As we get older, our body’s health and nutritional needs evolve. This means that eating well is a crucial part of maintaining our quality of life.
For seniors, understanding and adapting to these changes can make a big impact on your vitality, health, and overall well-being. Eating well means you’re more likely to feel healthier, stay active for as long as you can, and protect yourself against illness.
In this article, we’ll look at why healthy eating for seniors is important and how you can start eating healthier today.
Why is Healthy Eating for Seniors Important?
Eating well isn’t just about helping you live longer, it’s about enriching your life. A healthy diet benefits you mentally, physically, and socially, and it’s never too late to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
As adults enter their senior years, certain age-related conditions and diseases can become part of the territory, including heart disease, diabetes, dementia, and osteoporosis. As a result, what seniors need to stay healthy also changes. You might need fewer calories, for example, or more protein or fibre. Healthy eating for seniors and a well-balanced diet are vital to looking after your body as you age.
Getting the right nutrition can improve your mood and your health. It can help you maintain a healthy weight and stay energised, as well as lower your risk of developing health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
Contrary to popular belief, a healthy diet doesn’t have to be boring or expensive. It also doesn’t mean giving up the less healthy foods you enjoy but rather enjoying them in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
5 Tips for Healthy Eating for Seniors
While eating well and adapting your diet to include healthy options might seem daunting, it can be easy by making small, manageable changes bit by bit. Eating healthily can be tasty, simple, and enjoyable. It’s about making small, long-term changes and enjoying the food you eat.
Here are some tips for healthy eating for seniors that you can start incorporating into your diet to help you live your best (and healthiest) life.
Consider the Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean diet is considered to be one of the healthiest diets to adopt. Studies have shown that older adults who follow the Mediterranean diet have a lower risk of death by heart disease and cancer.
It encourages an eating pattern that includes foods from the countries around the Mediterranean. The diet is largely plant-based with some additional lean proteins such as fish and poultry. There is a limited amount of dairy products and lots of seasonal fruit and vegetables. The diet also includes plenty of beans, legumes, whole grains, and healthy fats such as olive oil.
Keep Hydrated
Fluids, in particular water, are an important aspect of healthy eating for seniors that we often forget about. Water is crucial for our bodies to function properly. It’s important to drink plenty every day, as insufficient water intake can cause constipation and dehydration.
It’s best to aim for six to eight glasses of fluid every day, which can include water, squash, soup, tea, and coffee.
Choose Healthy and Varied Foods
Fill up on a wide selection of healthy foods for all your meals and snacks. Here are some of the best choices to reach for daily:
- Fruit and vegetables – Aim for at least five portions of different-coloured vegetables and fruits each day. These can be fresh, frozen, or canned. A wide selection of fruit and veg can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease and certain cancers.
- Starchy carbohydrates – These include foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta, and bread. While these foods give you energy and contain different nutrients, where you can, try and eat whole grain versions. Whole grain carbohydrates contain B vitamins and fibre, which are great for gut health.
- Proteins – As well as lean meat and poultry, protein can be found in beans, pulses, lentils, eggs, and tofu. Protein is essential for repairing your body, especially after surgery or an injury. Try to enjoy a variety of protein in your daily diet.
- Oily fish – Salmon, mackerel, and sardines are just a few examples of oily fish. They are rich in vitamin D and a type of fat that can help reduce your risk of heart disease. Try to eat fish at least twice a week, and make one of those portions an oily fish.
- Fats – A healthy diet also includes eating a small portion of fat. What’s important is choosing the right fats. Saturated fats can increase the risk of heart disease, while unsaturated fats can reduce the risk. Enjoy small portions of good fats found in vegetable oils, seeds, nuts, avocados, and oily fish.
- Dairy – It’s important to choose lots of calcium-rich foods and drinks, as older adults need more calcium and vitamin D to help maintain bone health. Opt for low-fat or fat-free dairy products or dairy alternatives. Dark green vegetables, fortified cereals, and canned fish also contain calcium.
Try to limit the number of processed foods, ready meals, savoury snacks, sweets, and high-saturated fats foods to once or twice a week. Look for lower-salt versions of foods where you can. They should be seen as a treat rather than an everyday food.
Always Eat Breakfast
Breakfast really is the most important meal of the day. It sets you up, gives you energy, and is the perfect opportunity to fill your body with healthy foods and essential nutrients. Try incorporating whole grains and fruits into your breakfast. Porridge with berries is a great option, as is avocado or eggs on wholegrain toast.
Plan Your Meals
It’s not always easy to make or plan a meal from scratch, especially if you’ve had a long day. Planning your meals can help ensure you include lots of healthy foods in your diet. Planning meals also makes it easier to manage a budget, portion sizes, and unhealthy temptations.
Try creating a weekly meal plan for dinners and sticking to it as much as you can. You could also try meal prepping. This method allows you to prepare a variety of meals in advance, so all you have to do is take them out of the fridge or freezer and cook them. Prepping and planning allow you to truly consider your diet and the ingredients you use.