As a family caregiver for an older adult, you’re probably aware that fruits and vegetables are an important part of ensuring they eat a healthy diet. But, sometimes it can be hard to pack enough servings into a senior’s daily diet. Fruits and vegetables can take some time to prepare because they often require peeling, cutting, and cooking. Since September is National Fruit and Veggies Month, we’ve got seven tips to make it easier for you to increase the amount of fruits and veggies the senior in your life eats.
#1 Veggies Times Two
If you’re cooking a dish, like soup or pasta, for an older adult that calls for vegetables, try doubling the amount the recipe indicates. Yes, that does mean you’ll have to cut twice the amount of vegetables, but since you’re already set up with your knife and cutting board, why not take a few extra minutes to cut a few more?
#2 Use the Microwave
Veggies cooked on the stove top or in the oven sometimes take a while to cook. Make use of the microwave. Steam fresh vegetables by putting a small amount of water in the bowl with the veggies. Frozen veggies also cook quickly in the microwave.
#3 Put a Bowl of Fruit on the Counter
Studies show that when food is in sight, people are more likely to eat it as opposed to when it’s out of sight in the cupboard. Placing a bowl of washed fruit on the counter or table where the senior will see it may make them more likely to grab a banana or hand full of grapes when they’re hungry instead of digging in the cupboard for a bag of chips.
#4 Prepare Ahead
Peel, cut, and wash fresh veggies and fruits and package them in serving-sized containers for simple snacks that are ready to eat when the senior is.
#5 Eat Fruit for Dessert
Baked pears and apples sprinkled with cinnamon or drizzled with a little honey make delicious desserts and add an extra serving of fruit to the senior’s diet.
#6 Use Fruit as a Topping
Use fruit to top yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, or a bowl of cereal. They’ll add color, flavor, and extra nutrition.
#7 Track What the Senior Eats
One sure way to know if the senior has met the daily goal for fruits and vegetables is to track what they’ve eaten. You can jot it in a notebook, use a checklist, or create a simple chart.
If you’ve set a goal to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables your older adult family member eats, enlisting the help of their home care provider can help you reach that goal. Home care providers can assist with meal preparation, including cutting up vegetables. They can also make serving-sized snacks of fresh fruits and vegetables. Home care providers can even take the older adult shopping for fresh produce.
Sources: http://www.cookinglight.com/healthy-living/healthy-habits/eat-vegetables-fruits
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/tc/quick-tips-adding-fruits-and-vegetables-to-your-diet-get-started
https://www.cnpp.usda.gov/sites/default/files/dietary_guidelines_for_americans/DGTipsheet2AddMoreVegetables.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/09/21/kd.mindless.eating/index.html
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care Services in Cambridge MA, or anywhere in Eastern Massachusetts, please call the caring staff at CARE Resolutions – (508) 906-5572.
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