4 Healthy Nutrition Habits for Seniors
As your senior parents continue to age, their nutrition habits are more important than ever.
Their health is more easily affected by diet, so receiving the proper nutrients and avoiding unhealthy habits is crucial. A balanced diet gives seniors more energy, maintain a normal body weight, and protect their overall, long-term health.
Here are four ways to help the senior in your life achieve a more nutritious diet:
1. Use Proper Portions
Having portions that are too large is a common issue in the US, but many seniors also don’t eat large enough portions. To ensure that your senior is getting all their necessary nutrients without going overboard, review their daily diet and help make changes that will keep their portions on track. Base portioning on a slightly lower calorie count than the 2,000 calorie-estimate for young adults. Visit this website for a resource to learn more about how to tailor your senior’s portioning needs.
2. Track Nutrients
Seniors need essential nutrients that give them an extra boost of energy and protect them from disease and illness. Generally, the best way to ensure that your senior is receiving all their necessary nutrients is to look at the colors on their plate. If their plate looks like a colorful rainbow, they likely are eating foods with an array of nutrients. If you do think your senior is missing out on certain nutrients, talk with their doctor about how to fill the gap. The answer may be introducing new foods to their diet or adding supplements.
3. Keep a Balanced Diet
Variety is the spice of life; make sure that your senior’s plate reflects that mantra. Your senior needs a variety of foods in their diet to get all the necessary nutrients. The fortunate news is that there are simple resources to assist in balancing your senior’s diet. MyPlate is a website created by the US Department of Agriculture that gives guidelines to determine how to create a balanced diet. It also explains what portion makes up a serving for each food group. Using this tool will help ensure that your senior is on a healthy diet track.
4. Stay Hydrated
There is one ingredient that is commonly left out of the nutrition pyramid. Fortunately for us, it comes straight from the tap. Water is an essential part of any healthy diet, especially for seniors. Without enough water, your senior is risking
joint issues, dehydration, and even slight memory troubles. Make sure your senior is getting the proper 6-8 glasses of water a day.
Making slight diet changes now will improve the long-term health of your senior down the road. But it’s not only diet: activity, exercise, and mental stimulation are also key portions of any senior’s overall health and well-being. Consider all these factors as you promote a healthy lifestyle for your senior.
Please contact us with any specific questions you have. We are happy to help serve you and your senior.
