add the fillings and return to the oven. this will take about 45 minutes to cook so relax and pay some bills over a glass of wine and tell your loved one about your day at work or heaven forbid listen to their list of complaints about day care. Cook a large roast or a turkey at the weekend and you will have the basis for many dishes during the week from sandwiches to curries and everything in between. hard boiled eggs make a quick breakfast even if Book does not have time to eat before work.
Book why don't you throw one in your purse and a banana and eat them with your mid morning coffee break. A bagel and cream cheese fills a big hole as does cereal or even a hunk of cheese and crackers. Scrambled eggs take about two minutes in the microwave which is about the time it takes to toast a slice of bread.
deserts can be a pie with fresh or canned filling you bake with the quiesh the night before. ice cream is a good standby as is fresh or canned fruit with a little cream.
frozen fries in the oven take about 18 minutes and taste as good as fried. A potato in it's skin takes about 5 minutes in the microwave. if the ingredients are pre prepared a stir fry takes only as long as the rice takes to cook which is about 15 minutes. It may be even good to buy the mixed veg either frozen or from the supermarket. Purchase a pre cooked pizza shell throw on the toppings and about 20 minutes in the oven out comes fresh pizza. buy a frozen on or takeout if you must but it's fast. This is not a frugal lifestyle but that is not the object here it is about surviving in the modern world when you have to wear so many hats you can hardly remember which one you are wearing at the time.
Book you can use canned or frozen fruits or veg in those smoothies which are a lot cheaper. living frugally takes a great deal more time and effort but that was not the purpose of this article.