Changing tastes are making it harder for your parents to eat healthy. They gravitate towards really sweet or salty foods that are high in flavor. As a result, they often choose takeout foods that are loaded with sugar and saturated fat. Make sure they’re getting the proper nutrients by ensuring they enjoy what they’re eating. Having elder care services available can oversee their eating habits. Come up with a plan to get your parents excited about their meals and snacks.
Here are some ways to help them enjoy healthier foods.
Eat With Them
Your parents may eat more and choose healthier options if others eat with them. If they’re alone, they may gravitate towards a microwavable bowl of soup or a frozen dinner. If you’re with them and make a meal, they’re likely to eat it.
Help Them Plan a Weekly Menu
Are your parents be avoiding healthier meals because it’s challenging to come up with meals they want to make? Sit down with them each week, look for appealing online recipes, and print out a weekly menu.
If they have the ingredients on hand and prepped and ready to use, they’ll find it’s easier to prepare meals. Another idea is to cook meals for them and move them to containers for reheating throughout the week.
Make Healthier Foods Appealing
While you know quinoa is a healthy choice, your parents have never loved it. What happens if you cook it and add an egg, fresh herbs, and cheese? Shape that mixture into small cakes that are broiled until golden with melted cheese. They may discover that they’re happy to eat when the quinoa is served that way.
Add Herbs or Citrus for Flavor
Added sodium’s not a good idea for your mom and dad, so boost flavor with the use of herbs and spices. Some more robust herbs like sage, basil, and oregano make foods tastier without adding salt.
Flavor foods with lemon or lime. The juice and zest will add a lot of flavor without the extra sodium. Fresh squeezed always tastes better than the bottled kind.
Try New Things
Offer foods that your parents haven’t had before. If they’ve never had star fruit, purchase it and see what they think. As tastes and the sense of smell change as you age, some foods that were never appealing in the past can become favorites. Plus, foods your parents loved may no longer be appealing.
Hire Elder Care Aides to Prepare Meals
Elder care services can help your parents with meals and snacks. If they have a hard time shopping for groceries that match their dietary needs, caregivers can help out. Elder care providers can prepare the meals, too. Call our elder care agency to get started.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Elder Care Services in Springfield VA please contact the caring staff at Apex Classic Home Health Care today. (571) 275-9547
- In-Home Care: Fall Prevention Starts with Decluttering Solutions - February 17, 2022
- Elder Care: The Benefits of Grapefruit for Seniors - February 4, 2022
- Home Health Care: What to Expect After Your Mom’s Gallbladder Removal - January 20, 2022
