As we age, our metabolism slows down, making healthy food choices more important than ever. If you’re having trouble, these nutrition tips will help keep your habits in line and enhance your well-being.
Consume More Liquids
As we get older, sense of thirst lessens making it crucial to be drinking water consistently throughout the day. If you notice your aging loved ones aren’t drinking a lot of water, it’s important to prompt and provide them with it. If they won’t drink water, fat-free milk and 100% juice are other options.
Eat a Variety of Foods
Eating a variety of foods will help you get all of the nutrients your body needs. Your plate should look like a rainbow and include:
- Lean proteins (meat, seafood, eggs, beans)
- Fruits and vegetables
- Whole grains (brown rice, whole wheat pasta)
- Low-fat diary
Plan Your Meals
Planning your meals at the beginning of each week will keep you on track for eating healthy, even when a busy week lies ahead. To make things even easier, meal prepping on Sundays and freezing the individual meals will make dinner even easier.
Minimize the Use of Salt
It’s important for seniors to limit the use of salt and focus on preparing foods that are low in sodium, especially if you have hypertension (high blood pressure). Many people are surprised that table salt only counts for a very small percentage of sodium in food. Frozen, processed, and restaurant foods tend to be extremely high in sodium so it’s best to only eat them occasionally.
Season with Herbs and Spices
Since you’re cutting down the use of salt in your meals, season your food with fresh herbs and spices so you don’t lose any flavor in your favorite dish. Cayenne pepper, basil, and rosemary are healthy and have a lot of flavor.
Read Nutrition Labels
When doing your weekly grocery shopping, be sure to read the nutrition labels on the back of packaged and canned foods before making a purchase. Even if foods are advertised as healthy choices, they could be packed with high levels of fat, sodium, and sugar.
Making healthy food choices will take some practice but once you get in the habit, you’ll be eating a balanced, nutritional diet in no time!
