Challenges To Eating Well As We Age

As we age many new factors come into play for reasons of not eating well

. It is no longer just a matter of choosing whether to eat well or not. The elderly have to consider many physical limitations that can cause them not to get all the essential vitamins and nutrients their bodies need. Have you considered if you were unable to chew or shop on your own? These are just a couple of examples. Here are some common challenges for the elderly to eating right and some solutions.

For many elderly not being able to or difficulty chewing is a very common issue when trying to eat well. A solution when trying to eat fresh fruit can be utilizing soft canned fruits such as apples and pears. Another option for fresh fruit for someone that cant chew is to drink more fruit juices.

Raw vegetables are essential to anyones diet. But raw vegetables are usually not the softest of foods so probably not a good option for someone who is having difficulties or cant chew. So what does that person do? A good option would be to cream or mash the vegetables. And just like with fruit, there are many vegetable juices available.

Meat is another food that is not the easiest for someone who cannot chew. But the proteins that meats contain are very important to ones health. Now of course someone can grind the meat to make it easier to chew but there are many other softer options to get the same protein. One can substitute eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt, soups and many other foods to get the same proteins.

One thing that most people would never consider but needs to be for someone in their advanced years is the ability to actually cook. Luckily there are many options for someone who cannot longer cook for themselves. The first is the use of the microwave. Frozen meals have come a long way. They can be a good source of well-rounded meals at a reasonable cost. There are also many programs through local religious organizations and senior centers that offer group meals. Now if those are not an option one needs to consider moving in with relatives, some type of assisted living facility or other form of elder care help.

Many seniors also have to deal with the issue of not having any appetite. As we get older our appetites do diminish naturally. Now this is a problem because many seniors are not hungry or thirsty but are actually malnourished and dehydrated. One very easy way for a senior to make sure they are eating is to dine with friends and family or take part in group meal programs. This is very effective because it gives a schedule to meal times. Now if the loss of appetite is recent it is important to consult with a doctor to make sure if any medications the senior is currently taking is affecting their diet.

by: Cheryl Zangrilil

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