Diet is a huge part of healthy aging, but unfortunately, as your loved one ages, they may become malnourished. They may forget to eat or buy foods that are prepackaged because of convenience, which can lead to malnutrition. A well-balanced and nutritious diet can help prevent or manage chronic diseases, maintain physical and cognitive function, support healthy aging, and enhance overall well-being in older individuals. If you think your loved one is not focusing enough on nutrition, it’s time to look into home care services, which can help with grocery shopping and food prep.
If you need to find ways to sneak in more vegetables and fruits this fall, here are some tips that can help you or home care aides can use to their advantage.
Plan Your Seniors Meals Around Vegetables
If you ask your loved one what vegetables they feel like eating at the beginning of the week, home care can make sure to grab those vegetables from the store or remind your senior with a list while shopping. Having vegetables in the house to use is one of the first steps to eating more veggies, and this tip works for fruits, too. Seniors should include vegetables in their diet because they are nutrient-dense and provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber that support overall health, including bone health, digestive function, and immune system strength.
Here are some yummy recipes your senior should try this fall.
Lettuce Shell Tacos– Instead of meat, use quinoa and mushrooms with taco seasoning. Place all the ingredients in a “shell” and top it with sour cream and salsa. This is calorie-dense, nutritious, and vegetable-based.
Lentil Chili- Nothing screams fall like a nice bowl of chili. But instead of meat, replace it with lentils. You can sneak more vegetables into this chili, like carrots!
Try to Make Vegetables More Appealing
Your senior loved one may not feel like snacking on a raw, plain carrot. On the other hand, they may like baked carrots topped with a balsamic glaze much better. Find a way to make vegetables taste better and seem more appealing. Use spices to your advantage because they will not only make the food taste delicious, but they may also have health advantages.
Keep Everything Accessible
When your loved one has fresh fruits and vegetables on hand, it is easier to incorporate into meals. Take inventory of your vegetables and make a dish around them. Your senior may benefit from a subscription box that delivers fresh fruits and vegetables. Personal care at home can help ensure your senior loved one gets their daily dose of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Eat in Season
Sometimes, when things get shipped across the country, they are not ripe and do not taste good. If you want to get your senior loved one hooked on vegetables, find the freshest vegetables to give them. Finding vegetables in season and local will ensure fresh and tasty, and your seniors will love them. Some yummy fall vegetables and fruits include:
- Figs
- Cranberries
- Grapes
- Pomegranates
- Pears
- Beets
- Arugula
- Brussel Sprouts
- Kale
- Eggplant
- Pumpkin
- Squash
- Mushrooms
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Marion TN please contact the caring staff at Senior Solutions Home Care. (901) 300-8576
Senior Solutions Home Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency serving Memphis, Germantown, Collierville, Lakeland, Hernando, Olive Branch, Arlington, Atoka, Southaven, Bartlett, Marion, Shelby County, and surrounding areas.
Over the years, we have expanded, providing service in all 95 counties throughout Tennessee, and we now have a growing presence in Georgia.
Senior Solutions is recognized as a top 5% independent agency and a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree in 2018, 2019, and 2020. These types of awards matter to us because they show growth in our goal of eventually touching a million lives. We’re excited to continue that growth and to touch even more families with our commitment to quality care!
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