As we age, the food we eat becomes more important. Whatever we consume contributes a lot to our health, be it positively or negatively. Think of your grandma or grandpa. Have you thought of the food for the older adults if they are healthy and yet still enjoyable to eat?
Indeed, your parents or grandparents should still find an eating activity to look forward to. Unfortunately, many older adults today have poor diets because they don’t get to eat nutritiously every meal of the day. As a result, since they are not able to provide their bodies the nutrients they need, chances are, their health will suffer.
What are the 10 Best Foods for Older Adults?
It may be hard to believe, but the food for seniors can still be enjoyable even if they are part of a healthy diet. Here are 10 of the healthiest eats you can serve them every mealtime:
1. Fruits Rich in Vitamin C and Antioxidants
You’ll find a lot of these in the food market. Specifically, apples are great options for antioxidants- and Vitamin-C rich eats for the elderly. People with high levels of blood sugar and cholesterol find apples wonder fruits of their soluble fiber content, which is a great contributor to the slower uptake of blood sugar and lower cholesterol. Undeniably, they, too, are rich in Vitamin C, potassium and antioxidant.
2. Some Kinds of Seafood
Some varieties of seafood, specifically oysters, crab, and scallops, contain iron, Vitamin B12, potassium, magnesium, and iron are also great foods to have for older adults. All of these vitamins and minerals are advantageous for older people’s brain function.
3. Greens and Leaves
Greens, specifically leafy vegetables including kale, broccoli, spinach, and turnip greens have always had a connection with lower cognitive decline levels as people grow older.
4. Berries
Good sources of antioxidants are fruits and vegetables as they help in fighting the hazardous free radicals in the body. Specifically, dark-skinned fruits and berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, red grapes, cherries, red grapes, and oranges are all great picks for the seniors to maintain a healthy weight.
5. Eggs
If you’re looking for foods for your aging parents that are rich in protein, eggs are the best options. They are simple to include in the food for the older adults whatever time of the day. This variety of foods are high in choline, too, which is rich in Vitamin B that will help your elderly loved one’s memory, not to mention, stress management.
6. Cold-water fish
Is your family prone to cardiovascular diseases? Then, when planning the food for the elderly, you should always ensure they are eating a variety of heart-healthy foods. The best choice for this is a variety of cold-water fish including halibut, salmon, mackerel, tuna, and sardines, to name a few. Cold-water fish are rich in Omega-3 fatty acid levels that are good for the brain and heart.
If your elderly loved ones are not too keen to eat this food variety, you can have them drink a cup of tea or munch in s handful of nuts, beans, flaxseed, and heart-friendly oil for alternatives.
7. Asparagus
This is a nutrient-filled option for your food for the older adults that can benefit the elderly. For example, Lycopene can fight prostate cancer. In addition, the Vitamin A asparagus contains, can boost your senior loved one’s eye health and immune system. Its fiber content, on the other hand, contributes to the reduction of cholesterol levels and an older adult’s heart health.
8. Coffee
If your parent is drinking coffee, there’s a big chance he can reduce the risk of various illnesses, specifically stroke, respiratory and heart illnesses, infections, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s Disease.
9. Yogurt
Specifically, serve your elderly loved one Greek yogurt as this belongs to the food group that’s rich in protein, not to mention its digestion-friendly probiotics content. More importantly, yogurt doesn’t have added sugar, making it diabetic-friendly. Undoubtedly a perfect choice for the seniors, yogurt contains plenty of calcium for the bones’ health.
10. Chocolates
Here’s the great news! The chocolate habit might even be good foods for the seniors in your household. Dark chocolate, in particular, is filled with antioxidants. More so, it may help lower blood pressure, preempt heart attacks, and lower the chance of having a stroke. Ensure, though, that the older adult in your family eats it in moderation.
Healthy Eating Habit is Beyond Food
In his present time, healthy eats for the older adults don’t just refer to the food a person eats as he ages. It may also be linked to physical activities and health care. In addition, the habit of eating healthy may also mean the pleasure of consuming food, which is even better when shared. Indeed, eating with companions can be essential as adding vitamins to the food a person eats.
Even if your senior loved one lives alone, he can still enjoy healthy meals by shopping with friends. Shopping together may also mean sharing new ideas about meals, in which healthy restaurants offer dishes at discount prices. Another way to ensure the right food for older people is by cooking with a companion.
You can have a senior loved one’s friend come over your (or his) place where they both can share their favorite cooking hobby. Here, they can share responsibilities in the kitchen like preparation of the ingredients, cooking, and washing the cookware used when cooking.
