Changes in appetite, a diminishing sense of taste or smell, reduced physical activity, chronic illness or financial concerns may put the elderly at risk for nutritional deficiencies. Nutrition activities for older adults may increase their awareness of their food choices and remind them of the importance of a balanced diet maintaining health and preventing disease. If you're an activities director or dietitian at an assisted living facility or community center, the seniors you work with may benefit from the opportunity to discuss their concerns about food and health as you guide them through these activities.
Personal Food Pyramid
Based on the MyPyramid nutritional guide from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Tufts University developed a healthy eating pyramid designed to meet the dietary requirements of older adults. Although the elderly require fewer calories, they may need more protein and other nutrients than younger adults, depending on their age, weight and health status. In the personal pyramid exercise, participants choose the foods they eat most frequently from a selection of commonly available foods written on color-coded pieces of paper. Using the USDA's color-coded pyramid as a guide, you can ask participants to match their favorite foods to the major food groups depicted on the pyramid. Seniors may be surprised to find that they're eating more or less than the recommended amount of one particular food group. As you lead the exercise, you can suggest ways that participants could adjust their dietary intake to achieve a more balanced diet.
Reminiscence and Food
Exchanging memories of meals and eating habits from the past can demonstrate how cultural attitudes toward nutrition have changed over time. Themes for your discussions could include wartime food rationing, favorite holiday dishes or jobs in the food-service industry. Participants can compare anecdotes from their personal histories to current attitudes toward nutrition and healthy eating. Props such as old photographs, historical nutrition charts or newspaper articles from the past can guide your discussions.
Nutrition News
Providing updates on new legislation related to food or changes in recommended dietary allowances can help the elderly stay current on the latest developments in the field of nutrition. As an example, changes in the dietary reference intakes for calcium and vitamin D may reflect new research on the amounts of these nutrients that the elderly need to protect bone health. These updates also give the elderly the opportunity to bring up concerns about whether their diet provides adequate protection against nutritional deficiencies and chronic disease. You can also use this activity to educate your group about common nutritional deficiencies in the elderly, such as water, protein, fiber, B-complex vitamins and vitamin D.
Sharing Recipes
If you have a public kitchen available, your group can get together to prepare food based on their favorite recipes. Encourage participants to suggest traditional dishes, regional specialties and family favorites that they'd like to share with others. As you're discussing the personal and cultural history behind these dishes, suggest ways that your group can modify recipes to reduce fat, cholesterol, sugar or sodium, or to increase fiber and protein content.
