1. Grilled cheese and tomato soup
The perfect “comfort food” senior meal is grilled cheese dipped in tomato soup. This is one of our favorite easy dinner ideas because it comes together quickly, is easy to chew and digest, and is satisfying and filling. You can also make extra tomato soup to reheat tomorrow – two senior meals in one! Best yet, this easy dinner recipe doesn’t require any sauteing, pureeing, or straining.
Call GoGo's Grocery service to pick up these ingredients for tonight’s easy healthy dinner idea:
- 1 (28oz) can of pure tomato puree
- 2 cups chicken broth (low sodium if it suits your dietary restrictions better)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic granules or powder
- 1 tsp onion granules or powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tbsp of a sweetener like Stevia (optional)
How to make tomato soup for a senior meal:
- Whisk together 1 can of tomato puree with 2 cups of chicken broth. Add all seasonings and sweetener.
- Bring to a boil in a pot over high heat. Once boiling, whisk again.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Carefully taste the soup (make sure it’s not too hot) to see if you need more salt or seasonings.
- Stir in 1/2 cup of heavy cream and continue cooking uncovered on low heat for 1-2 minutes. Do not allow the soup to boil once the cream is added.
Enhance your tomato soup with a grilled cheese sandwich for a yummy, easy dinner idea that’s simpler than you might think.
How to make a grilled cheese (one of the best quick dinner ideas):
- You’ll need 2 slices of bread of your choice. We recommend whole wheat or sourdough to add nutrients to this quick dinner idea. You’ll also need olive oil and your choice of cheese(s). Try a mix of sliced Monterrey jack, muenster, cheddar, and/or mozzarella.
- Cover two slices of bread with cheese slices or shredded cheese.
- Preheat a small pan on medium-low heat.
- When the pan is warm, drizzle 1 teaspoon of extra virgin olive oil in the pan. Tilt the pan back and forth to spread the oil evenly.
- Place the sandwich on the oiled pan. Cover with a lid and cook for about 2 minutes until the bottom is golden.
- Lift the sandwich with a large spatula and set aside on a paper towel or plate. Be careful!
- Add another tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and spread it evenly.
- On the paper towel or plate, carefully flip the sandwich on the spatula. Put it back in the pan to crisp up the second side, about 2 minutes or until golden brown.
Get to dunking your grilled cheese in your tomato soup for the perfect satisfying senior meal!
2. Stir fry your way
We love this easy healthy dinner idea because you can customize it to your dietary preferences and restrictions – or you can make this senior meal with the stuff you already have in your fridge.
You’ll need the following:
- 1 pound of your favorite protein, like diced chicken, sliced beef, fresh shrimp, or tofu cubes
- 3-4 cups of hardy vegetables, like broccoli florets, cauliflower florets, sliced carrots, sliced bell peppers, chopped green beans, or cubed eggplant (have your GoGo Grocery shopper pick up a pre-chopped mix for you!)
- 3-4 cups of tender vegetables, like snow peas, diced zucchini, diced summer squash, snap peas, garden peas, sliced mushrooms, baby spinach, baby bok choy, chopped chard, and/or sprouts
- Aromatics like 3 garlic cloves, 1-2 tablespoons minced ginger, and 3 green onions or shallots (thinly sliced)
- Buy a low-sodium stir fry sauce from the store or make your own
Here’s how to do it:
- Heat a large flat-bottomed wok or skillet over high heat until hot. Swirl in 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add the protein and season with salt and pepper. Stir occasionally for two minutes until the meat or fish is caramelized on the outside but not cooked all the way through. Set aside on a plate.
- In the hot pan, add another tbsp of oil and the hardy vegetables. Cook for about 4-5 minutes until lightly caramelized.
- Push the vegetables to the side of the pan. On the other side, add 1 tbsp oil with garlic, ginger, and scallions. Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the tender veggies and toss everything together. Cook for about 1-3 minutes until the vegetables are as tender as you like.
- Add the protein back into the skillet and top with the stir fry sauce. (Do not reuse the plate the protein was resting on.)
- Mix everything together and cook until the sauce coats the meat and veggies, about 1-2 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Eat as is or serve over your favorite carb like cooked rice, quinoa, or sweet potato noodles. If you like some spice, add sriracha or chili sauce.
Need more groceries for your next stir fry? Let GoGoGrandparent go grocery shopping for you! Just give us a call, and we can help you order groceries and household supplies right to your door. We’ll even save your shopping list for next time, so you can cut down on senior meal planning and prep.
3. Lemon and Parmesan pasta with broccoli
Pasta is always one of the best quick dinner ideas for seniors. It comes together quickly, and it’s hearty and filling. This easy dinner recipe is a particularly great senior meal because it can be customized with different vegetables, herbs, and seasonings based on your preferences. The pasta and broccoli are a source of energy-boosting carbs, and the lemon and Parmesan make it extra tasty. You can even store leftovers in the fridge and enjoy this senior meal as a cold pasta salad for another quick dinner idea tomorrow.
All these ingredients for this senior meal are fresh, healthy, and delicious:
- 8 oz of spaghetti or angel hair pasta (choose whole wheat for a healthier option)
- 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
This quick dinner idea could not get any easier! Let’s cook:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add lots of salt to the water.
- Add pasta and cook, according to package instructions, until al dente.
- In the last two minutes of cooking, add the broccoli florets to the pot.
- Drain the pasta and broccoli, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
- In a large skillet, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add the lemon juice and pasta water to the skillet. Bring to a simmer.
- Add the pasta and broccoli to the skillet. Toss to coat in the sauce.
- Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve this easy dinner recipe garnished with extra cheese, parsley, and lemon zest if desired.
4. Spinach and feta omelet
Our list of easy dinner ideas wouldn’t be complete without an egg dish. Eggs are fast, simple, and packed with protein and nutrients. Plus, spinach is an excellent source of minerals, feta is packed with calcium, and olive oil is a healthy fat. Complete this easy dinner idea with whole wheat toast for added fiber.
Here are the ingredients you’ll want your GoGo Grocery shopper to buy for this senior meal:
- 2 large eggs (use egg whites for a lower calorie or lower cholesterol option)
- 2 tbsp milk
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 cup fresh spinach leaves (washed and chopped)
- 2 tbsp crumbled feta cheese
Here’s how you throw together this quick dinner idea:
- In a small bowl, whisk eggs, milk, salt, and pepper until well combined.
- Heat the olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Add chopped spinach to the skillet. Stir occasionally. Cook for 2-3 minutes until wilted.
- Pour the egg mixture into the skillet with the spinach. Use a spatula to spread the eggs evenly in the skillet.
- Sprinkle crumbled feta over the eggs.
- Let the omelet cook for 2-3 minutes until the bottom is golden brown.
- Carefully slide the omelet onto a plate. Fold in half, add any toppings of your choice, and enjoy this quick dinner idea!
5. Baked salmon with roasted veggies easy dinner idea
Baked salmon is one of the healthiest things on our senior meal menu. Salmon is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which aid in heart health and overall wellness. Add a variety of your favorite veggies to incorporate more vitamins and minerals into your diet. Plus, this is an easy healthy dinner idea that gets food on the table with minimal effort.
For this easy dinner idea, you’ll need:
- 4 salmon fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 cups mixed veggies (broccoli, bell peppers, carrots, etc.)
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh chopped herbs (thyme, parsley, rosemary, etc.) (dried works too if you don’t have fresh on hand)
How to cook this easy healthy dinner idea:
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Put the veggies in a mixing bowl with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Toss to coat the vegetables evenly.
- Place the vegetables on the baking sheet. Roast in the oven for 20 minutes until tender.
- While the veggies are cooking, season your salmon fillets with olive oil, salt, pepper, and desired herbs.
- After 20 minutes, take the baking sheet out. Move the vegetables to one side. Place the salmon fillets on the other side.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes until the salmon is cooked through and flaky.
- Remove from the oven and top with a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh herbs. Serve salmon and vegetables together for the perfect senior meal.
Which of these easy healthy dinner ideas are you going to try out tonight? Want more ideas for senior meals? Check out these 5 easy lunch ideas for seniors.
6. GoGo Gourmet takeout: the easiest meal of all
Don’t feel like cooking tonight? Make dinner even easier with GoGo Gourmet. You can have fresh, hot meals delivered right to your door from local restaurants and chains. Behind the scenes, our GoGoGuardians are working to ensure your dietary needs are met and tracking your order to ensure it arrives just in time for dinner. Register with GoGoGrandparent to get started with our takeout and grocery delivery!
