We are busy working on the Christmas dinner menu for our residents. It’s a particular task to design a menu for elderly memory care residents, so we wanted to share some of our ideas. In creating recipes and meals, our goal is to look, smell, and taste just like the meals our residents have always enjoyed but to be more manageable for sensitive chewers.

Here’s what we have so far:

• Roasted butternut squash with sage. Root vegetables are a classic winter season dish. There is no better way to celebrate the winter harvest then having a roasted root vegetable. We will be using a variation of this roasted squash recipe found on The Spruce Eats.

• Southern pot roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, and gravy. We made a roast turkey for Thanksgiving, so we wanted to change up our protein for Christmas. Roast beef just like roasted fowl is another Christmas classic. We will be using this pot roast recipe found on The Spruce Eats. Slow roasting beef is a great way to get a tender, juicy protein. We also love that it calls for winter root vegetables like potatoes and carrots.

• Tortellini with pesto and grape tomatoes. This is more of a summer dish, but we think it is a tasty and festive holiday dish if served warm.

• Dinner rolls with butter. Warm, sliced dinner rolls with butter is an absolute staple.

• Sugar cookies. Whether plain or decorated, sugar cookies are another holiday classic. A few of our residents enjoy helping prepare the cookies before they are placed into the oven.

Do you have a loved one in need of memory care? Contact us or call 407-543-2028 to discuss memory care options.