Whether you handle in-home care for a senior citizen yourself or hire someone to handle it for your loved one, you want to be certain the elderly eat right. Fortunately, healthy foods can still taste great and provide warmth and comfort.
Breakfast
Mix up the breakfast routine by preparing a low-fat frittata with scallions and smoke salmon. The salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for heart health. Serve this dish with multigrain toast for additional fiber.
You can also make a Tex-Mex breakfast sandwich filled with scrambled eggs and avocados. Avocados are an excellent part of anyone’s diet because they are packed with monounsaturated fats, which are good for flattening your belly.
Lunch
Lunch is where you can really get creative. Some great options that are a little outside-the-box include:
Red Potatoes and Eggs: Use spices and fresh herbs for taste instead of adding salt, which can lead to water retention.
Quinoa Salad: Steam the vegetables in this dish in lieu of boiling them. Boiling has a tendency to drain veggies of their essential nutrients.
Veggie Mac and Cheese: Keep the mac and cheese healthy by making it from scratch instead of using a box. Add broccoli, peas, tomatoes and spinach for added benefits.
Green Bean Casserole: For the soup base, opt for a low-sodium variety. You should also consider throwing in fresh mushrooms instead of fried onions.
Dinner
A senior’s caregiver should attempt to change up dinners often. There are plenty of heart healthy options, so an elder does not get tired of the same food every night of the week. For starters, you can prepare a Southwest chicken salad that consists of skinless, boneless chicken breast.
Beans and rice are a great option that require little prep. If you have a crockpot, then you can fill it with your choice of white, pinto or black beans. You can also use brown rice, barley or oats as the base. This dish can be prepared to the exact senior’s liking.
Shrimp and pasta is another great, filling choice. If the senior you are watching gets a hankering for pizza, you can still offer it. However, make sure to serve pizza with a cauliflower crust topped with plenty of vegetables.
Keep an eye on the signs a senior is no longer able to prepare meals independently. An empty refrigerator and pans stacked high in the sink are signs that a senior citizen no longer possesses the physical capacity to prepare healthy meals often. Give your loved one exceptional senior care with the aid of Home Helpers of Bucks County. Contact us through our online form.
