Tips on Meal Prepping for Seniors

• Adding fresh herbs, spices, onion, garlic, ginger can add flavor without relying on less healthy salt
• Consider frozen veggies- they have similar benefits as fresh
• Buy plenty of nuts and high fiber food- these can help lower blood cholesterol & helps keep them full
• Add naturally sweet foods instead of real sugar- such as yams or sweet potatoes

1. Folic Acid 400 mcg per day: Foods rich in Folic Acid: spinach, asparagus, breakfast cereal, lentils.
2. B-12 2.4 mcg per day: Foods rich in B-12: turkey, salmon, crab, clams, mussels, chicken, beef, eggs, milk.
3. Vitamin C 75-90 mg per day: Foods rich in Vitamin C: oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, tomatoes, sweet red pepper, broccoli, potatoes.
4. Vitamin D 600-800 IU per day: Foods rich in Vitamin D: canned salmon, sardines or mackerel, instant oatmeal, cereal, egg yolk, soy milk, cow's milk or orange juice fortified with Vitamin D.
5. Essential Fatty Acids (EFA) Foods rich in EFAs: flaxseed oil, canned tuna, oysters, herring or sardines, salmon, trout, crab.

• Check the refrigerator and observe eating habits
• Watch for health changes and fluctuation in weight
• Encourage foods rich in the 5 key vitamins and nutrients
• Boost hydration with 9 glasses of water a day
• Meal Prep days ahead
  

Although you may be trying your hardest to instill a healthy balanced diet for your patient, you may run into some common problems, not to worry we are here to help.

• If your patient can’t chew, here’s what to do
  • Instead of fresh fruit, try fruit juices and soft canned fruits, such as applesauce, peaches and pears.
  • Instead of raw vegetables, try vegetable juices; creamed, mashed and cooked vegetables.
  • Instead of chewy meat as a protein, try ground meat, eggs, milk, cheese, yogurt and foods made with milk, such as pudding and cream soups.
  • Instead of sliced bread, try cooked cereals, rice, bread pudding and soft cookies.
• If your patient has an Upset Stomach
  • Instead of milk, try milk foods that may not upset the stomach, such as cream soups, pudding, yogurt and cheese.
  • Instead of vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli, try vegetable juices and other vegetables, such as green beans, carrots and potatoes.
  • Instead of fresh fruit, try fruit juices and soft canned fruits.
• If your patient has No Appetite

  • First it’s important to understand that there can be many reasons for loss of appetitive such as depression and being on certain medications. So first, understand. Second, here’s how you can help

  • Make their sole provider aware of the situation
  • Try to cook their favorite foods
  • Increase the flavor of food by adding spices and herbs
  • Talk to their doctor, about their medication, so they can adjust if needed