Four Pointers to Get Your Senior to Eat Better
Your senior’s doctor might have mentioned that it’s time for your elderly family member to eat better. But what does that really mean and is it possible?
Home Care Services Oakton VA – Four Pointers to Get Your Senior to Eat BetterHandle the Shopping and the Cooking
Shopping for food and cooking it is exhausting and if your elderly family member only has a limited amount of energy anyway, that’s a big problem. Add in the need for your senior to eat healthier food choices that might challenge her to cook in new ways and the problem gets bigger. One option is for you to take over these tasks for her, but you might not have the time or energy, either. Home care services providers are the perfect answer. They can ensure your elderly family member has plenty of healthy food choices and that she doesn’t have to work too hard to eat a tasty meal.
Taste, Texture, and Other Variables Matter
Something to consider is that your elderly family member’s senses change as she ages, as do her preferences. Certain textures might be difficult to chew or to swallow, which means she may avoid those foods in the future. And if the food is bland or unappealing, either because of its visual appearance or the fact that her senses of taste and smell are fading, she might have a similar reaction.
Foods Full of Nutrients Are Important
Nutritional density is the important factor when you’re choosing foods and recipes. You want to stick to fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Lean proteins round out the nutritional requirements. All of these types of foods are important for her to be eating. The trick is ensuring that they’re tasty, appealing, and that they’re ready when she is.
Healthy Snacks Boost Food Intake
If your aging family member isn’t eating much during meals, it might be time to start adding in healthy snack options. Those keep her munching more of the day, which can actually get her to start eating a little more. When you stick with healthy options, you’re getting more nutrition than calories into her and her body can definitely use those nutrients.
You might be trying everything you can and your senior is still fighting you about what she eats, so it’s time to pick your battles. Even if she’s eating only one food regularly that is better for her than other options, that’s a win. It’s difficult for anyone to completely change how they eat on a regular basis, so try to cut her a little slack.