Why Are Smaller Meals a Better Option for Your Aging Adult?
Your senior's doctor may have told her that it's a good idea to eat smaller meals more often. If you've wondered why this might be a suggestion she might consider, these ideas might help explain the benefits.
Sometimes Eating Is Painful or Difficult.
For some aging adults, eating is painful or difficult to do. That might be because of problems with her mouth or teeth, or for other reasons. Breathing problems, for instance, can make a full stomach difficult to endure. In these situations, eating smaller meals may be far more tolerable than eating larger amounts of food. It's worth taking the time to experiment with meal sizes to find the right amount of food for your aging adult.
Insulin and Glucose Levels Tend to Be Steadier.
When your elderly family member is eating smaller meals more often, her blood sugar levels and her insulin levels are more likely to be steady. This happens because there's a steady intake of food and her body doesn't have the opportunity to hit the big spikes and lows that might hit if she ate larger meals far less often. Make sure that you talk with her doctor, especially if she has blood sugar issues that need regulating.
She Might Eat a Little Bit More.
Some aging adults find that it's easier to get more calories in during the day if they eat smaller meals more often. Your elderly family member might also find that smaller meals can help to jump start her appetite, especially if that's been a problem for her lately. If calories are a concern, you and your senior might explore ideas for healthy options, including more fruits and vegetables.
Smaller Meals Offer a Little More Variety.
Smaller meals offer an opportunity to give your senior more variety during the day, too. She can have a little sampling of this and a little sample of that. This is a lot easier to do if your elderly family member has help during the day with meal preparation from home care providers. They can help to ensure that she has a steady supply of healthy, easy-to-eat options that fit in with her overall plan for eating.
Always talk to your senior's doctor about what's right for her in terms of nutrition. She may have some specific needs that are vital for you to address through her diet. Once you have a solid idea what to do, meal planning can get a lot easier.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering home care in Brunswick, OH, please talk to the caring staff at Avalon Home Health Care today.
Call us at (440) 863 -3609.