I will be a part time caregiver and some or most evenings there will be no one to help walker dependent senior get her evening meal. I have thought about preparing single serving meals in individual containers. She has a microwave. I am planning on getting a basket for her walker to help her move food from refrigerator to microwave to table. I need ideas of healthy meals that can be prepared ahead and then refrigerated or frozen and either eaten cold or warmed up in the microwave.
For light treats jello with small pieces of fruit in it. I don't know if you know Thermos Flasks (I'm in UK), these are good for soups, casserole with small pieces, drinks. Sandwiches cut into shapes with cookie cutters make for fun if finicky eaters. Cutting fruit/veg into shapes helps too. Pasta shapes
I fix her a plate of food and she takes some of each thing and heats it on a saucer in the microwave at night. A plate of food that I would eat in two meals can last my mom for 3-4 meals (she weighs about 124 right now). I also keep lots of snack foods (mixed nuts, string cheese, pudding cups, individual popcorn servings, cookies, crackers, potato chips, fruit cups, bananas, candy bars) that she can cobble together a different meal if she wants. I also keep her fridge stocked with frozen individual dinners (like Stouffer's mac and cheese) that she can heat up if she wants. She also always has ice cream in her freezer. I also have Ensure or Boost in her fridge that she can eat in place of a meal if she wants.
At 95, my mom is at the point that any calorie is a good calorie in my opinion! I'm just trying to keep some weight on her.
Thank you again for all of the comments and suggestions. J
You say she is frail, not suffering from dementia so I don't think there should be a problem with the microwave. Ensuring that the containers you choose will be deep enough to prevent spills and easy to handle when hot will make transferring them safer. There are also trays designed to fit on some walkers/rollators, that might work better than a basket as it would be higher. Don't forget a separate cup holder!
Ideas for a light supper might be tuna salad with a thick sliced tomato, crackers. Maybe cottage cheese, sliced fruit, veggie crudités with ranch dip. Ham sandwich with Sunchips and a sliced Apple. You get the idea.
If she'd like to have a hot meal in the evening, I would suggest something like a thick soup. You could make up large batches and freeze them in small containers. Can she still manage container lids?
Another thought is a small crock pot. You can set it up in the am with meat, vegetables and stock, turn it on and it would be ready at dinner time. Let us know how this works out.