Healthy fall favorites

[serendipity_15]

I am part of a service learning community focused on improving the overall health of elderly residents in a housing complex, a large apartment building, in Washington DC. My group has two fall themed activities, Halloween and Thanksgiving, that we are providing snack foods for, so far for the Halloween activity we have come up with cider, spaghetti

Comments

[no_idts]

Apples! Baked apples, applesauce, apple butter (on top of whole grain bread or crackers)...

[lisasimpsonfan]

THIS!

[spikesgirl58]

And a third vote for baked apples. Healthy, fast, and easy.

[oxymoron02]

Came here to say this too!

[goose_entity]

soup! You can make vast pots - or single servings - of soup with lots of fall veggies for very little money :)

[full_metal_ox]

Particularly given that D.C.--the OP's stated location-- is likely to be in a transitional state between summer and autumn produce right now. (You can call the soup "Witches' Brew" to tie it into the holiday theme.)

[little_e_]

Have you asked the old folks what kinds of snacks they'd like? My experience with folks, especially older ones, is that they tend to be set in their food-ways, and don't always like it when I try to make them something new and different :) My mother, for example, hates squash, despite all of my attempts. She calls it 'poor people food' and finds it degrading to eat (despite being poor). My grandfather wouldn't eat corn--called it 'pig food'. They probably gave him dent corn at the orphanage

[full_metal_ox]

Sweet potatoes prepared without massive quantities of sugar.

Here's an approach I like: bake/microwave a sweet potato and slice it into thick medallions; this is particularly good drizzled with vanilla and topped with almonds or (for additional New World cred) sunflower seeds. For an inherent sweetness and mealiness approaching cookie dough, the best varieties--although they're not Halloween-friendly orange--are Jersey White (whose color is roughly that of a smooth white boiling potato) or Asian (with deep red skin and white flesh that turns butter-yellow when cooked.)

(The pointy ends can always be nibbled by the cook.)

[blueyz72]

Just curious but how many of them also have access to a slow cooker? It may take a little longer but they can make bigger batches, get better flavor and usually can make some VERY low $$$ foods in there. If making pumpkin seeds, try for sugar pumpkins and make a soup or stew.

Oven (or toaster oven) treat can do for low $$ is a slice of apple on top of croissant dough, sprinkle sugar/spice and roll up to bake. You can get many treats from one batch. I've also made mini pies in similar way(cut biscuit dough in have, add in blueberry/apple/seasoning mix) and bake. Better the second day.

I agree with getting some idea what they already like and can eat, I remember my grandmother have dentures HATED fresh apples due to skins.