Healthy Eating Habits for Your Elderly Loved Ones: Tips and Recipes

Include Lots of Fruits and Vegetables in Their Regular Diet

Vegetables and fruits are low in calories and loaded with fiber and nutrients. Give them frozen, fresh, or canned, as per preference. If cutting or slicing fruits and veggies is a chore, look for pre-sliced options when grocery shopping.

Stick to a Proper Routine for Regular Mealtimes

Ensure that older individuals have breakfast, lunch, afternoon snacks, and dinner at the same time every day. And if you think that they need more, arrange other meals in between, like mid-morning snacks with quality food choices.

Vary Their Protein Sources

Add lean meats, fish, peas, and beans to their diet as much as possible. Also, vegetarian sources of protein should be incorporated as they offer the required nutrients without saturated fats. Protein will give them energy and keep their muscles, bones, and skin in prime condition.

Share Meals with the Elderly Whenever Possible

Of course, you may be busy balancing personal and professional life, but whenever possible, share meals with your elderly loved ones. The presence of friends and family members during mealtimes may give them enjoyment and also increase their appetite. Choose one or more meals every week to share with them, keeping a happy and pleasant environment.

Incorporate Healthy Fats

Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats are healthy fats that offer energy and keep the brain and heart healthy. Increase the elderly’s intake of these fats by incorporating foods like extra virgin oil, nuts, avocadoes, and fatty fish in their diet.

Offer Foods in Their Natural Forms

Avoid ultra-processed foods as much as possible, as they contain huge amounts of salt, sugar, and fat. Instead, go for real or fresh foods of superior quality, giving much preference to whole grains and cereals, like quinoa, wheat, rice, and oats. Legumes like soybeans, lentils, peas, and chickpeas may also be a good choice.

Prepare and Plan Healthy Meals for the Seniors

Closely coordinate with our experienced in-home care providers at Vesta Elder Care to plan and prepare some of the healthiest meals for your loved elderly. Guide them on grocery shopping for your senior family member and ensure they help with meal preparation that offers all-around nutrition. A few healthy recipes for the elderly are as follows:

Pumpkin Oatmeal

With the goodness of dairy or non-dairy milk, oats, and pumpkin, this tasty oatmeal recipe is perfect for cool winter and fall mornings. Pumpkin in this recipe is a good source of vitamins A and C, while oatmeal offers healthy dietary fiber.

Carrot Ginger Juice

To boost immunity in the elderly, go for the healthy and nutritious carrot ginger juice. Scrub clean, and peel the carrots and ginger well, chop them into pieces, and once juiced, add some lemon for an extra zing. With the natural sweetness of carrots and the spicy heat of ginger, this homemade juice is a rich source of minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants.

Easy Fruit Salad

Fruit salads are easy to make, fun to eat, and highly customizable to individual preferences and tastes. Ensure your fruit salad includes a lot of fruits high in vitamin C with a dose of orange juice and honey. Get the ingredients right, and you can easily prepare a delicious, anti-bacterial breakfast that’s both refreshing and filling for your loved elderly.

Conclusion

Coupling the above-mentioned healthy eating habits and recipes with regular physical activity can keep the elderly energetic, helping them enjoy life for several years to come. Still, have questions about a senior citizen’s diet and overall well-being? The experts at Vesta Elder Care can help. Our caring and compassionate in-home care providers are here to help your elderly through their golden years. Contact us today or book an appointment online to get started.