As life changes for active adults, it is common to lose interest in cooking. While cooking for a smaller number of people may not be exciting, proper nutrition and staying hydrated are vital for healthy aging. Added challenges of medication side effects, changing taste buds, physical difficulty, and eating alone mean that many active adults may not find joy or purpose in cooking anymore. Healthy eating is still so important. Check out these easy recipes that will spark culinary joy once more!

As you look at the recipes, remember that grocery stores make cooking more accessible by offering fresh, pre-cut fresh fruits and vegetables, which reduces prep time and physical strain for adults with arthritis or another health condition that makes chopping difficult. But frozen fruits and veggies are also great to keep on hand because they can help pull a nutritious meal together quickly.

Garlicky Roasted Eggplant with Creamy Yogurt Sauce

Eggplant is the star of this easy meal for seniors and is a great source of nutrition that boasts phytonutrients — a memory booster — and fiber for digestive health. It’s also a soft food that’s easy on dentures without being mushy.

Ingredients:

  • 1 eggplant, cut into ½-inch slices
  • 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped (use pre-chopped from the jar if easier
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Mediterranean spice blend or your favorite blend

Instructions

  1. Place eggplant slices on a baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Let them sit for a couple minutes while your oven preheats to 400 F (this softens them and reduces bitterness).
  2. Mix garlic, olive oil, and spice blend in a small bowl.
  3. Brush both sides of eggplant with the olive oil mixture for a dose of heart-healthy fats.
  1. Roast eggplant for about 30 minutes, until caramelized, flipping once about halfway through.

For the Creamy Yogurt Sauce

  • 1 cup Greek yogurt (a great source of probiotics for digestive health)
  • 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 tablespoon fresh herbs, like basil or mint (optional)

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl; add salt and pepper to taste. Serve your roasted eggplant with the yogurt sauce for a fresh, Mediterranean dish. Consider brown rice, whole-grain pasta, or chopped cucumbers and tomatoes as a side dish.

One-Pan Salmon and Vegetables

This recipe is simple, yet delicious!. Flaky and rich pink salmon, a low-calorie protein source full of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and energy-boosting B vitamins will leave you feeling satisfied and longing for leftovers!

Not a salmon person? No problem! Replace salmon with another flaky fish like tilapia or trout. Swap out the veggies for whatever’s in your fridge, or add potatoes for a heartier meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 squash or zucchini, sliced into rounds
  • ½ onion, cut into wedges
  • 1 cup cherry or grape tomatoes
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning or your favorite fish-seasoning blend
  • 2-3 salmon fillets, about 4 ounces each
  • 1 lemon, optional

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil (not wax paper). If you don’t have these, you can thoroughly grease the pan with vegetable oil.
  1. In a large bowl, toss all veggies with 2 tablespoons of oil and seasoning, then spread them into a single layer on the baking sheet.
  2. Nestle your salmon filets, skin side down, between the vegetables. Brush with remaining olive oil, and top with 2 thin lemon slices each.
  3. Roast for 12-15 minutes until salmon is flaky and mostly opaque.
  1. Add 1 salmon filet and a heaping serving of roasted veggies to each plate for a healthy and satisfying meal. Enjoy!

Larkspur at Creekside is located in New Braunfels, TX and is a 55+ Active Adult Community. Among our many amenities, enjoy our great room with a demonstration kitchen and our outdoor gourmet kitchen! Cooking and eating can build community- something good for the body and the soul!