Nutritious foods and positive eating habits are essential for good mental, physical, and emotional health in older adults. Consuming unhealthy foods could speed up cognitive decline, which is why seniors need to find easy ways to consume proper nutrients. Below are some tips elderly people can use to follow a healthy diet.
Eat at Home More
Going out to a local restaurant provides an opportunity to interact with others, which is great for socialization. However, the chefs could prepare the dishes with unhealthy oils and ingredients, making it difficult to get proper nutrition. Therefore, your senior parent should try to eat at home more and only go out to restaurants occasionally.
For the socialization aspect of eating out, you can find fun activities like arts and crafts, sporting events, and exercise groups for your loved one to take advantage of during the week. In addition to eating at home more, your parent should practice portion control to avoid overeating and fast weight gain.
Avoid Sugar
Sweet treats and some entrées contain large amounts of sugar, putting your loved one at risk for health problems like diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and poor oral health. Encourage your loved one to eat healthy fruits, such as cantaloupe, blackberries, and blueberries, instead of unhealthy items full of sugar.
It would also be a good idea to purchase sugar-free foods your loved one can eat when he or she craves sweets and other sugary items. Seniors should also drink sugar-free beverages and plenty of water instead of sodas, sweet tea, and juices.
A professional caregiver with expertise in nutrition can be a wonderful source of information and encouragement for your loved one. Elderly home care agencies can be a great boon to seniors. With the help of the caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care, your aging loved one can lead a happier and healthier life. Our caregivers encourage seniors to eat nutritious foods, exercise and socialize regularly, and focus on other lifestyle factors that increase life expectancy.
Try Meatless Options
Most red meats contain high cholesterol and other unhealthy ingredients, and when they’re eaten more frequently, those foods can prevent seniors from maintaining a healthy diet. However, serving plant-based meat substitutes could help your loved one lose weight and boost his or her cardiovascular health.
If your loved one needs help planning and preparing nutritious meals, a professional caregiver can be a fantastic source of support. Aging in place can present a few unique challenges for older adults. Some only require part-time assistance with exercise or meal preparation, while others are living with serious illnesses and benefit more significantly from receiving live-in care. Milwaukee, WI, Assisting Hands Home Care are leaders in the elderly in-home care industry for good reason. We tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual needs, our caregivers continue to receive updated training in senior care as new developments arise, and we also offer comprehensive care for seniors with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s.
Check Nutrition Labels
Some foods may seem healthy, but the ingredients could damage the digestive system, prevent good circulation, or cause excessive weight gain. Therefore, your loved one should verify the ingredients in all items before purchasing them.
Your parent also needs to check the amount of calories, sodium, fat, and cholesterol in beverages, snacks, seasonings, and other foods. For example, eating foods high in sodium could increase blood pressure and cause severe health problems, such as a stroke or heart attack, so it would be best to look at the nutrition labels and choose items made with less salt or no sodium at all.
If your loved one finds it challenging to follow a healthy diet, consider enlisting the help of a professional home caregiver. In Milwaukee, Home Care providers can benefit aging adults in a variety of ways. From cooking nutritious meals to offering timely medication reminders, the dedicated caregivers at Assisting Hands Home Care are available to help your elderly loved one 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To hire a professionally trained caregiver for your parent, call us at (262) 228-4467 today.
