Nutrition is one of the keys to maintain a healthy lifestyle and promote good health. According to nutritionists, being physically fit requires 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. This task may be easy for young people because they have the best years of their life, and their metabolism is faster than older adults. 

However, in senior citizens, declining nutrition can be dangerous as their bodies are frail and aging. Detecting poor nutrition requires vigilance, as symptoms may be confused with illness or medications’ side effects. Some of the symptoms of poor nutrition are mood changes, duller skin tone, weaker appetite, and confusion. 

Inadequate nutrition can also result in excess nutrients. Consuming too many carbohydrates and fats, coupled with inactivity, can lead to obesity. 

There are obstacles to having balanced nutrition for seniors; one of those obstacles is the proper budget. Many seniors have fixed incomes or limited amounts. As we all know, money has a massive role in the food that goes on the table. Seniors often have to make hard budgetary choices between food, rent, medications, energy costs. 

Another obstacle is getting the right nutrition is medications. Seniors take more medications than younger people. One of the side effects of taking too many medicines is the loss of appetite, and because of this loss, the elderly are prone to not getting sufficient amounts of nutrients that their body needs. Because of that, changing the dietary habits of adults is also extremely challenging, considering their losing sense of taste. 

The loss of senses like taste positively contributes to the malnutrition of elders. Sense of sight can also be a factor as older people cannot see the labels and might get the wrong ingredients for recipes. Food becomes bland, and to compensate, additives may be used to enhance flavor resulting in taking chemicals. 

Social isolation can also cause malnutrition as elders have no appetite to eat alone, it can result from embarrassment over the loss of sight and hearing and justifiable fear of accident from sensory losses. Isolated seniors are far less apt to eat well. 

A caregiver can ensure that a loved one will get the nutrition that they deserve. Caregivers can assist with the non-medical needs of your loved one, and hiring one might be a great option. Besides hiring a caregiver, there are other ways to ensure the nutrition of a senior citizen. 

If you want to know other ways to make sure that they are eating right, you can check this infographic from Euro-American Connections and Homecare.

Signs That a Senior Is Not Eating Well

• Changes in Weight – Most people associate poor senior nutrition with weight loss, but it is important to understand that a person can be overweight and still be malnourished. Some fluctuations in an older adult’s weight are to be expected, but rapid and/or unintentional weight loss is a cause for concern.
• New or Worsening Health Issues – Changes in health due to undernutrition is often subtle, look for symptoms like low energy levels, increased falls, inability to stay warm, confusion, slow wound healing, digestive issues, and problems with chewing or swallowing.
• Poor Food Choices or Insufficient Food Supply – A senior may have plenty of food in their kitchen, but the type and quality of items they consume are important. An excess of processed foods is a cause for concern.

Many find that their aging loved one does not care much about food anymore and they are almost apathetic about what is served for dinner each night. However, proper nutrition is crucial for good health, encouraging a loved one to participate in and enjoy meals comes down to combining three basic rules and a few quality ingredients.

3 Strategies for Helping a Senior Gain and Keep a Healthy Weight

1. Find foods that are easy to eat and digest.
2. Make sure these foods are nutritious and high in calories and hydrating.
3. Prepare and serve these foods so that your loved one will look forward to every meal.

Eating healthily does not need to be an arduous task. Curating a collection of reliable recipes, ingredients, and simple cooking tips can take some time and practice, but these things can also empower you to make healthy choices every day. To make it easier here is a list of ingredients to revolve your recipes around:

5 Healthy Foods That Promote a Healthy Weight

• Nut Butters
• High Water Content Fruits and Vegetables
• Full-fat and Low-sugar Dairy Products
• Potatoes and Whole-grain Starches
• Rolled oats (plain oats allow for more control over sugar and calorie content)

SOURCE: HOMECARE4U