How Do You Shop for a Parent Who Hates to Cook?

Your mom’s tired of cooking. She hates preparing meals now that she’s retired. Since then, she’s taken to ready-to-heat meals, takeout, and packaged foods like yogurt. You’re helping her with finances and household planning, but you’re stuck. How do you shop for a parent who hates to cook?

Involve Her in the Process.

If you’re avoiding bringing your mom to the store to save time, rearrange your schedule and bring her. If she has a say in the ingredients she has in her fridge, she may be more inclined to cook them.

Pay Attention to New Tastes.

Taste buds don’t regenerate as quickly as you age. Foods your mom used to love may no longer be appealing. If she’s in the early stages of dementia, you may find her suddenly hating foods she used to love. Her distaste for foods she’s used to may be partially to blame for her lack of enthusiasm when cooking.

Try new flavors. Purchase something new each week and see how she reacts. If you find foods she really enjoys, add those to the shopping list. If she’s tired of garlic, try ginger and sesame oil instead. Play around with herbs and spices to find new favorites.

Try Boxed Meal Subscriptions.

Services like Terra Kitchen can help inspire your parent to cook healthy, flavorful meals. By including fresh ingredients that are organized and labeled, your mom simply has to follow a detailed card to make each meal. You may find her becoming enthusiastic when ingredients are already prepped and ready to cook.

Mix Up Healthy and Comfort Foods.

Your mom wants comfort foods. She is tired of trying to eat healthy meals and would love to have nothing more than fried chicken and meatloaf all week. Look into healthier versions that satisfy her craving for comfort foods and incorporate healthier ingredients. For example, search for baked fried chicken recipes or turkey meatloaf and use those recipes to create meals your mom loves but are a little healthier.

Hire Help.

If you just cannot get your mom excited about cooking, hire a caregiver to do it for her. Your mom can sit down with her senior care professional, discuss her favorite meals, and plan a menu. The caregiver will take your mom shopping for ingredients and help her carry in and put away groceries. Call a senior care agency to learn more about meal preparation services.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care in Bryn Mawr, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860 .