Celebrate National Soup Month in January by making some soups that boost the immune system. As January tends to also be the peak season for viruses like colds and influenza, it’s a great time to stock the freezer with quick and easy soups for your parents who need some senior care when they’re aging at home.
Elderly Care in Lindenhurst NY: Soups to Boost the Immune System
Quick and Easy Antioxidant-Rich Vegetable Soup.
Antioxidants are a solid choice when you want to kick-start the immune system. A vegetable soup that’s rich in antioxidants is the key. Start with a tomato base. You can make your own pureed tomatoes by peeling them and putting them in a blender. If it’s easier, grab a large can of crushed tomatoes. Pour that into a pot or slow cooker and use the can to add two cans of water.
To that mixture, add three cloves of garlic, a chopped onion, a quarter cup of chopped fresh parsley, and a diced red pepper. Mix in three cups of fresh spinach, kale, or Swiss chard. Chop two carrots and two stalks of celery and add that to the soup. Finally, add a half cup of dried lentils for fiber and protein. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Homemade Chicken and Lemon Soup.
This recipe is handy after you’ve had roasted chicken for dinner. Put the chicken carcass in a pot with eight cups of water. Add the juice and zest from two lemons. Mix in a half cup of chopped parsley, one chopped onion, and two cloves of garlic. Finish up with three stalks of celery that have been chopped. Let that simmer for an hour and remove the bones. Add salt and pepper to taste. Chill and skim off any fat.
Mushroom Soup.
Mushrooms are high in vitamin D. You can use them to create a light, tasty soup that’s rich in D vitamins and antioxidants. Saute a pound of sliced mushrooms with two cloves of garlic and one sliced leek. Add eight cups of vegetable stock, two sliced carrots, and a cup of chopped spinach. Let that simmer until the vegetables are tender.
Some seniors struggle with meal preparation. Back pain makes it hard to stand in front of a stove. Holding a knife and chopping meats and vegetables is challenging when arthritis is present. Caregivers can take care of these tasks for your parents. With caregivers helping with grocery shopping, meal preparation, and serving, your parents eat well regardless of any chronic conditions that limit movements.
If you or an aging family member are considering professional elderly care in Lindenhurst, NY, please call the caring staff at A Gentle Touch Senior Home and Health Care at 631-647-7622 today.