Healthy Recipes to Try at Home
Nutrition is essential to overall well-being and disease prevention. There is a delicate balance between eating foods that taste good and foods that pack a nutritional punch. In addition, many people develop conditions that require specialized diets and eating habits, such as gluten free, low sugar or lactose free.
General dietary guidelines are helpful to ensure the right combination of foods to provide the vitamins and nutrients needed to maintain health. Given the body changes that come with age, the food requirements for seniors need to change as well. It is important to understand the food groups and how coupling foods together creates a balanced meal.
Gluten Free
Many people, especially those with Celiac Disease, have an intolerance to gluten. Gluten is a protein contained in wheat, other grains, and certain foods, such as bread, cake, pie, beer, cereal, cookies, and crackers. The food industry has improved the selection and availability of gluten-free products; consequently, they are easier to find and utilize. Many standard recipes can be made with simple substitutions to adhere to a gluten-free diet. Websites such as allrecipes.com and delish.com offer a vast selection of gluten-free recipes to choose from.
Low Sugar
According to the American Diabetes Association, over 25% of seniors age 65 and over have diabetes. Recipes with lower sugar and carbohydrate content are required for seniors with diabetes. It can be tricky to find just the right balance of foods to prevent spikes in blood sugar. The website Diabetesfoodhub.org provides many recipes for those needing diabetic-compliant meals.
Lactose Intolerant
Lactose is a sugar found in dairy products such as milk, yogurt, and ice cream. Lactose forms when 2 other sugars, glucose, and galactose, join together. Mayo Clinic outlines symptoms of lactose intolerance, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, bloating and gas occurring 30 minutes to 2 hours after eating. As a result, finding recipes that incorporate lactose-free ingredients can prevent a great deal of discomfort. Tasteofhome.com offers many dairy free recipes for those that are lactose intolerant.
Standard Recipes
If a specialized diet isn’t required, then standard recipes that meet the nutritional needs of seniors can be used. These recipes on chefsforseniors.com offer ideas for simple and wholesome meals. There is no need to compromise taste for nutrition. Quick, easy, and nutritious meals are possible. Now is a great time to step outside your comfort zone and try a new and different recipe.
If you have a senior or disabled loved one needs assistance with grocery shopping or meal preparation, please contact Visiting Angels Northeast Ohio. Our Personal Care Program is designed to help with these tasks among many others to ensure the safety and well-being of seniors at home.