5 Tips to Eat Well as You Age

As we age, it’s essential to develop smarter eating habits. Proper nutrition boosts your mood and energy levels, supports physical health, and helps keep your mind sharp.

Unfortunately, malnutrition has become a significant concern for many seniors. About 12% to 50% of hospitalized older adults experience malnutrition.

So, how can you ensure you get the nutrition your body needs? Use these five simple tips to eat well as you age.

1. Know Your Food Groups

You should familiarize yourself with healthy food groups and know the recommended amount of each group you should eat daily. The amount you consume depends on your age, physical activity, and gender.

Be sure to incorporate plenty of dark green, red, and orange veggies, fresh fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins into your daily diet.

2. Pay Attention to Nutrition Labels

Be mindful while you’re grocery shopping. Don’t just throw anything and everything into your cart. Read nutrition labels carefully. This can help you make educated food choices.

Need help with food shopping? Visiting Angels’ Leominster in-home caregivers can help you make a healthy shopping list, drive you to the supermarket, and prepare delicious, nutritious meals.

3. Understand Your Changing Dietary Needs

Changes accompany every season of life. This includes your dietary needs. Physical changes to your body can affect your diet as you age, including slower metabolisms, a weakened sensitivity to bitter and salty tastes, and slower digestion. Medications you’re taking can also impact food taste and influence your appetite.

Additionally, lifestyle changes can affect your diet as well. Depression, loneliness, or the death of a spouse can all trigger over or undereating. If you’re experiencing feelings of depression or isolation, it’s important to seek help.

Visiting Angels’ compassionate companion caregivers can help alleviate loneliness. They’ll participate in your favorite activities, drive you to appointments, and are always excited to chat.

4. Stay Hydrated

In addition to eating the right foods, older adults must stay sufficiently hydrated. Since your sense of thirst isn’t as sharp as it used to be, you could forget to drink water. Carry a water bottle in your bag while you’re out and about. Keep it by your bed or favorite reading chair when you're home. You can set helpful reminders on your phone so you remember to sip water throughout the day.

5. Keep It Simple

Hate cooking? You can prepare plenty of simple meals in 10 minutes or less. Some items to stock up on include:

Canned veggies with reduced salt
Canned fruit or fruit juice
Soups
Vegetable oils, including canola or olive oil
Eggs
Yogurts and almond milk for smoothies

Avoid eating microwavable meals as these are loaded with sodium and fat.

Visiting Angels Can Help Seniors Stay Healthy

Visiting Angels’ in-home caregivers can help seniors maintain healthy diets and lifestyles. We will create a customized care plan accommodating your unique medical needs and preferences. Our caregivers can help you with meal planning, grocery shopping, and meal preparation.

Contact us today by calling 978-227-5263 to learn more. We proudly serve the communities of Leominster, Gardner, Fitchburg, MA, and the surrounding areas.