Nutrition Can Be Challenging for Seniors
Often, older adults have trouble getting the proper nutrition. Grocery shopping and cooking become a tedious chore, and if an older person lives alone, eating alone can be uninspiring. If you are concerned that your loved one is not getting the necessary nutrition to support good health, consider these suggestions for fast, easy, and nutritious meals.
Begin with the Basics
Whether you are caring for your loved one or you have enlisted the help of a homecare professional caregiver, it is important to have a plan. Start by creating a meal plan for the week, and working with your loved one on meal preparation. Being part of the preparation can make a person feel more invested in his or her own meals, and meal prepping together can be a fun weekly project. Keep it versatile, prepping ingredients that will work in more than one meal.
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Have nutritious whole grains readily available. Provide whole wheat bread, and prepare enough quinoa or brown rice to go into several meals over the course of a week.
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Stay stocked up on vegetables. Work to make vegetables the largest portion of your loved one’s meals. Instead of pasta or rice, for example, serve the main course over a salad or a bed of leafy greens.
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Keep fresh fruit on hand. Fruit is full of vitamins, and it is also hydrating and full of fiber, so it is perfect for a healthy snack.
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Choose lean meats, proteins, and dairy. Poultry and fish have plenty of protein and iron, with less fat than pork or beef. If cholesterol is a concern, beans, nuts, and seeds are an excellent, protein-packed substitute for animal proteins. For those concerned with lowering fat intake, switching to low-fat or plant-based dairy products is a good option.
Suggestions for Healthy, Simple Meals
Choosing the right meals can ensure proper nutrition without feeling like a chore. Check out these ideas if you are lacking inspiration!
For breakfast:
- Warm oatmeal with fruit
- A hard-boiled egg
- Whole grain frozen waffles or pancakes, topped with fruit and nuts
- Yogurt parfait, with yogurt, nuts, and fruit
- Whole wheat toast with peanut butter or almond butter, fruit on the side
- Poached egg on wheat toast with steamed asparagus
For lunch:
- Quinoa salad, made with pre-chopped stir-fry vegetables, pine nuts or pecans, and cooked quinoa
- Scrambled eggs with herbs and red potatoes
- Red potatoes cooked into cottage fries, served with sharp cheddar and leftover vegetables
- Southwest omelet with eggs, natural salsa, and pepper jack cheese, served with avocado slices
- Salmon wrap, using canned boneless Alaskan salmon in a whole grain wrap, with chopped avocado, tomatoes, greens, and plain yogurt
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Baked or grilled Alaskan salmon, topped with tomatoes, sweet onion, basil, and olive oil before cooking, wrapped in foil
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Ground lamb meatballs with fresh basil and red potatoes
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Sauteed shrimp on salad or pasta
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Pan fried liver slices topped with fennel, red onion, and cabbage and steamed until tender.
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Canned black, white, or pinto beans over brown rice, oats, or barley
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Southwest chicken salad, with boneless, skinless chicken breast and salsa, to be eaten in wraps, over salads, or in soup
Choose Quality Care
When you are looking for someone to provide high-quality care for your loved one, trust an agency with a reputation for high standards and excellence in caregiving. At BrightStar Care of North Houston/The Woodlands, we know that caring for an aging loved one can be challenging. That’s why we work hard to deliver the right care for your relative and to be a partner you can turn to for support. Because we believe that caring is more than just a job, our Nurses, Therapists, CNAs, and Caregivers offer the most professional compassionate care available. In the comforting, familiar surroundings of home, we offer a full range of care services to meet your loved one’s needs and help you when you need it most. Contact us or call 281-367-7827 to learn more about our services and let us know what we can do for you.