The Importance of a Healthy Weight for Seniors

For older adults, maintaining a healthy weight is quite difficult. Many times, their preferences for certain foods change as they age and their appetite for food decreases. All these factors lead to weight loss and pose health concerns for seniors.

Recent studies show that seniors who have a healthy diet keep themselves away from the risk of certain cancers, high blood pressure, and heart disease. They have more energy and engage themselves in activities a lot.
Here we have some suggestions on how to help a senior maintain a proper weight to lead a healthy lifestyle:

o Try to have the senior eat three meals a day on a regular basis.
o Offer a diverse variety of healthy foods.
o Make sure that the foods served at each meal are a mixture of carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and water.
o Select foods that are low in fat, saturated fat and trans-fat.
o Add some healthy snacks throughout the day.

Also, the additions of food that help support a healthy weight for seniors help them combat weight-related issues effectively. Have a look at these:

o Avocados: They are high in calories and have a creamy rich texture. Plus, they can be added to sandwiches, salads or smoothies.
o Coconut Products: Coconut milk can be added to creamy soups, hearty stews, and curry-based dishes as a substitute for milk or water. You can even try substituting coconut oil for salads and for general cooking or baking.
o Nut Butter: It has a creamy rich tasty texture and the butter is easier than the actual raw nut to digest. The nut butter can be served on a slice of warmed bread or toast for an easy breakfast.
o Dairy Products: They make another calorie-dense option. Forego the skim milk or low-fat dairy products that consist of less fat and calories in cottage cheese, yogurt, and ice-cream. Instead, use the ‘full fat’ counterparts to add considerable calories. For example, you can use full-fat milk to make smoothies for breakfast and snacks.
o Starches: Potatoes and assorted whole grains are staples when it comes to weight gain. Prepare one starch for each meal. Try to experiment with dressing up the starch with calorie-rich toppings to make the taste more tempting. For instance, you can add olive oil to pasta to increase calories and pesto can be substituted for other condiments.