Celebrate Freshness
May is national salad month and with the warmer weather finally here, there’s no better time to delight your residents with the freshness of a salad. A salad can be a nutrition powerhouse. To boost the nutrition of your salad, think about adding colour and texture. Start with the greens and instead of using only iceburg lettuce, try mixing in darker greens like spinach, romaine, Boston leaf or red leaf lettuce.
For flavour and crunch add in veggies that you know your residents love such as cucumber, tomato, shredded carrot, radish, red onion, baby peas, etc. Fruit can add sweetness to your salad. Try citrus fruits like mandarin oranges and grapefruit or go with blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Finally nuts and seeds are great toppings that add another level of flavour and crunch to your salad.
Amp up the nutrition of any salad by adding good sources of protein such as chicken, beef or pork. Check out these amazing recipe ideas from Maple Leaf that are sure to inspire you!
Salad Based Menu
Deconstructed Cobb Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Pulled Chicken
Berry Chicken Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Diced Chicken
Balsamic Chicken Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Grilled & Ready Chicken Breast Strips
Turkey Waldorf Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Diced Turkey
Turkey and Blue Cheese Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Turkey Breast Strips
Seared Beef Fattoush Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Shaved Steak
Thai Roast Beef Salad, featuring Sure Slice Roast Beef
Tangy Ham & Mandarin Orange Romaine Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Smoked Toupie Ham
Pulled Pork, Apple & Walnut Salad, featuring Maple Leaf Pulled Pork
Theme Day Activities
Garden Club – Grow your own Salad. Gardening is one of
the healthiest activities for seniors because it helps to stimulate their
senses. Have your residents plant common salad ingredients such as
lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, etc. It makes every day living exciting when your residents can monitor the growth of their salad ingredients and then enjoy them when they are ready to eat.
Garden Trip – Plan a trip to a local Farm or Garden Centre.
Build your own Salad Event – Have residents pick their salad ingredients, protein, dressing and
topping.
Host a Farmers Market – Invite local farmers to your home to talk to your residents about the fruits and vegetables they grow.
