For most of us caring for our parents or a loved one at home, putting together a home cooked meal can feel like a tough feat. After a busy day at work, it’s so much easier for us to just pick up a takeaway meal at the food centre or just grab some fast food for the whole family.
For care staff that may have residents or clients who are caring for older Asian living in residential or community aged care facilities, fellow nurses have shared that sometimes, trying to figure out a healthy, delicious and easy Asian meal may be challenging. Most of the time, it is easier to just dish up what’s available, or get meals on wheels, and for clients, it may be a lamb roast, fish and chips, casserole, not something that residents or clients may be familiar with. It’s not difficult to understand why residents/clients may start losing weight or their appetite.
Finding good quality Asian food can be tough and studies have indicated that eating out may not be the best for our health. Food prepared commercially usually contains a high amount of saturated fat, carbohydrates and sodium. For many older adults, this may not be ideal, taking into consideration the multiple co-morbidities that they already have. For caregivers, after a long day at work, a high fat, high carbohydrate and high sodium meal, though tasty, may not be ideal for the body in the long term. This may also make us feel sluggish and tired, instead of rejuvenated after a good nutritious meal. Below are some quick and easy Asian recipes that are clean and healthy.
1. Bak Chor Mee Soup Recipe 肉脞面 (Chinese Mince Meat Noodle Soup)
Click here: http://www.noobcook.com/bak-chor-mee-soup/2/
2. Congee 粥(Rice porridge)
Click here: http://www.mijorecipes.com/chinese-congee-jook-chicken/
/congee-jook-recipe-1.jpg)
3. Chicken Noodle 鸡丝面
Click here: http://rasamalaysia.com/chicken-noodles-recipe/2
Potstickers 鍋貼
Click here: http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/01/potstickers/
4. Baked Honey Garlic Chicken 甜甜鸡
Click here: http://damndelicious.net/2014/03/01/potstickers/
5. Hot and Sour Soup 酸辣汤
Click here: http://www.closetcooking.com/2015/02/quick-and-easy-chinese-hot-and-sour-soup.html
6. Chinese Chives with Tofu 炒韭菜豆腐
Click here: http://www.bubblews.com/posts/sauteed-chinese-chive-with-tofu
7. Bok Choy and Shiitake Mushroom Noodles 面条加香菇白菜
Click here: http://divinehealthyfood.com/bok-choy-shiitake-mushroom-noodles/#comment-145
8. Stir-Fried Pea Shoots 炒豆苗
Click here: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/article/how-to-cook-pea-shoots
9. Shrimp with Snow Peas 豌豆虾仁
Click here: http://rasamalaysia.com/shrimp-with-snow-peas-recipe/?pid=616#image-337
10. Salt and Pepper Tofu 椒盐豆腐
Click here: http://www.veggiebelly.com/2010/07/restaurant-style-chinese-salt-pepper-tofu.html
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Designing for Aged Care 