What Does it Mean to Eat a Healthy Diet?
Your senior has probably heard over and over that she should eat a healthier diet, but it's not so easy to know what that means. It's also not so easy to completely change how she eats. Tackling healthier eating is definitely possible, but it takes time and attention to the details of daily choices.
A Healthy Diet Is Low in Empty Calories.
Empty calories are calories that add up fast, but have no or very little nutritional value to them. The really big problem is that foods that have empty calories tend to be really tasty and appealing. They're hard to resist. Ingredients like sugar and salt can have some nutritional value, but when they're used in larger amounts, those ingredients have less and less to offer in terms of nutrition. Limiting ingredients that don't have high nutritional value brings your senior closer to a healthier diet.
Healthy Diets Include Vegetables and Fruits.
Fruits and vegetables are a key part of any healthy diet. Lots of people avoid the recommended servings of these important foods, though. It's difficult to adjust to a list of recommendations when you've been eating pretty much whatever you want throughout your life. Making choices available that are tasty and that give your elderly family member nutrition as well as a full stomach is key.
Whole Grains and Lean Proteins Also Make an Appearance.
Lean proteins and whole grains are also some food categories that you'll hear a lot about in reference to a healthy diet. Look for breads, cereals, and pastas that include whole grains. Refining grains removes a good bit of the fiber associated with them and therefore a large part of their nutritional value. Lean proteins can include poultry, fish, or even beans as a protein source.
A Healthy Diet Is a Balance of Eating and Activity.
Another part of having a healthy diet is balancing what your senior eats with her activity levels. If your elderly family member doesn't currently exercise, then it can sound intimidating to take up an exercise plan. Combining the right foods with the right amount of exercise for your senior can help her to see benefits much more quickly.
Making dietary changes is a big deal. It's something that most people try to tackle all at once, but that can make these changes even more difficult. It can help to have someone like senior care providers available who can handle the cooking for her.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering senior care in Independence, OH, please talk to the caring staff at Avalon Home Health Care today. Call us at (440) 863 -3609.