Healthy Eating habits for seniors
Healthy Eating habits for seniors
Healthy Eating is the first step towards a healthy living. When you subject your body to good food, it directly reduces the risk of developing heart problems or any other chronic diseases. The habit of eating good food or in another word “Healthy Eating” should be inculcated from childhood and expand through all the phases of life however it becomes necessary when we reach a certain age. Our seniors need special care about what they consume. Elderly care for parents involve a lot of love and proper knowledge of what they & the body actually need.
The world is dealing with a lot of issues and Malnutrition is one of them. When we talk about Malnutrition, it doesn’t only mean eating less. Eating too much, eating junk & unhealthy food devoid our body of any nutrients. The Risk of being underweight or overweight increases the chances of weaker bones & muscles and makes your body prone to more diseases. The elders in our homes are not averse from this.
Healthy Eating
Did you know that healthy eat can help in improving not only the physical wellbeing of a person but mental conditions too. We are not saying that one would get cured of Dementia or Alzheimer’ or bipolar but it certainly improves one’s energy levels and aversion to illness.
Be it in an independent living services community or care for elderly parents at home, Having a basic eating plan which is healthy yet not too complicated is not as complex as it is made to be. A healthy eating plan should include food abundant in vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients. Let’s simplify it a bit and talk about what to have and what not to.
WHAT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE HEALTHY EATING ?
1. One should start with including veggies & fruits in their diet. Lots of Fruits, vegetables, fat-free dairy & whole grains should be included in the diet.
2. One should see that they complete their intake of protein content for a day in the form of fish or beans or lentils or several other eatables.
3. Calcium for good bones. Some food which has calcium are milk, yogurt, tofu, etc.
4. Drinking lots of water is also a part of fine eating. Along with keeping the body clean and improving overall health, drinking an appropriate amount of water has several other benefits.
5. For people on a budget, avoid eating out more & try to buy in bulk. Also, keep in mind that your Farmer’s market has cheaper & fresher items than that of the superstore.
WHAT SHOULD ONE AVOID?
1. Food rich in cholesterol or Fat.
2. Fried Food Stay away, please!
3. Try and avoid canned food as much as possible. Nothing beats a home-cooked meal.
4. Put your eyes away from Empty Calories. That means No chips or lots of candy this way!
Having said this, Healthy eating is not just about good food. It’s also about one enjoying their meal. Physical Exercise is also an important part of staying healthy. Exercise always helps!