National Nutrition Month Tips for Seniors

In honor of National Nutrition Month, it’s important to remember that healthy eating for seniors is almost never about dieting. In fact, most older people struggle to get enough food. This can lead to what’s sometimes called “tea and toast syndrome,” where the lack of easy access to nutritious food leads to poor nutrition. 

That’s why many of the best nutrition tips for seniors focus less on what they should and shouldn’t eat, and more on helping them overcome issues that prevent them from eating. Luckily, there’s plenty you can do to make healthy, nutritious meals easy and appetizing for your loved one.  

Find Healthy Recipes They Enjoy 

Eating a good meal is one of life’s simplest pleasures, but aging brings on a host of changes that make it less enjoyable. 

First, appetite tends to decline with age, but we don’t need less food; we just become less able to tell when we’re hungry. Second, our taste buds weaken as we get older; some seniors find that even their favorite dishes taste bland and uninteresting. On top of that, many seniors are on restrictive diets for health reasons, so their favorite dishes may be off-limits.  

Here’s the good news: With a little research, you can find easy heart-healthy recipes for seniors​ that your loved one will actually enjoy. Next time you see them, bring a few cookbooks so you can sit down together to find them some healthy recipes that sound good.  

Whatever you end up making, make sure to add lots of seasoning so your loved one can taste it properly. Be careful with salt, though—too much can worsen heart health for seniors. As an alternative, try MSG, which boosts flavors just as well but adds only a fraction of the sodium. (Don’t worry—MSG’s reputation for unpleasant reactions is greatly exaggerated.) 

Make Meals Easier 

Seniors also face many logistical barriers that make it hard to get the food they need. Mobility issues like joint pain and impaired coordination can make cooking and eating difficult, frustrating and even hazardous for older people.  
 

One good way to help is to simply make sure they don’t have to cook. Since the pandemic, restaurants, delis and catering services across the country have started selling delicious, healthy ready-to-bake meals that your loved one can store in their freezer. All they need to do is pop it in the oven. 

What about seniors who love to cook? Meal kits are a great resource for seniors who love cooking but can’t manage hours of standing and chopping anymore. These services will send boxes of fresh ingredients right to your loved one’s door, all portioned and pre-prepped for a specific recipe. That way, they can skip the difficult and repetitive parts of cooking and focus on the parts they enjoy. 

Make Food Fun 

Delicious meals are great, but they’re not the only way to motivate seniors to eat. Another great way to make food appealing is to attach it to an event of some kind to make it more exciting, enjoyable or comforting. There’s no shortage of ways to do that, but here are some of our favorite options: 

• Food-related events like cultural street fairs or cheese tastings can add a sense of fun, novelty and excitement to food. Many of them even include live entertainment. 

• Farmers’ markets are one of the best ways for your loved one to get fresh, high-quality ingredients and learn about foods they hadn’t considered before. They’re also a great opportunity to get some movement in and make friends in the community. 

• Cooking classes can add fun and excitement to the act of cooking itself—and your loved one might just learn a new favorite recipe. 

• Regular family meals add a sense of ritual and tradition, making food a way for your loved one to connect with the people they care about most. 

Get Seniors Help With Nutrition 

Between their difficulty enjoying food, health needs that take favorite dishes off the table and practical barriers that complicate the simple acts of cooking and eating, it’s easy to see why healthy eating for seniors is such a challenge.  

The right resources make it easier, and senior care services from FirstLight Home Care’s dedicated caregivers can remove the major barriers that make eating harder for seniors. They can shop for ingredients, act as a sous chef or help with the physical act of eating. They can also prepare meals, so your loved one has access to the foods they really love. 

If someone you love needs support at mealtimes or in their everyday living, contact FirstLight Home Care today.