Meal prep and power bowls are both modern trends that make cooking so much easier and less stressful. The approaches are also perfect for increasing nutrient intake. As such, this list features a selection of meal prep and power bowl recipes for seniors.
The recipes come from a variety of different cooking blogs and cover many different styles. This way you can be certain to find some options that are perfect for your situation.
For even more inspiration, check out our list of Fast and Easy Meals for Caregivers to Prepare.
Meal Prep and Power Bowl Recipes for Seniors
Meal Prep Healthy Chicken Wraps
This first recipe features spicy flavors, making it a fun choice for seniors whose sense of taste has decreased. The meal uses ground chicken breast, which also makes it low in calories and easy to eat.
While the lettuce leaves help to keep the meal low in calories (and carbs), you could substitute these for wraps or something similar if you would rather. The meal would taste delicious either way.
Roasted Winter Veggie Power Bowl
Power bowl recipes for seniors tend to involve a combination of ingredients, many of which are healthy and good sources of protein. This particular version takes advantage of winter colors and flavors, making it a little unusual.
You can also use the recipe as a general guide to power bowls. Ingredients can be easily substituted out for your own personal favorites. You could also add extra ingredients.
Meal Prep Fiesta Chicken Rice Bowls
Here’s another bowl-style recipe. This time you’re making something similar to a risotto, as all of the ingredients are mixed together. Like many of the meals on this list, the recipe is an ideal meal prep choice.
The meal is also fun simply because of the flavors and colors involved. Meals that look stunning like this are perfect for promoting appetite. A meal that looks good can sometimes get even the most reluctant person to eat.
Spiced Apple Cider and Sweet Potato Quinoa Bowl
I love the colors of this quinoa meal so much – especially when it is served in a black bowl like in the image. You end up with a meal that is just breathtaking, one that would also taste as good as it looks.
One key aspect of this recipe is apple cider dijon vinaigrette. The vinaigrette isn’t difficult to make and is well-worth the effort. The flavor of the dressing is what brings this entire meal together.
Chicken Shawarma and Sweet Potato Fry Bowls
Chicken shawarma is popular in its own right, so why not make a bowl-based meal using the chicken? That’s precisely what this recipe does. While there are multiple ingredients included, the sweet potato fries stand out the most.
There is plenty of flavor to go around with this meal too. As such, it’s another good choice for people with diminished appetite.
Grilled Chimichurri Steak Potato Power Bowl
This recipe follows a similar concept as the previous one, but relies on a different type of fries and meat. I particularly love the combination of steak and chimichurri sauce. Those flavors combine perfectly with one another.
The recipe post also includes links to a few other bowls, including one that uses chorizos as the main choice of meat. As such, it is one of the best power bowl recipes for seniors to get you started.
PB & J Oats Power Bowl
Power bowls aren’t just an idea for dinner time. This recipe shows that you can enjoy them for breakfast as well, with a classic peanut butter and jelly flavor.
The meal follows an overnight oats style, which means that you can prepare most of the dish the night before. Doing so is a wonderful way to save time first thing in the morning.
Spicy Veggie Sushi Power Bowl
Here’s a delicious recipe that’s also on the unusual side. The bowl takes inspiration from sushi and relies on ingredients like steamed edamame and toasted quinoa. Not only does the finished meal taste amazing, but it is also packed full of nutrients.
Green Power Bowl
Speaking of nutrients, here is another fun recipe to consider. Like the previous example, this bowl relies on plants, but isn’t short on protein. The entire thing takes around 30 minutes to prepare.
If you need dinner time to be faster still, the rice and Brussels sprouts can be prepped ahead of time. When you do so, the entire meal can be prepared in 15 minutes or so in the evening.
Burrito Power Bowl
This recipe relies on the flavors of burritos, along with plenty of vibrant ingredients. I love the combination of colors. These help to make the meal as exciting as it is delicious.
Tracy mentions that the recipe does rely on a decent number of steps, but none of these take very long to do. You can also save time if you have prepped some of the ingredients earlier.
Chicken Power Bowls with Crispy Baked Garbanzo Beans
Here’s a perfect recipe if you want a power bowl that contains meat. After all, some power bowl recipes for seniors do, while others do not.
Not only is this bowl gluten free, but it is also packed with protein. The combination of garbanzo beans, chicken and eggs makes it a perfect meal for keeping people satisfied. The whole thing would be pretty fun to eat too.
Italian Couscous Salad
This salad is a much lighter meal than the previous example, but is still satisfying enough to be served as dinner. The meal has a tangy dressing and can easily be meal prepped too. It’s a great choice if you want easy lunches too.
Power Breakfast Bowl
This bowl is a fun choice for anyone who loves hearty breakfasts. I love the combination of breakfast sausage and egg, as these are classic breakfast foods. There are also veggies in the mix, including roasted cauliflower and sauteed peppers.
In other words, something to satisfy everyone!
Mediterranean Grain Bowls
This recipe comes from The Mediterranean Dish and, as the name suggests, the meal ends up with a strong Mediterranean flavor profile. There are some fantastic ingredients in the mix too.
The recipe itself isn’t the only reason to go check out the post. There are also details about general rules for building grain bowls.
Dragon Bowls
I love the visual style of these bowls. They look so different to all of the other bowls out there, especially with the amazing sauce. Honestly, the recipe would be worth trying out for the sauce alone. You could use that same sauce on many other types of power bowls.
Kale Cauliflower Power Breakfast Bowl
This meal is designed as a breakfast bowl, although you could actually have it at any point of the day. After all, eggs aren’t exclusive to breakfast. Regardless of when you have it, the meal would be filling and offers a fantastic variety of nutrients.
Spicy Breakfast Power Bowl
Here’s another recipe that includes some stunning colors. There are plenty of delicious flavors too, as this is a spicy meal. The meal would be ideal for spice lovers or anyone with a limited sense of taste.
Healthy Sheet Pan Sausage and Veggies
This meal prep dinner may not have the same stunning colors as the previous recipe, but it isn’t short on flavor. It would also be a good choice for many situations, as the meal ends up being dairy free and gluten free.
The meat and veggies are simply served with cooked quinoa, but you could easily use a different side instead if you would prefer to.
Meal Prep Baked Lime Chicken Bowls
These bowls might use fewer ingredients than many of the others on this list, but that doesn’t stop them from being delicious. I particularly love the use of a chili-lime marinade on the chicken. That combination of flavors always goes together well.
Chicken Fajita Meal Prep Lunch Bowls
Speaking of chicken, here’s another flavor-packed meal to consider. This one takes inspiration from fajitas. The main difference is that you’re serving the meat and veggies on quinoa instead of using wraps.
As always, you could easily swap out the quinoa for another ingredient. Rice or couscous would both be interesting alternatives.
Berry Quinoa Power Bowl
Image credit to: Sharon Palmer, MSFS, RDN, The Plant-Powered Dietitian
Quinoa is a powerful meal base because it pairs well with sweet and savory flavors. This recipe is a perfect example. It could make a delicious hearty breakfast or a summer lunch. You don’t need to stick to the combination of toppings in the image either. Go with whatever you have on hand.
Spicy Satay Power Bowls
This final recipe is perfect if you love meals with plenty of flavor. Not only does this one use a satay sauce, but it is also spicy. The balance of nutrients makes these bowls satisfying too.
The recipe is vegan-friendly and uses tofu as the source of protein. You could also make your own variation and use similar flavors on chicken instead.
Zoe Campos says
Thank you for providing the recipe I need for the spicy satay bowl and it’s good to know that this meal also provides a good balance of nutrients for the elderly as well. My parents recently told me that my grandfather has started losing his appetite and it worries them a lot since he lives all by himself. It might be a good idea to bring him this meal this weekend and see what he thinks about moving to a retirement home.
Angelica says
I’m glad you liked the recipe. Let us know how you get on 🙂