Proper nutrition is especially important for people needing senior care. It’s so important, Home Care Assistance wrote a cookbook! This includes eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, quality protein, nuts, and legumes. It may also mean avoiding red meat, processed foods, and sweets. Our bodies need the proper combination of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients to stay strong and successfully fight off illness or disease.

Chronic illness for seniors is all too common, with high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and many cancers potentially connected to a poor diet and other lifestyle choices. Adults in senior care may have additional dietary needs, usually needing more vitamin D and vitamin B than younger adults. There may be other needs to consider, too.

Many in senior care benefit from healthy snacks between meals in order to stabilize blood sugar levels. This also prevents overeating, helps to maintain consistent energy levels, and may be overall better for health. Healthy snacks are whole foods, as opposed to processed food snacks that are often high in sodium, fat, sugar, and/or preservatives. Prepare homemade foods and keep them easily available for snacking.

Here are some easy snacks for healthy living in senior care:

  1. Baked apple chips
  2. Hummus with carrots, peppers, or cucumber slices
  3. Glass of unsweetened almond or cashew milk
  4. Popcorn (with small amount of salt and butter)
  5. Apple slices with almond butter or no-sugar peanut butter
  6. Whole-grain crackers topped with a slice of cheese
  7. Oatmeal with berries
  8. Celery and almond butter, peanut butter, or cream cheese
  9. Salsa and tortilla chips
  10. Dehydrated banana chips

Besides eating healthy snacks, it’s also especially important for those in senior care to stay fully hydrated. Fruits and vegetables are usually high in water content, but senior care patients may need to drink 8-10 glasses of water each day for maximum benefit. To make water more palatable, infuse it with cucumber slices, lemon or other fresh fruit. Having enough fluids is good for the heart and brain, and it can help adults feel more energized.


Are you struggling with providing the proper nutritional care to your older loved one? Call Home Care Assistance of Greater Burlington to talk about solutions today.

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