As people get older, they struggle with many things, including having a proper diet. In contrast, this may be because they are mostly tired and in pain; seniors should be cautious with their nutrition because they are more vulnerable than younger. Unfortunately, it is standard statistics for many seniors to suffer from certain nutrient deficiencies because they fail to consume certain foods adequately. One such food is protein since the healthy kind of protein is difficult to prepare and maybe too much work that many seniors are not up for.
However, there are various other ways to include proteins in seniors’ diets. These are easy and pretty straightforward. Check out the suggestions below for a few examples.
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- Including Nuts to Breakfast Cereals
Numerous protein sources may not be what most people will smoothly go for. Most of these options are not what many people would consider conventional protein sources. Include seeds such as sunflower, pumpkins, and flax seeds in the seniors’ diet. It is easier to grind them and add them to the cereal bowl they consume every morning. This strategy ensures that seniors get a healthy dose of useful proteins to boost bodily functions. Caretakers understand that aged individuals need more proteins in their bodies to keep off diseases and improve bodily functions. If there is an easy way to get them to take these proteins, ensure to consider it.
In case you do not want to grind the seeds, consider minimizing the number of cereals and replacing it with healthy protein-packed seeds. You can also consider adding U.S. Soy powder to give the mix a powerful protein boost as well. However, when adding nuts and seeds, make sure that the senior you are serving the mixture is not allergic to any of the ingredients. The last thing you want is to have an older adult suffer a severe allergic attack. Be careful with nuts and seeds. It is better to add them gradually as you introduce and observe the reaction and body response.
- Eggs work Perfectly
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If you stay away from your aged parents or grandparents and wonder how to ensure they have a healthy supply of proteins, consider getting them eggs. In case the preparation is an issue, consider boiling enough eggs for a week and storing them in the fridge. The seniors can easily add the already prepared egg to their breakfast instead of preparing it from scratch.
For seniors with a little more energy and interest in cooking, ensure they have enough eggs to enjoy every time they need to. Fortunately, there are so many ways of preparing eggs that one is rarely bored, taking them no matter how frequent they do. In case the senior citizen has a caregiver around, instruct the caregiver to include eggs in the senior’s breakfast menu several times a week. Eggs have the potential of helping seniors build their muscle strength and minimize frailty.
- Whip up a Breakfast Bowl
This is not your usual cereal mix on the go. A good breakfast bowl is healthy and packed with all the necessary nutrients to start the day right. When making one for an older person, make sure to fill it with loads of proteins since they need it more at this stage of their lives. Typically, ensure the bowl has some yogurt, healthy seeds, nuts, and their favorite breakfast cereal and sweetener if they prefer.
No one says that a healthy breakfast has to be boring. The most important thing is to ensure that it is well balanced for the senior to get the most gains. Pick healthy yogurt options such as greek yogurt when visiting the store. Stock up a couple of bottles for the seniors, and show them how to make a great breakfast bowl for themselves if you are not around to do it for them. When they regularly eat this healthy bowl with fruits and a cup of their favorite flavored green tea, they will almost be sure that they will enjoy their old age for a long time. Certain practices help sustain a healthy lifestyle that is free from diseases.
- Buy them Lots of Nut Butters
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The emphasis on taking nuts for seniors cannot be stressed any further than it already is. It does not matter which form these nuts are consumed as long as they are in the older adult’s diet. Having said this, ensure that your loved one has at least three of their favorite nut butter flavoring. In case they enjoy a variety, then endeavor to get them all these.
Do not discourage seniors from taking a scoop of their almond, peanut, or even cashew nut butter, especially if they struggle to feed appropriately. This one scoop of nut butter is not only tasty to their buds but also goes a long way in ensuring they have a decent supply of proteins for their bodies.
You will also love that the nut butter comes in handy when preparing several meal options for the senior citizen. Add them to shakes, smoothies, toast, and even mixed oatmeal. One trick is to ensure that the kinds of butter used are all free from added sugars. Alternatively, get the nuts and prepare them from home. This saves you money and the worry of whether the jars of butter are of good quality and free from contaminants.
- Protein Shakes
Most older adults enjoy taking sweet and tasty beverages. Introduce protein shakes to them and help them consume more proteins in their diets. What’s more, it does not have to be a complicated drink. Find out about their favorite beverage and include a few protein powders to it for the boost. Be careful about adding high-quality protein options. They should not contain any added sugars, additives, or salt as these elements tend to interfere with the real value of the protein. It is also possible that they may alter the taste of the drink, making it unpalatable. The point is to get the seniors to enjoy taking the glass and not getting them repulsed by strange tastes.
Final Thoughts
Seniors need to consume a lot of proteins to help them stay healthy and agile. Unfortunately, as they age, they tend to suffer from many attacks due to reduced immune system functions. Ensuring that they get a healthy supply of daily proteins is one of the easiest ways to keep them healthy for longer.
