These three recipes are easy, quick, and made from veggies that are easy for seniors to grow in a home garden.
Gardening is an excellent activity for seniors. It engages the mind and body and provides outdoor time, and the end result is healthy garden-fresh vegetables. Here are three of our favorite healthy recipes using vegetables that are easy for seniors to grow in a home garden.
Corn salsa
This corn salsa uses fresh corn, tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, jalapenos, and garlic—all of which can be grown in a home garden during the summer months. The variety of colors in the salsa represents a wide array of antioxidants, which can help decrease inflammation and promote overall wellness. Serve this salsa with Mexican dishes or alongside chips for an easy, bright, and colorful summer appetizer.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of fresh, raw corn kernels
- 1 large, firm tomato, diced
- ½ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ cup chopped red onion
- 2 chopped jalapenos (can be omitted if you don’t want a spicy salsa)
- 1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
- In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the corn, tomato, cilantro, red onion, jalapenos, and garlic. Add the lime juice, salt, and pepper, and mix the salsa.
- Store in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving to allow the salsa to get cold and the flavors to meld.
Zucchini pie
Zucchini pie is an easy, old-fashioned dish made using only a few simple ingredients. Thinly sliced zucchini is the star of the show, lending the pie a rich flavor and creamy texture when paired with butter and onions. Zucchini is rich in fiber, making it an excellent addition to the diet to help promote proper digestion. To make this a complete meal, pair it with a salad.
Ingredients:
- Premade pie crust
- 2 cups of thinly sliced zucchini
- ½ yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps:
- Preheat the oven to 350F. Saute the zucchini, onion, and garlic in butter until soft. Remove from heat.
- Add the eggs, cheese, and salt and pepper to the zucchini mixture and pour this mixture into the premade pie crust.
- Bake according to the package directions for the pie crust or until the eggs are set, and the crust is golden brown.
Fresh garden salad
Finally, a fresh garden salad is a great way to enjoy the fruits of your labor in the garden. Pile the salad high with a variety of home-grown veggies to get the full benefits of all the nutrients, antioxidants, and fiber they provide. Here are some examples of garden-grown veggies to include:
- Lettuce
- Red cabbage
- Tomato
- Cucumber
- Onion
- Carrot
- Radish
- Broccoli
- Bell pepper
To make it a meal, add hard-boiled eggs or grilled meat and top everything with your favorite salad dressing.
These three recipes are a great way for seniors to use vegetables from the garden. Gardening and cooking allow seniors you care about to stay active, and we here at Tailored Home Care are dedicated to helping them continue all of their favorite activities. Read more about how we can assist you in caring for your senior loved ones on the Tailored Home Care blog.
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