Grandma's cake made with sugar substitute and fruit topping---healthy and festive.
Honor Grandma with a birthday experience tailored to her interests and to her needs. Keep in mind any dietary restrictions she follows. Traditional birthday foods are high in calories and the National Institute on Aging cautions that women over the age of 50 who have low levels of activity need only 1,600 calories a day---that's just over the amount in a single slice of chocolate cake at The Cheesecake Factory. Does this Spark an idea?
Tea Party Birthday
Host a tea party for Grandma. Since this is a celebration of Grandma's birthday, if she approves, invite children and men to the party---don't limit the guest list to ladies only. Tell guests the time of the party and that manners will be observed and tea and refreshments will be served. Decorate a room and a table or two depending on the number of guests. Choose pale pink and cream-colored decorations and tie pieces of lace around candleholders and other knickknacks to add to the fanciness. Serve low-sugar and low-fat versions of cakes and cookies with decaffeinated tea. After tea, the grandchildren can present Grandma with songs or poetry recitations before she opens her gifts. Take posed and candid photos of the party and print them in a sepia-brown tone to add to the old-fashioned charm. Present these pictures later in an album so Grandma has a keepsake of the day.
Night Out Birthday
You don't have to take Grandma far from her home to celebrate a night out for her birthday. Check out what is happening in her town on the day you are planning the party. See if an online version of the local newspaper lists events and attractions. Go to a local museum to see a new exhibit or to a community theater production. Take Grandma to her favorite restaurant if she has a preference, but if she is indecisive, take her to the nicest place in town and linger over dinner. At the end of her "night out" birthday, present her with homemade coupons for more nights out like the birthday night, to be redeemed in the next year.
Way-Back Birthday
Transport Grandma and all of her party guests back in time for her birthday. Decide on an era or historical event with particular significance to the birthday lady and build a party around it. Choose the day that Grandma was born as a party theme. Visit your local library for decorating ideas and recipes for the popular foods of the time. Don't forget to modify the recipes to adhere to any dietary restrictions. The History website contains information about at least one event that happened on any day in history. Learn about the fashions of the times and encourage her guests to dress in those styles. Play the music of the era. Surprise the birthday lady with a gift from her party's time. Bid on antiques listed on Internet auction sites, or find them by scrounging local flea markets and yard sales for gifts from the past.
Tags: birthday lady, dietary restrictions, Grandma with, night birthday
