Expert Tips on Healthy Eating for Seniors

As our bodies change over time, the role of our food intake becomes increasingly pivotal in shaping the quality of our lives. That is why we’re committed to sharing expert advice on healthy dietary choices for seniors to uphold both their physical and mental well-being.

Healthy Eating Tips From Rachel

As we age and are inundated with daily information, it becomes challenging to determine exactly what we should be eating. Nevertheless, one fact remains constant – as we get older, our bodies require more rich nutrients to maintain both our physical and mental health. This leaves us pondering: As we enter our senior years, what diet is truly best for me?

The answer is to enjoy the eating experience and allow yourself to eat what you like.

Here are my tips on how to do this:

Focus on adding to your diet rather than taking away

We often hear the advice: “Cut out saturated fat”, “Limit your salt intake”, or “Skip dessert.” While there may be some truth to it, the better method (and the more fun one!) is to focus on adding healthy foods to your diet while still enjoying the foods you love. Eat the steak dinner you love with a side of broccoli. Treat yourself to eggs and bacon in the morning with spinach and tomatoes. Adding healthy foods to your plate not only do you provide your body with the nutrients that it craves but also helps with portion control. Challenge yourself to fill up on vegetables first before treating yourself to the steak.

Fuel your brain

Many fad diets promote cutting out entire food groups, which does a disservice to your health. These diets often lead to feelings of hunger and dissatisfaction after meals. While adopting healthy eating to prevent chronic disease progression is great, it can lose its purpose if you’re left feeling dissatisfied, hungry, and your memory and brain function is declining. 

Instead of removing foods, consider incorporating foods that support both brain and gut health instead. Fiber-rich foods support digestion and feelings of fullness after a meal. Superfoods, like blueberries, salmon, broccoli, nuts, and even dark chocolate are filled with antioxidants that help protect brain health. 

Recognizing that this might resonate with some of our Oakmont residents, we are introducing a smoothie and snack program. This initiative is designed to provide our memory care residents with daily smoothies and healthy snacks that target these brain-boosting superfoods to support brain health, along with foods high in fiber to promote feelings of fullness. Consider starting your path to balanced meals with a smoothie as well. 

Learn more about the importance of superfoods for seniors.

Fuel your body

Try not to get caught up with all the noise around ‘Eat this, not that!’ Instead, focus on the experience. Think back to a time when you shared a family meal with lively conversation around people you love. Dining with others naturally shifts your focus to the overall experience, reducing stress about what you’re eating or even considering seconds. 

When considering living options for yourself or a loved one, consider organizations that prioritize all aspects needed to encourage healthy eating habits. At Oakmont, we take pride in providing an enjoyable eating experience for our residents. Through our restaurant-style dining, our seniors can eat together, order off a menu, and enjoy mealtimes without stressing over what they should and should not be eating. We offer a wide variety of foods to ensure our residents always have plentiful options and we are able to accommodate different dietary needs. Our menus contain ever-changing Chef-curated meals made up of healthy fats, fiber-rich foods, and a variety of seasonal vegetables.

Explore the Dining Experience at Oakmont Senior Living.

All foods should be enjoyed in moderation. Food should provide us with energy to carry us through the day, help our bodies fight off disease, and keep our brain and gut healthy. As we like to say at Oakmont, eat well to live well.  Remember, every meal is a chance to make a positive choice for your well-being. So, savor each bite, make mindful decisions, and enjoy the goodness that comes from taking care of yourself through the food you eat.