As we get older, a variety of factors make it harder to continue to eat a healthy diet. You might have difficulties chewing, or maybe your medication causes you to lose your appetite. Preparing a healthy meal might have become too difficult or expensive to feel worth doing. Even with these obstacles, there are still many things you can do to maintain a healthy diet.
Choose foods with lots of nutrients without lots of calories.
Brightly colored fruits and vegetables are rich in vitamins and nutrients.
Low-fat milk and cheese are good options for calcium and vitamin D.
Seafood, lean meats, poultry, and eggs are great sources of protein and provide nutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin B.
Nuts and seeds are good snacks that can provide many of the same nutrients as meats.
Limit "empty" calories. "Empty" calories are foods that are high in calories without providing many nutrients. This includes things like soda, candy, and alcohol.
Stay active. Exercise can help increase your appetite. As you burn calories through exercise, you stimulate your appetite to make up those lost calories.
Talk to your healthcare providers. Talk to your dentist about your difficulty chewing, or see your doctor so you can discuss your medication's side effects. There's almost always something they can do to help you.
Get pre-prepared foods. Pre-washed and pre-cut foods make it easier to eat them without spending a ton of time. You don't need to feel guilty about buying already prepared food if it means it will be eaten when it would just go bad in the fridge.
Buy baby carrots instead of full-sized carrots
Choose pre-sliced watermelon
Get celery sticks instead of full stalks.
Choose ready-made mashed potatoes if it's difficult to cut, boil, and mash them yourself.
Peach Tree Retirement Center provides 3 home-cooked meals a day, with healthy options for each meal. Come join us for a meal and experience senior living family style!
It doesn't have to be impossible to eat healthy, even if it feels like it. There are many ways that you can change your shopping, cooking, and eating habits to accommodate your new lifestyle.