When caring for seniors, a healthy diet is one of the best ways to improve their quality of life. A wide variety of whole foods is best for everyone.
When dealing with a senior who is very attached to their comfort foods, you need to take into consideration that it is hard to change a long standing habit. Change your habits.
Another issue to consider is how well they are able to chew their foods. This may be something that they don’t like to talk about, or it may be a challenge you are well aware of.
Healthy Diet Plans are about what to avoid as much as they are about what to eat. Since whole foods are desired, emphasize whole food and avoid processed foods. You may find that very challenging since many comfort foods may be processed, depleted, sugary and salty foods.
Your senior needs whole, nourishing foods that are NATURALLY sweet and flavorful. Of course they have to be in on the plan if you want to succeed. Do whatever you can to inspire them to make changes that will benefit them.
The term “processed foods” refers to any processing that would make a food less wholesome or harmful. Remember these 10 tips to guide your senior’s healthy diet plan.
1. Fruits and veggies lose quality from the moment they are picked, but even if you don’t grow them yourself, they are far more wholesome than anything that comes out of a box or can.
2. Any type of cutting or grinding allows oxidation of the food stuff and reduces the nutritional value. Grain is completely pulverized to make flour.
3. Heat also causes problems. Don’t cook away all your nutrients! Roasted nuts are acidic. You are far better off eating raw nuts that have not been altered by heat. Raw nut butters are an incredibly nourishing food without the chewing challenge of whole nuts.
4. Chemicals add insult to injury. Foods are unwholesome after being pulverized and cooked, throwing chemicals into the mix makes for a sad meal indeed.
5. White flour foods with chemical additives are probably the very worst part of any diet. Just because your bread is brown, doesn’t mean it’s more wholesome than white bread!
Eating 100{3813292df256cc7359db914c8bfffc508a0964aa786224d36d2cb21f4b33d600} whole wheat products is a step in the right direction, but you are still eating a grain that has been through a lot since it left the field. Wheat is a very common allergen. Flour foods are problematic! Keep in mind that breads/muffins (except those of the sprouted variety), pastries/dough nuts, cakes, pies, cookies, and even pasta are all flour foods.
Keep in mind that sprouted grain breads are available in many whole foods stores, and they offer far better nutrition than breads made from flour. Sprouted breads are not as soft as bread made from flour, but your senior may not object if you toast slightly before serving, making them more flavorful and soft.
6. Soda is a poor choice no matter what your age. This is one of the toughest habits to kick. Though most soda addicts belong to the younger generation, seniors who indulge will suffer the effects even more.
Seniors associate loss of energy with aging. Be aware that avoiding carbonated beverages is guaranteed to boost your energy levels.
7. With a little attention devoted to limiting poor food choices, your senior will reap even bigger rewards for including good food choices into their meals.
8. The challenge is to please your patient’s palate. If you have a willing participant your job is a whole lot easier. Make sure you take note of their favorites and what they didn’t like about a new dish. You will more easily get a sense of how to please them.
9. If your senior is not a willing participant, I encourage you to show them respect, and then make a plan to improve their diet anyway! There is much you can do to boost the nutritional value of a meal without drawing the attention of your picky eater.
* fresh fruit goes down easily in a smoothie
* soy lecithin is a great fatty acid that hides well in smoothies
* veggies can be blended into soup
* grate veggies into foods if your picky eater tolerates it
* puree veggies and use them in creating pancakes, sandwiches, sauces, even desserts
* fresh fruit and veggie juices are powerful nutrition, coax down 4 ounces at a time and you are getting somewhere
* olive oil is beneficial, most other cooking oils are harmful
* use your imagination
* collect creative recipes
10. You are your senior’s best advocate. Remember that sometimes your patient may not realize how easy change can be. It is your job as their caregiver and hero to advocate for what is best for them.
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