Thanksgiving is going to be a little different in 2020.
Many families have had to cancel their get-togethers this year over safety concerns . Thankfully, it can still be a festive time with plenty of good food and company – things will just look a bit different.
Go High Tech This Holiday Weekend
Rather than travelling to see friends or hosting a large family dinner, keep it small this year and plan to connect virtually instead.
While you may be more comfortable just on the phone, video chats are a great way to talk to more than just one person at a time. Plus, there’s nothing like seeing the smiling faces of grandkids who seem to grow like weeds.
Once you’ve settled on a mode of communication, work with the hosts of each household to plan at least a few similar dishes. That way you can all enjoy the same appetizers, your family’s secret stuffing recipe, or a slice of apple pie for dessert. Try to coordinate the same dinnertime, so you can “sit down” to dinner together.
Technology may not be everyone’s strong suit, so if you feeling trepidatious about using Zoom or Skype, you’re not alone. To keep in touch with friends and family, find out what your family is using already and ask for tips for getting it started. If you need help, All Seniors Care staff are more than happy to help you connect with loved ones.
Fun Thanksgiving Meals Without All the Work
You don’t have to worry about making a big turkey dinner at All Seniors Care. We’ve been redefining senior living through quality care, residences, and top-quality food. Still, many of our residents have kitchens and love to do their own cooking or baking themselves, especially around a holiday like Thanksgiving.
Food really is at the heart of the holiday. Without having to feed a small army, you’re free to do some fun, smaller Thanksgiving-themed meals like these:
Mediterranean Turkey Breast
For some, it just isn’t Thanksgiving without the turkey. Fortunately, you don’t need to throw a whole bird into the oven to get that turkey taste. Try out this Garlic and Herb Roasted Turkey breast recipe that’s both delicious and heart heathy!
Pumpkin Soup
A creamy pumpkin soup will bring all the fall flavours to your table in a hearty but healthy dish that will warm you up. It can be a whole meal in its own right or an appetizer to a bigger fall feast. What will really push this recipe over the top is the addition of green pumpkin seeds (also known as pepitas) as a garnish to give it some satisfying crunch.
Apple Cinnamon Layer Cake
And what about dessert? This apple cinnamon layer cake from Country Living is topped with candied pecans and a salted caramel frosting. Go ahead and treat yourself!
Fall Meals at All Seniors Care Living Centres
If you want to learn more about our Ontario residences, why not start in the kitchen? All Seniors Care Living Centres strive to provide top-quality, nutritious meals every day of the year.
At our seniors homes and apartments in Ottawa, London, Stratford, and across the country, teams led by Red Seal Certified Chefs will be cooking up a tasty fall menu for residents. From autumnal soups to Oktoberfest classics and Thanksgiving favourites, fall is one of the tastiest times of the year.
Thanksgiving Day at All Seniors Care
Seniors living in ASC retirement communities love events!! Thanksgiving marks the beginning of a fun-filled fall season. From crafts to pumpkin spiced ice cream, Thanksgiving Trivia to Charlie Brown movies, our Activity Coordinators are working hard to fill the day with fun, food, and fall colours.
In anticipation of the big meal, Chapel Hill Retirement Residence asked it’s Facebook followers, “Turkey or Ham?” Find out which one won!
What are you grateful for? Summit Heights residence in Hamilton, Ontario wants to know! Have your says here.
Stay Positive this Holiday Season
If you’re looking for a pick-me-up during this Thanksgiving, check out our new Life is Good Video series, where we asked seniors to share their inner wisdom. You’ll find episodes that touch on things like how all you need is love where we talk to residents about what love really means to them, and light-hearted topics like ‘the kids these days’.
When we talked to some of our centenarian residents about the secrets to a long life, one piece of wisdom that they expressed was to “roll with the punches.” A positive outlook and a willingness to adapt are key to managing stress and living a healthier life. For more tips, follow us on social media and look out for our Mindful Monday where we outline proven coping skills.
This Thanksgiving may look different, but it can still be a time for great food and catching up with family and friends.