What do your parents eat? Studies have shown that older adults tend to eat too much folate and salt from processed and ready-to-eat foods.
Saturated fats are another issue. During the pandemic, the restaurant industry found that online takeout orders from older Americans increased by more than 400 percent. How healthy are your parents’ choices?
A healthy diet helps the body in many ways. Antioxidants help the cells. Protein helps the muscles. Calcium and vitamin D help the bones and teeth. Food provides the energy you need. Some foods also help lower the risk of certain types of cancer.
Ten of the Best Foods to Eat Regularly
What should your parents try to eat daily? Here are 10 foods they should incorporate in their meals and snacks.
#1 – Almonds
Almonds are a great snack eaten raw. They’re also high in calcium, fiber, iron, and vitamin E. If your parents don’t like them as snacks, add slivered almonds to steamed green beans. Another idea is to crush them and use them in place of bread crumbs to make baked chicken or fish fingers.
#2 – Apples
Apples are high in antioxidants like vitamins A, B2, B6, C, and E. This makes them one of the best for helping the body’s immune system. Eat an apple as a snack or turn it into a healthy dessert by coring it and filling it with a mix of chopped nuts, oats, spices, and maple syrup.
# 3– Blueberries
Lutein is a phytonutrient that helps with eye health. Blueberries and other purple berries contain a lot of it. They also have a good deal of fiber, manganese, and vitamins C and K. The easiest way to eat them is by taking frozen blueberries and adding them to breakfast smoothies.
#4 – Broccoli
As one of the most common cruciferous vegetables, broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked. It helps lower the risk of certain kinds of cancers. Eat it for calcium, iron, potassium, and vitamins C, E, and K.
#5 – Kale
Kale is the best leafy, green vegetable to include in the daily diet. Puree it into breakfast smoothies or add it to a tomato-rich broth for a quick, nutritious vegetable soup. Kale is high in vitamins C and K.
Let Senior Care Aides Cook for Your Mom and Dad
Do your parents have a hard time planning and cooking balanced meals? They’re not alone. As you age, arthritis pain makes it harder to slice, chop, and dice ingredients. It’s harder to carry a heavy pasta pot from a stove to the sink. It can be hard to bend over and lift a casserole from the oven.
A healthy diet doesn’t have to be an impossible goal. Hire senior care services to help your parents plan weekly menus. Not only will the caregiver take them shopping for groceries, but the caregiver can bring them in and put them away. The caregiver can also cook those meals and clean up after. Call a senior care specialist to make arrangements.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring a Homecare in Braintree, MA, call the caring staff at Rivers of Hope today at 508-857-0629. Providing Independent, Dependent, and Companion Care Services in Brockton, Boston, Braintree, Avon Randolph, Abington, and the surrounding areas. riversofhopes.com
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