As we age, our nutritional needs change. Here are some healthy eating tips that are specific for older adults.

As people grow older, their metabolism slows down. Their sense weaken, and chronic health conditions tend to sprout up. However, this doesn’t mean it’s too late. Older people can still take steps to ensure their overall well-being and health. And this starts with their eating habits. These eating tips are a great way to ensure older adults get the right nutrition and keep themselves healthy.

Here are 10 Eating Tips for Older Adults to Consider

1. Drink plenty of liquids. Consume water, most of all, as the best source of hydration. Don’t drink water just when you’re feeling thirsty. Also opt for healthier drink options that have less or no sugar and are fat-free, such as 100% juices.
2. Eat a wide variety of foods. A healthy meal should have all the nutrients your body needs, and this stays true even for older adults. This  means their food must have lean protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and low-fat dairy.
3. Have a meal plan. To encourage healthy eating habits, it would be helpful to have a meal plan. This will allow elder adults to follow a nutritious set of meals throughout the week and stay consistent on this diet. This is especially important for older adults who need assistance with their meal preparations and/or with their groceries.
4. Minimize salt. As people age, food may taste more bland. This is because their sense of taste may decline. However, this doesn’t mean you must use more salt, as this will pose more dangers for older people. More salt can cause more heart and kidney disease.
5. Make food tastier using herbs and spices. A great way to make food taste great is with the proper use of herbs and spices instead of salt and seasoning. Using cayenne pepper, basil, rosemary, dill, oregano, turmeric, and other spices are healthy ways to pack flavor into your meals.
6. Read nutrition labels in food packages. Be more aware with what goes into your mouth. This means you have to thoroughly check food labels, especially as older people tend to develop allergies or irritations over food components. It’s also important to check how many calories are in the food, or h ow much fat, sodium, and sugars are in every food item so you can plan your food items and your portions accordingly.
7. Be sure to follow recommended servings. This may not be as important when we’re younger, but for older people, this is something not to be taken lightly. For older people to maintain a healthy weight, or the right levels of nutrition, it’s important to follow recommended serving sizes.
8. Watch your sugar consumption. Refined sugars are loaded with empty calories with no nutritional value. This also can cause diabetes in the long run, along with many other health issues.
9. Choose healthy fats. Not all fats are dangerous or unhealthy. Instead, you should eliminate only saturated and trans fats. Instead, opt for monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, which are proven to help protect your body against many diseases. These “good” fats can be found in olive oil, avocado, nuts, salmon, and other fish high in omega-3 fatty acids.
10. Consider taking supplements. It’s understandable and normal that we may not always get all the nutrients we need in our daily diet. This is why supplements can really come in handy. You may need to talk to your doctor about the supplements that your body needs to ensure you get the optimal amount of nutrients on a daily basis.

At Blessed Home, we ensure our residents get the healthy nutrients their body needs and have complete, healthy meals with the help of our medical and care teams. Talk to us to learn more!