Healthy eating is a key part of aging well. It is a way for you to stay healthy and strong, which is important to maintain your independence and quality of life.
View the original article from Canada's Food Guide
Why Healthy Eating Matters
Healthy eating can help:
- maintain a healthy weight
- promote and protect health and well-being
- provide essential energy and nutrients to maintain health
- prevent, lower the risk or slow the progression of chronic diseases like:
- heart disease
- type 2 diabetes
- prevent muscle and bone loss to reduce your risk of falling or breaking your bones
As you age, you face different changes that may make:
- healthy eating seem more challenging
- you not feel as hungry or interested in food
These changes may include:
- changes to your body that:
- impact your appetite
- decrease your sense of taste or smell
- impact your digestion, ability to chew or swallow
- make it more difficult for you to get to the grocery store
- make it more difficult for you to spend a lot of time preparing food
- impact your ability to shop for or cook your own food or do tasks like open jars
- changes in lifestyle that mean you may:
- have less income
- eat alone more often
- be caring for a loved one
- have someone cooking for you
- live in a new home with a different kitchen
- be cooking for just 1 or 2 people instead of a large family
- changes to your health that require medication that has side effects on taste and appetite
Healthy eating habits
Cooking and eating healthy food does not have to be difficult, time consuming or expensive. Consider these ideas to help you maintain healthy eating habits as you age.
Enjoying a variety of healthy foods
As you age, your body needs less food, but may need more of certain nutrients, such as vitamins or minerals. Eat a variety of healthy foods to make sure you get enough different nutrients.
Choose vegetables and fruits, whole grain foods and protein foods that you enjoy. Frozen and canned options can be just as healthy and easier to prepare.
If your sense of taste or smell has changed, try different spices and herbs to add more flavour, instead of salt. You can also switch up the texture and temperature of foods to make them more interesting.
If some foods have become more difficult to eat, try choosing and preparing foods differently. For example, for a softer texture, try cooking vegetables instead of eating them raw.
Drinking water
As you age, your sense of thirst may decline, but you still need to drink regularly whether you feel thirsty or not. To stay hydrated, drink throughout the day and with each meal and snack. Satisfy your thirst with water instead of sugary drinks.
Other foods and drinks that can help keep you hydrated include:
- lower fat white milk
- low sodium soups
- vegetables and fruits
- unsweetened fortified soy beverages
Shopping for 1 or 2
It can be challenging to grocery shop for just 1 or 2 people.
Think about meals and snacks you would like to eat and plan your meals around your ideas.
Make a grocery list to help you remember what foods you need.
Choose affordable healthy options if you are grocery shopping on a budget. Some grocery stores offer discount days for seniors.
Make it easy on yourself. Try shopping:
- online
- with a friend
- you can split larger quantities of foods
- using a delivery service
- using transportation organized by Caring Hearts
Cooking for 1 or 2
You may find it hard to cook healthy meals for 1 or 2 people, especially if you:
- used to cook for a larger family
- have never been the main cook
Prepare meals and snacks when you have the most energy. Find recipes that only use a few ingredients and require little to no cooking. Use these recipes on days when you are too tired to cook.
Cook once, eat twice. Make meals that are great as leftovers or make a larger amount and freeze the extras.
Alternate a cooking day with a friend. This allows you to share the task of making meals and gives you the chance to try each other’s recipes and food traditions.
Eating with others
Eating with others is great for the company and it can also be good for your health. It may encourage you to eat more of the foods that you need to stay healthy.
Eat with others as much as you can. Try:
- joining a lunch group
- eating with a neighbour
- inviting a family member over
- planning a potluck with friends
Check local seniors’ community centres and ask about monthly lunches or community kitchens you could join.
If you live alone, sitting down to eat a meal by yourself can feel lonely. Try these ideas to keep it enjoyable:
- try a new recipe
- choose a comfortable place to eat
- play music you enjoy during mealtimes
Creating an emergency food supply
It is a good idea to stock your pantry with a variety of non-perishable food items. You can use these items to make a few meals for times you are not able to get to the store.
Ideas of foods to keep on hand include:
- peanut butter
- skim milk powder
- canned vegetables and fruits
- canned or jarred pasta sauce
- canned fish, beans and lentils
- whole grain pasta, rice and oatmeal
You can keep a variety of foods in your freezer, including:
- whole grain bread
- lean meats or poultry
- vegetables and fruits
Caring Hearts can help
While all of these ideas are informative and helpful, it can be a lot to handle on your own. From grocery store trips to cooking enjoyable meals, a Caring Hearts Exceptional Caregiver can help you or your loved ones maintain a healthy diet and live a happy, well-balanced life.
Mike
