Nutrition Guidelines for Senior Citizens

Many seniors don’t pay enough attention to what they eat. As we age, we can develop certain nutrient deficiencies more easily, which is why it’s crucial to pay attention to your senior’s eating habits. If you’re curious about nutritional guidelines for senior citizens, keep reading to learn some healthy eating food tips.

Get Enough Protein from Several Sources

Muscle deterioration is a common side-effect of aging, especially in adults above age 70. To prevent lean muscle loss, seniors should prioritize a diet consisting of plenty of protein sources. Make sure that you or the seniors in your life get meet recommendations for eating meat, poultry, and eggs. You can also promote further protein intake by eating enough seafood, dairy, beans, peas, and soy alternatives if you have food restrictions.

Pay Attention to Vitamin B12 Consumption

Older adults don’t often get enough vitamin B12. This is because our ability to absorb vitamin B12 decreases with age and by taking certain medications. However, we can circumvent this by prioritizing a healthy diet full of B12 vitamins. Some vitamin B12-rich foods include eggs, dairy, certain meats such as beef and liver, seafood, and whole wheat cereal.

Drink Plenty of Healthy Beverages

Between the natural aging process and taking certain medications, we often don’t feel as thirsty as we age. This is why it’s crucial for older adults to be conscious of how much they drink and what sorts of beverages they get their hydration from. Avoid sugary drinks, including vitamin-enriched and supplement drinks that could have high sugar counts. Instead, consume water, unsweetened fruit juice in moderation, low-fat milk, and unsweetened sparkling or mineral waters.

Don’t Forget Fiber

Finally, pay attention to the amount of fiber in your or your loved one’s diet. Seniors and adults in general don’t often get enough fiber in their diets, which is crucial for digestive health. Eating fiber can also help reduce your risk for heart disease and certain cancers. If you’re looking for ways to promote a fiber-rich diet, reach for berries, beans, whole-grain bread, and greens.

These are some of the best tips and nutritional guidelines for senior citizens to follow. It can be difficult to ensure your older loved ones follow these nutrition guidelines and eat properly when you can’t always be there. This is where home health care services from Caring Heart Premier Home Care can help. Our caregivers have thorough nutritional training to promote healthy eating and positive lifestyles. Learn more about our meal planning and preparation services here on our website today.