As part of my partnership with Home Instead Senior Care, we’ve compiled resources to help you bring back family dinners with your loved ones including: tips on how to involve seniors in meal planning and preparation; pre- and post- dinner activities; and, of course, recipes for easy, healthy and inexpensive meals that all generations can enjoy – toddlers to seniors!
One of the best ways to make the most of your multigenerational dinners is to get the whole family involved. It doesn’t need to be a four-course meal. Instead, try simple, healthy meals and enlist the help of your loved ones. Maybe you recreate one of your senior loved one’s favorite recipes and get their secrets for success (I shadowed my grandmother to learn her secrets to Braised Cabbage). Or maybe your little ones can help measure ingredients.
Home Instead Senior Care found that the biggest reason families list for not having family dinners is time. So rather than stress over hosting a big dinner, make the entire meal preparation an opportunity to connect with your loved ones. In addition to creating a healthy meal, you’ll be creating memories that all generations will treasure.
To give you some inspiration for your own family meal, I’ve created a few simple, healthy recipes that will be a hit with all generations. Check out my newest recipe, Italian Chicken and Vegetables over Angel Hair Pasta on SundayDinnerPledge.com.
Help me reignite this family tradition and commit to holding a family meal at least once a month at www.SundayDinnerPledge.com. For each pledge made, the Home Instead Senior Care Foundation will donate $1 to Meals on Wheels America, up to $20,000. This means your pledge will not only bring your family together, but also help bring nutritious meals to other seniors.