As seniors grow older, they may need to think about changing their diets to include foods that are more nutritionally dense than the foods they ate in the past. Eating nutrient-dense foods doesn’t mean that seniors can’t ever eat their old favorites, but it might mean prioritizing these foods in their daily diets. Home care providers can help aging adults to plan meals that give them the nutrition and enjoyment they need and want.
Healthy Fats
Healthy fats are great for keeping seniors’ brains and hearts working properly. These types of foods can include avocados, olive oil, and fatty fish. Some of these options do double duty, like fatty fish also being high in protein, or avocados containing vital fiber. Including these foods in meal plans helps with satiety, ensuring that seniors enjoy their meals and feel full longer. Eating just enough healthy fats means maintaining a careful balance, and elder care providers can help seniors maintain that balance.
Dairy
If seniors can tolerate dairy, it’s an easy way for them to get more protein and healthy fats into their diets. Ingredients like cottage cheese are incredibly versatile, and seniors can also bulk up their calcium intake. Other types of cheese eaten in moderation also offer calcium and protein, among other nutrients. Keeping cheese cut up in cubes makes for an easy snack that seniors can grab whenever they want, and home care providers can make this even easier.
Eggs
Eggs are another versatile food, and they’re full of nutrition as well. Each egg contains between 6 and 7 grams of protein, depending on its size. That means it can be easy for seniors to get quite a bit of protein in a smaller package. Hard-boiling eggs makes them easy to leave in the fridge for a nutritious snack between meals. Eggs can also be scrambled, poached, and cooked in an air fryer as an alternative to frying in oil. They’re really easy to add to the side of just about any meal, too.
Yogurt
Yogurt, particularly Greek yogurt, is rich in protein. It also offers calcium and plenty of good gut bacteria that seniors need. For many seniors who are lactose intolerant, yogurt offers an option for eating dairy without facing an upset stomach. Yogurt can also take the place of ingredients like sour cream, offering a nutritional boost without excess calories.
Nuts and Seeds
Nuts, seeds, and nut butters are incredibly rich in nutrients. They’re high in protein, but also in healthy fats and fiber. They contain plenty of vitamins and minerals as well, like magnesium, potassium, and vitamin B6. Adding nuts and seeds, even in nut butter form, to recipes can add a savory flavor to some dishes while also adding nutrients.
Seniors don’t have to make all of these changes at once, especially if some of these foods aren’t ones that they already enjoy. Home care providers can help seniors to pick and choose which ones they want to start prioritizing in their weekly menus, swapping out less nutritious foods for ones that are more nutrient-dense.
If you are considering home care in Henderson, NV, for an aging loved one, please contact the caring staff at Golden Heart Senior Care of Summerlin. 702-800-4616
