For elders, eating a balanced diet plays a key role in health and wellness. Some of the many benefits of eating right include that you are better able to maintain a healthy weight and have the energy you need to enjoy your day. Proper nutrition can also have a positive impact on brain health. Plus, eating well lowers your risk of common health conditions like diabetes and heart disease. As a leading provider of senior living homes, we ensure that all the meals we prepare are both delicious and nutritious. We also provide seniors and their families with strategies for healthy eating when they are having meals elsewhere.
Keep These Nutrition Tips in Mind
Here are nutrition tips that we follow at Green House Homes and that all elders should be aware of:
- Understand and meet your caloric needs. Consuming more calories than your body needs on a regular basis can lead to excessive weight gain and health problems. Not consuming enough calories can lead to weight loss and a different set of health problems. Talk with your doctor about what your ideal weight range is and how best to stay within it.
- Eat meals that include four key components. They are: lean protein from lean meats, beans, eggs and seafood; whole grains like whole wheat pasta and brown rice; fruits and vegetables, especially those that are brightly colored; and low-fat dairy like skim milk.
- Stay hydrated. While people don’t think of water as a nutrient, it is critical to the proper functioning of all the body’s systems.
- Eat appropriately for any health conditions you have. Your doctor may advise you to modify your diet based on your medical conditions, such as cutting down on sodium intake if you have high blood pressure. Be sure to follow that advice.
- Be aware that food sensitivity can change over time. It may be that you used to be able to eat all the garlic you wanted, but now it gives you heartburn. These kinds of changes are not uncommon as we age. Be open to the possibility that you may need to cut certain things out of your diet.
- Know what a healthy plate looks like. The USDA has a great image and accompanying information on what a proper serving of food should look like as part of its MyPlate program.
- Get information on food/medication interactions. Even healthy foods can have a negative impact on the effectiveness of certain medications. Talk with your doctor about your diet whenever you start a new medication or change your dosage.
Eating Right, Living Right
In our senior living homes, we provide tasty, well-balanced meals prepared with love that support elder health. It’s one of the many ways we are reimagining eldercare. Contact us to learn more.
