Healthy Eating and Nutrition Tips for Seniors According to Canada's Food Guide
Healthy eating is vital at all stages of life. Senior citizens are at risk of developing health issues that will threaten their ability to live safely and comfortably on their own if they don't eat right. Choosing nutrient-dense foods will protect your aging adult's health, give them more energy, and prevent or lower their risk of developing chronic diseases like heart disease or Type 2 diabetes.
While it sounds absolutely sensible to eat better, doing so is more challenging for the elderly. For example, your mother may no longer be as interested in food as she once was. She may have physical limitations preventing her from standing at the stove to cook. There can be lifestyle changes, like a downsized apartment, that can affect how she eats. One action you can take is to hire the services of a trained and caring personal support worker. They can help ensure your mom or dad is taking advantage of the recommendations provided in Canada's Food Guide.
3 Tips for Healthy Eating and Getting Better Nutrition
Making changes so that your adult parents can eat healthy, is not hard. Canada's Food Guide and a professional caregiver make it easy on all of you. Here are three tips to get you started:
- Make Variety the #1 Rule: It gets boring eating the same things, and it could be unhealthy if the food lacks proper nutrients. Broaden Mom's palate by encouraging her to consume dark green vegetables daily, and orange ones on most days. Add whole grain foods and proteins to the mix. Foods in these groups include kale, bok choy, carrots, sweet potatoes, oats, wild rice, whole wheat pasta, eggs, nuts and seeds, fish, beans, lentils, lean red meats, and lower fat milk and yogurt.
- Keep a Water Bottle Handy: Dad may not feel as thirsty, but he shouldn't wait until he is, to drink water. He should drink water throughout the day, including with meals and snacks. Other hydrating options he can drink are lower fat white milk, low sodium soups, almond or soy milk, water-rich vegetables like cucumbers, and fruits such as melons, oranges, and berries. Sugary drinks must be greatly limited.
- Use Meal Planning to Make Shopping for 1 or 2 Easier: When you are used to shopping and cooking for a large family, it isn't easy to cook for only one or two people. Meal planning can be helpful. It provides an opportunity to think through what Mom and Dad need to eat in order to maintain their health. Be sure to account for snacks and those nights when no one feels like cooking. A stocked pantry and a meal plan will do wonders to encourage better eating habits.
Better Health Starts with a Colourful Plate and Caring Support
Ensuring your loved ones have what they need to eat well and remain independent is possible. Start by enlisting the services of a professional home care worker from Home Instead Hamilton. Our staff is well-trained to give your senior what they need. We offer tailored home care services to meet your elderly parent's requirements. We offer personal care, light housekeeping, Alzheimer's care services, and much more. Learn more when you contact us today!
Call us at (905) 521-5500 to schedule a no-obligation, in-home consultation. Learn more about the compassionate, quality senior care we deliver daily to families in Hamilton Mountain, Downtown Hamilton, Rosedale, Kings Forest, Binbrook, Meadowlands, Ancaster, and Dundas.