1. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The good news is that senior citizens are living longer and are healthier than their predecessors. The bad news is that many seniors are malnourished from poor diets. And the ugly news is that for some seniors, a good meal is a special occasion. Seniors face more difficult problems with diets than most people. Income levels drop drastically after retirement, yet the cost of food keeps rising. Many seniors who live alone don't want to bother cooking or preparing food for themselves alone. Senior citizens may also have ill- fitting dentures or health problems that cause a decreased appetite or no interest in food. They eat to live, not live to eat.
2. Mom Was Right
We all remember being told to slow down and chew our food. Mom was right, because digestive enzymes are released while we are still chewing. Those enzymes help us digest our food and ease stomach problems. Our brain also registers that the stomach is full only after about 15 minutes of chewing and eating. Food is more appetizing when you take the time to eat colorful food on a real plate. Set the table, turn off the TV, put the paper down and enjoy your meal. Eat smaller portions, but eat more frequently. Celebrate the fact that you can now take time to be creative in cooking and make your family and friends the guinea pigs of your creative cooking.
3. Eat Your Veggies
If you are what you eat, are you a strong stalk of broccoli or a limp noodle? If your appetite is decreased, then you need to make sure the calories you eat are full of nutrition. Feed your body only the best. Concentrate on good high protein, but low fat foods to help maintain muscle mass and strength. A few carbs in your diet gives you energy. Eat fresh fruit and veggies every day for the essential vitamins and minerals your body requires. Make sure you get enough calcium for good bone health. If you know you aren't eating enough to maintain good health, take supplements.
4. Yes, You Have to Eat That
Special diets present special problems for seniors. A heart disease will probably have you on a low fat, low cholesterol diet. But, use common sense to understand the diet. Low fat doesn't mean no fat, it just means avoid high fat foods. Low cholesterol doesn't mean no cholesterol. Take the skin off chicken, avoid deep fried foods and trans fats found in foods like margarine. Low sodium diets can have salt, just avoid foods high in salt and don't add salt at the table.
5. Drink Up
Seniors get dehydrated very easily and doctors believe it's because seniors don't get the urge to drink as often. Since you now know this, it's imperative to get adequate amounts of fluid in your diet. Drink up--it does a body good.
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