How to Make Eating Healthy Foods Realistic for Seniors?

Eating well is something that seniors can’t take for granted, but when it’s tough for them to cook for themselves, they might make less healthy choices. Proper nutrition keeps seniors healthier, makes it easier to manage chronic health issues, and keeps them energized. Whether they’re battling physical limitations, changes in how food tastes, or lack of energy, home care could be a huge help for seniors.

Healthy Eating Benefits

Focusing on the benefits of healthy eating can help seniors remember why it’s such a good idea to solve the problems that make cooking more difficult. Seniors who eat healthier are more likely to feel and be healthier. Their brains also get a boost from the nutrients. Proper nutrition keeps seniors moving, helping them to remain engaged in daily life.

Simplify Meal Prep

Complicated recipes with lots of ingredients may not be the best idea for aging adults. While home care assistance can simply take over meal preparation tasks, simpler meal preps are still helpful. One-pot meals, slow cooker recipes, sheet pan dinners, and single-serving meals are all great options.

Use Healthy Convenience Options

Maintaining independence for some seniors means continuing to cook their own meals. That can be easier to do if they’re taking advantage of healthy convenience options. Foods like pre-washed salads, frozen pre-chopped vegetables, canned beans, and more are all great ideas. What’s really important is to read the ingredients and the nutritional label to watch for possible additives.

Focus on Nutrient-dense Foods

Especially when seniors are experiencing diminished appetite, they need to eat nutrient-dense foods. These are foods that provide more nutrients in fewer calories. This means eating a whole apple instead of drinking apple juice, for instance. Whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins all make this list.

Offer Smaller Meals

Another helpful tip for seniors who don’t have the same appetite they used to have is to eat smaller meals more often. Home care providers can make individual servings of healthy meals and snacks, then leave them for seniors to eat when they’re hungry. This helps seniors to feel more in control of what and when they eat while also still getting help with meal preparation.

Establish Routines

Routines and consistent meal times help seniors to have the structure they need in each day. It’s more difficult to skip meals when there is a set meal time, for example. Home care providers can also help seniors remember to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, helping them to dodge dehydration.

Remember the Social Aspect

Finally, so many seniors need for meals to be a more social experience. Eating with a caregiver can make seniors feel less isolated, which may help them to eat regularly. This is a great option if aging adults have felt their appetites diminish even more and aren’t sure why.

Eating healthy meals doesn’t have to mean seniors spend all their time cooking and cleaning up. Home care providers can tackle many of those tasks for them, letting seniors focus on doing what they need to do to stay healthy.

If you or an aging loved one is considering home care in Westchester County, NY, please contact the caring staff at Touching Hearts at Home – Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester, Queens, Rockland today. 646-480-6266