Cooking for older adults plays a highly critical role in elderly care. Most family caregivers often find themselves stuck between offering their loved ones with tasty meals and providing them with adequate nutrients with all the same flavors. If you are struggling to follow healthy eating directives from health practitioners on how to prepare tasty yet healthy meals for your older loved ones, here are several healthy substitutes for elderly’s meals that you can try incorporating into your dishes.
Swap Salt to Herbs and Spices
Salt is a natural flavor enhancer which we use in almost every dish. However, high salt consumption has been linked to cardiovascular problems. Many older adults have been told to cut down on their salt intake to prevent problems like high blood pressure and heart diseases. Since salt is one of the first flavors that older adults lose sensitivity to, it may now become a challenge to prepare flavorful meals that they can enjoy. If you are looking to prepare meals for an older adult, we suggest choosing recipes that make use of herbs and spices. They can help to enhance food’s flavor, thus making sure your older loved ones can taste the added flavors without the heavy sodium intake.
Swap Sugar to Naturally Sweet Ingredients
Apart from salt, older adults will also gradually lose their ability to taste sweeter foods. Sugar is a cheap and easy way to prepare tastier meals. However, it is also linked to an array of health problems. One solution is to swap sugar for other naturally sweet ingredients. Choose recipes that focus on delivering a more citrusy and acidic profile. If you still want to add a little bit of sweetness to your dishes, choose naturally sweet ingredients like sweet potatoes, fruits, and peppers.
Swap Unhealthy Fats for Healthy Oils
Fats make up a large component of any diet but it is critical for us to consume the right types of fats. Trans and saturated fats which are commonly found in red meat and butter can contribute to a wide range of health problems. Unsaturated fats, on the other hand, can provide a variety of health benefits which can include healthy elements such as omega-3 acids. Some of the best sources of healthy fats include canola oil, olive oil, soy products, nuts, and fatty fish like salmon. These foods help to contribute towards healthy cholesterol levels to reduce the risk of heart disease.
Meal Preparation for Older Adults
It is important as a caregiver that you know the proper methods of meal preparation to ensure that your older loved ones receive the daily nutrients their body needs while still enjoying the different flavors. Making use of healthy substitutes lets you retain the variety of flavor profiles so your older loved ones can have a much more enjoyable dining experience at every mealtime. At Mariposa, we offer our residents a senior living catered dining that caters to their dietary requirements to provide them with healthy and delectable meals.
