Senior Nutrition Eating And Enjoying Healthy Meals

Micronutrient deficiencies and malnutrition are common to seniors due to reduced food intake and a lack of variety in their food. It increases seniors' risk of developing illnesses. Accordingly, in a World Health Organization (WHO) report, the most common diseases affecting older people, such as diabetes, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular illness, are diet-affected. Therefore, the diet of seniors needs extra attention as it can promote health and prevent diseases.

As proper nutrition is crucial for good health, families acquire home care assistance CT to ensure that their senior loved ones have regular healthy, and nutritious meals. Family members and caregivers in Connecticut should also consider creating a healthy diet plan for seniors to support their healthy lifestyle fully.

Consequently, a senior's healthy diet plan should have an emphasis on fruits and vegetables. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the ideal daily serving of fresh vegetables for seniors is 2 to 2.5 cups. The nutrition plan should also consist of carbohydrate-rich foods, such as whole grams, sweet potatoes, and brown rice; protein-rich foods, such as salmon, beans, lean meat, and eggs; and foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as soybeans, canola oil, and walnuts.

The diet plan should also include foods rich in calcium to help build and maintain healthy bones; fiber-rich foods, which promote proper digestion; foods rich in iron, which can help produce hemoglobin in the body; and foods rich in vitamins.

On the other hand, the diet plan of an older adult should avoid, or not include altogether foods that are high in saturated or trans fats, salts, and sugar. It would be best to look at food packaging when purchasing items from the grocery store to avoid serving food, which is bad for older people's health.

Healthy eating can improve a person's health and help prevent the development of diseases. Hence, to ensure that seniors are getting the nutrients their bodies need to stay healthy, family members should create a healthy eating plan and serve healthy food. This infographic of Euro-American Connections & Homecare discusses the importance of seniors' nutrition and how to make sure your elder loved one eats healthy meals.