When it comes to nutrition, seniors face several obstacles. Physical and mental decline, whether due to natural aging processes or illnesses, often makes it more difficult for seniors to plan and prepare healthy meal options. For example, as the body ages, it needs less calories. This means seniors may have less of an appetite or start to gain weight if they are eating the same amount as before. At the same time, the body needs just as many nutrients. In fact, the body often needs more of certain nutrients as aging slows down the natural production of these nutrients in the body. Illness, dental sensitivity, chronic conditions, and certain medications can also lessen appetite. To add to the difficulties, many chronic conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease risk, place restrictions on what seniors can eat. For seniors struggling with conditions that cause physical weakness, preparing food can be an exhausting task. Cognitive decline, even in a mild form, can make it hard to plan healthy meal options and follow recipes. All of these obstacles can lead to seniors becoming malnourished due to lack of nutrients or calories.
Despite these difficulties, a healthy diet is still a crucial part of aging well. How can a senior overcome these obstacles? Here are a few ways to address the nutritional problems that seniors can face:
- Small appetite? Focus on including “superfoods” in your diet. These are foods that provide lots of different nutrients, cutting down on the amount of food that your body needs to get the proper nutrients. Some examples include: fortified dairy products, which provide calcium, vitamin d, and protein; leafy greens that contain vitamins, iron, magnesium, calcium, and antioxidants; fatty fish supply protein, vitamins D and b12, omega-3’s, and iron; berries are full of antioxidants, fiber, and vitamin C.
- Difficulty preparing food? If cutting is an issue, pre-cut fruits, veggies, and meat are available at most grocery stores. Home delivered meal kits are also a great option, taking the stress of planning and shopping away as well as making prep easier. These kits can also be customized to specific diets.
- Lacking motivation? Try to find a community to support your nutritional goals. Look for senior or community centers near you that offer community meals for certain diets (i.e. diabetes or heart-friendly). Invite friends or family over for dinner to encourage you to cook both delicious and healthy meals. Experiment with new recipes and ingredients to add some fun and find the combinations that work for you.
- Struggle with portion control? Buy healthy snacks that are prepackaged or portion out homemade snacks ahead of time. Use smaller or sectioned plates to help with dishing up the proper amount of each kind of food.
While this is general nutritional advice, each senior has their own unique needs and challenges. A care manager can help you find the solutions that will work best for your circumstances. Whether that means connecting you with a trusted nutritionist, finding community support, or providing a clear action plan to get you to your goals, we will work to make sure that you have the resources and support you need to thrive in your aging journey.
Reach out to Infinity Care Solutions to get started today!
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