Ann Arbor, MI - January 18, 2016 - (PR.com) - When the temperature drops, healthy eating can become less of a priority. As winter settles in, staying inside and piling extra cheese on a chili dog may sound more inviting than squeezing fresh lemon on an arugula salad. Keeping a healthy diet amidst a pure Michigan winter can be a challenge then, especially if you are an older adult.
With age, the body naturally starts to become less efficient in absorbing essential nutrients. Some seniors also face chewing, swallowing and digestion challenges or experience a decreased appetite from diminished taste buds. Certain health conditions and medications also can interfere with the elderly consuming nutritious foods and the right amount of calories. Add in wintertime cocooning and decreased activity, and many seniors opt for a diet of convenient, comfort foods laden with empty calories.
“As adult home care providers, we see the importance of ensuring that the elderly are eating well and eating enough every day,” said Charles Williams, President and General Manager of Right at Home Ann Arbor, a senior care company in Ann Arbor, MI. “Winter is tough on seniors because the harsh weather limits them from getting out to buy fresh foods or to exercise. Families want to know that their aging loved ones are adequately nourished, so our caregivers often assist with grocery shopping, cooking well-balanced meals and monitoring eating habits. Sometimes a few simple dietary adjustments are all that is needed to keep older adults enjoying healthier foods.”
During winter, seniors benefit from better nutrition through resistance to illness, an emotional boost against “cabin fever” and better management of overall health conditions. Williams recommends that wintertime nutrition includes the following:
As a general nutrition guideline, older adults are advised to consume most of their daily calories from plant-based foods - grains, nuts and greens - closer to their whole or natural state. For seniors who rarely cook, home care assistance or local delivered meals are a plus. If elders want to purchase frozen or ready-to-eat meals, be selective by reading labels for nutrition content.
For an overview of optimum dietary choices, WebMD lists a number of nutrients that may be missing from the diet of seniors including vitamin B12, calcium and magnesium. Encourage your older loved ones to talk with their geriatrician, doctor or dietician for a tailored nutrition plan that accounts for specific health needs and dietary likes and dislikes.
No matter what age you are, an occasional wintertime cheesy chilidog is OK, but don’t forget the carrot sticks and glass of fortified milk.
Founded in 1995, Right at Home offers senior care and companionship and assistance to seniors and disabled adults who want to continue to live independently. Local Right at Home offices are independently owned and operated and directly employ and supervise all caregiving staff, each of whom is thoroughly screened, trained, bonded and insured prior to entering a client’s home. Right at Home’s global office is based in Omaha, Nebraska, with franchise offices located in 42 states nationwide and throughout the world.
The Ann Arbor Michigan office of Right at Home is a locally owned and operated franchise office of Right at Home, Inc., providing senior care to the communities of Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Saline, Belleville, Plymouth, Chelsea, Dearborn, Canton, Dexter, and beyond. For more information, contact Right at Home Ann Arbor at http://www.rightathome.net/washtenaw or by phone at (734) 971-5000.
Resources:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/basics/healthy-diets/hlv-20049477.
http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/nutrition-world-2/missing-nutrients?page=1.
Charles Williams
Right at Home Ann Arbor
(734) 971-5000
Join Right at Home, an international home care franchise with more than 500 locations serving tens of thousands of people every day.