If you want the elderly to live long with a high quality of life, you have to start with nutrition. It can be difficult for seniors to get a balanced diet. Elderly people are also more likely to be dehydrated, too.
As a caregiver, it can be hard to make sure your loved one eats well. There are some foods that you should encourage them to eat as much as possible. Do you know what foods should seniors avoid?
Keep reading to find out what they should avoid and what they should eat on a regular basis.
What Food Should Seniors Have?
Let’s start off with the types of foods that seniors should have. Like a typical balanced diet, seniors should have more whole foods. This includes lean proteins like fish and chicken.
They should also have plenty of fruits and vegetables. Complex carbohydrates like brown rice and sweet potatoes are also on the must-have list.
A great guideline for health and nutrition is to follow the Mediterranean Diet plan. This is based on the dozens of healthy cultures that live along the Mediterranean Sea.
This style of eating focuses on having more seafood and less red meat. The diet is also rich in healthy fats that come from olive oil.
What Foods Should Seniors Avoid?
It’s commonly accepted that seniors should avoid processed foods as much as possible. There are also a few foods that are surprising.
Grapefruit is on the list of foods to avoid because it can work against certain medications. You’ll want to check with your loved one’s doctors to see if there are potential issues.
Raw foods can compromise the immune systems of seniors. They should avoid unpasteurized milk, raw fish, and rare steaks and burgers.
How to Get Healthy Meals for Seniors
It can be difficult to get healthy meals for seniors for a variety of reasons. The first reason is that eating habits change as we age. As you get older, your appetite decreases.
Food also has social connotations. Elderly people are more likely to be alone, which means that they may not have the desire to eat. For those with dementia, it can be more challenging because people can forget to eat.
How can you make sure that your loved one is getting enough healthy food? There are healthy senior living dining options, such as growing their own food. This can give them something to do and have a rewarding experience.
You should make sure that they have a regular eating routine that gives them full meals and healthy snacks at the same time each day. This is important if they have cognitive issues.
A Healthy Diet for Senior Citizens
As your loved one ages, it can be hard to make sure they have a healthy diet. Appetite decreases can lead to undernourishment and dehydration, which leads to other health issues.
What foods should seniors avoid? Be sure to stay away from anything raw and cured meats. Be sure they get plenty of cooked fish, legumes, and vegetables. Some of these foods have high water content, which will help with hydration.
For more healthy nutrition tips, check out the Healthy Recipes section of this site.