Four Tips to Help Seniors Prepare Healthy Meals

Eating a well-balanced diet is an essential component to healthy age. However, many seniors miss the mark on getting adequate nutrition to support their aging bodies. Loss of appetite, change in tastebuds, a decline in the ability to smell aromas, and other digestive discomforts, such as gastroenteritis, can cause an older adult to lose interest in healthy foods. Physical ailments, such as arthritis or low endurance, can prevent older adults from preparing healthy foods requiring dexterity and long-standing periods.

Another cause of poor nutrition in older adults is loneliness. Pew Research Center reports that 27 percent of adults aged 60 and older in the U.S. live alone. Cooking for one can be overwhelming and exhausting. Eating alone only magnifies loneliness and feelings of depression. These feelings can suppress the appetite, causing an older adult to lose interest in eating a well-balanced diet.

With a bit of planning, older adults can get their diets back on track. Here are four tips to help seniors prepare healthy meals.

Purchase Pre-Sliced Produce

Slicing fruits and vegetables to prepare healthy dishes often requires older adults to stand for long periods. It also takes a lot of hand and finger dexterity to chop produce safely. If slicing produce has become a barrier to preparing healthy meals, purchase pre-sliced produce from your grocery store. Frozen produce that is already sliced or diced is another great option. It often takes minutes to thaw or can be added to a stovetop dish even when frozen.

Use Your Freezer

Always have a healthy meal ready to thaw by utilizing your freezer. You can double recipes and freeze the extra. You can also prepare a dish up to a certain point, then freeze it before cooking. This is an excellent option for seniors who live alone and often have leftovers. Save enough leftovers for one meal to eat the following day, then freeze the rest. The Food Network has an excellent guide on how to safely prepare, freeze, and thaw healthy meals, including the best way to store and package meals.

Learn Healthy Substitutions

Many older adults give up preparing healthy meals because they think they must learn all new recipes. However, many recipes can be adapted to turn an unhealthy dish into a healthy meal. Substitute veggie noodles for pasta noodles in your pasta dishes. Use lean ground turkey instead of fatty red meat, or swap beans for meat altogether. Add chopped vegetables to pasta sauce or pizza toppings. Cook with healthy oils instead of butter. Choose sweet potatoes over white potatoes. Substitute sour cream with Greek yogurt, especially when baking. Review your favorite go-to recipes and look for ways to increase their nutritional value.

Ask for Help

Lastly, ask family and friends to help you in the kitchen. Teach your grandchildren how to cook family recipes and give them age-appropriate tasks. Invite your family or friends to join you in preparing a larger batch of freezer meals once a month. Ask the family for their input when creating a menu or list of freezer meals. If you live alone, ask friends to share what they’re cooking for inspiration. Look for inspiration in other resources, such as healthy cookbooks, online food blogs, or social media.

If you are an older adult struggling to prepare healthy meals, Visiting Angels of Santa Clarita is here for you. Our exceptional senior home care services include meal planning and preparation. Our professional caregivers can create delicious and nutritious meals with you so that you consume the nutrients you need. When seniors use us for their home care needs, they are more likely to avoid junk food and welcome the delicious meals our caregivers prepare with them. To learn more, please get in touch with us today by calling 661-263-2273.