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Meals for my Dad

#Post
1

I'm wanting to pre-make meals for my Dad (84) as he's starting to loose interest in doing it for himself.
What are the best containers to use for reheating from frozen?
I'm not keen on plastic ones and don't want him putting foil ones in the microwave by mistake. I have a vacuum sealer, would 'boil in the bag' type meals work? Any handy hints would be great.

jennie5963 - 2019-08-06 11:28:00
2

Boil in the bag IS plastic.
Whats wrong with tupperware?

But if not, then use china, just make sure he lets it thaw a bit before putting it in the microwave.

lythande1 - 2019-08-06 11:36:00
3

You can buy ones like what you'd get with chinese smorgasboard from Countdown. They come in a variety of sizes and they're $3 I think for a pack of 5... just wash and re-use.

sleek_lizzy - 2019-08-06 11:47:00
4

I recently did my dad two weeks worth of meals when he was discharged from hospital a few weeks ago.. I wouldn't microwave from frozen though.

Get him to pull one out of the freezer in the morning, let it thaw naturally on the bench for the day.. lift the lid and then heat up when he's ready to eat.

Edited by sleek_lizzy at 11:50 am, Tue 6 Aug

sleek_lizzy - 2019-08-06 11:49:00
5

You can freeze meals on small plates using gladwrap.
The elderly don't eat as much as we do so a smaller amount may be better. Many elderly folk with throw out a good part of their meal as they just cannot eat it all.

Edited by malcovy at 5:29 pm, Tue 6 Aug

malcovy - 2019-08-06 17:26:00
6

Can you get meals on wheels delivered they don't cost not much $6 ? and delivered hot.

ash4561 - 2019-08-06 18:17:00
7

I just found this OP.. It might be worth looking into, to see if he's eligible.

https://www.govt.nz/browse/health/help-in-your-home/cooking-
and-meals/

sleek_lizzy - 2019-08-06 18:31:00
8

Found these recipes, following the above link.....
http://www.seniorchef.co.nz/recipes

A number of simple recipes, for the older folk, including preserves, breakfast, a good selection of mains, etc....
(with classes for the older person in the Christchurch area)

autumnwinds - 2019-08-06 21:24:00
9

I used enamel plates. Didn't matter which size as I just cooked our normal meals and put a bit of everything on the enamel plate for Nana. Put a couple of layers of gladwrap over it and froze them. Meat and veges are great done this way as are roast meals. Chop the veges into cubes 1 & 1/2 cm big for quicker heating. Easy for her to take out of the freezer put a piece of tinfoil over the top and pop into a hot oven for 20mins to 30 mins. When done this way it helps to have sauces or gravy to help keep the meal moist. Older folks need more moisture in their meals too. For smaller meals I did soups or pasta or rice type dishes which could be heated in the microwave in some of the microwave dishes. Froze these in small glass dishes and just rebagged into plastic bags. Guess you could put straight into the dish that could be frozen and then microwaved. She rated them better than any of the shop brought ready meals. Mine were more varied and much more tasty so I was told . Was fairly challenging considering I had to make them high protein and high fat on Doctors orders.

Edited by strathview at 10:21 pm, Tue 6 Aug

strathview - 2019-08-06 22:21:00
10

Get the new glass containers with lids. Everywhere has them, even the supermarket. More expensive, but no plastic leeching if that's what you're worried about. In the same section as the plastic ones. What a nice daughter you are.

oakcottage - 2019-08-07 00:41:00
11

The Pure Food Co have very good ideas for when you are stuck for ideas or need a break.

genpat - 2019-08-07 03:50:00
12

Have you looked at eat meals. They are delivered fresh to your door. They have a good selection and change their menus every week.

angie117 - 2019-08-07 05:38:00
13
angie117 wrote:

Have you looked at eat meals. They are delivered fresh to your door. They have a good selection and change their menus every week.

They are very good meals (and the little ones, available frozen, are great for those with small appetites), I use them quite regularly.

One minor correction: they have a five week series of weekly menus, and that 5-week cycle changes around every three months (with the seasons). It's not just main meals - there's soups, desserts and baking available too.

Another idea I'm pursuing myself is the mini-pie maker, to make pies with our own home-made stews etc to freeze. My son bought a 2 hole one for $6 from a local op-shop today, after I got him interested in the idea as - with his illness - he gets severe nausea and sometimes a small pie is just what he needs, sometimes not even eating the pastry although he needs the calories.... but we'll need a four-hole one, too..... Have researched and found one can make sweet pies and quiches in them, too....

Edited by autumnwinds at 6:54 pm, Wed 7 Aug

autumnwinds - 2019-08-07 18:52:00
14

Hey thanks everyone, really helpful suggestions. My brother wondered about meals on wheels but its no hassle me cooking extra and bagging it up each night, should work out if I can get a week ahead of myself first.

jennie5963 - 2019-08-09 14:38:00
15
jennie5963 wrote:

Hey thanks everyone, really helpful suggestions. My brother wondered about meals on wheels but its no hassle me cooking extra and bagging it up each night, should work out if I can get a week ahead of myself first.

I'd recommend checking out the op-shops for those mini pie makers, jennie. I got another one, 4 pies, this time, for $15 (looks almost unused, still with original stickers) as it's just great for popping a big of stew that might otherwise be wasted into the pastry, a quick (less than 15 mins cook), and into the freezer - done! Pies make for variety, too, and you can vary the amount of pastry in different ways, like by doing a potato top. Can also be used for mini-lasagnes - have piemaker hot while making a lasagne for yourself, layer it into the mini-pies, and they'll be ready before the main one is!

autumnwinds - 2019-08-09 15:04:00
16

I cook for my elderly parents who are about the same age as your dad. I have found that they really like food that reminds them of when they were younger with the occasional foray into more 'modern' recipies for variety - especially my father who tells me how his mother used to cook things! I have found older cookbooks really helpful when I have been tearing my hair out worrying what they (dad mostly) will like.

siamouse - 2019-08-14 11:07:00
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