For the vast majority of elders, being on “a diet” is not a good thing. Even if your elder is over- weight it can be very detrimental for them to lose weight too fast, or even at all. It is far more important for the elder to get the nutrients they need than to lose weight. Younger people can “diet” because most will have nutritional reserves in their bodies to draw from. Elders usually don’t have these reserves. So always think about nutrition first, then worry about being overweight later. Of course, the elder’s physician may have some dietary concerns. These would probably only be to limit cholesterol for someone who’s cholesterol is too high; to limit calories and/or sugar for a diabetic with uncontrolled blood sugar; or to limit salt intake for someone with fluid retention problems.It’s often hard to get an elder to eat enough protein and/or calories, which will lead to malnutrition, and lots of problems leading to very unpleasant days. These suggestions are for people who eat very small portions, don’t finish their meals, or skip meals.
Some examples:
- Use three different fruits cut into manageable pieces for your elder and mixed together with a tablespoon of lime or lemon juice as a side salad for lunch. Add a little sugar and let it sit for about an hour to make it more enticing. Fresh fruit seems to "go down" better than raw vegetable salads.
- Jello: exchange half of the water for orange juice. Not only does this give extra nutrients that count for part of the fruit group, but it tastes sweeter, too.
- Top fruit or jello with flavored yogurt instead of whipped topping (counts as milk, rather than just extra sugar).
- Pancakes: add an extra egg for more protein. If using a mix that calls for water, use ½ milk and ½ water.
- Mashed potatoes: use milk, sour cream or yogurt rather than just water or broth when mashing.
- Cook hot cereal with milk instead of just water.
- Add milk to coffee instead of non-dairy creamer.
- When making meatloaf, hamburgers, or meatballs: use oatmeal (the “one-minute” kind) instead of bread crumbs. (whole grain)
- Dessert: make a fruit and yogurt parfait by layering fresh fruit (which has been “marinated” in a little sugar for ½ - 1 hour) and vanilla yogurt. (Fruit ½ - 1 cup; yogurt = milk ½ - 1 cup)
- For a sandwich filling: add ½ cup of minced vegetables to tuna, diced meat or shredded cheddar cheese. It will make the sandwich more moist, easier to chew, and you don’t have to use much mayonnaise. Use pickles, olives, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, shredded carrot, celery, avocado, even pineapple.
- Offer fruit preserves (less sugar here is OK, but usually not necessary unless the elder is diabetic) and encourage liberal use for whole wheat toast at breakfast. (Fruit, up to ¼ cup for 2 slices of toast).
- Put gravies, sauces, cheese sauces on food. This will boost calories and make the food easier to chew and swallow as well. If you use cheddar cheese in the sauce it will also serve to get more dairy nutrients in, which are rich in protein and calcium.
The other problem with having to concentrate nutrients, is having to choose wisely when feeding someone who has a small appetite. It may be fun to have an ice cream cone at midday, but if this takes the place of a meal it probably isn’t worth it. If your elder likes a lot of sweets and goodies but then will not eat a meal; I would suggest having a “goody” day one day a week where one meal can be replaced with choice sweets. For most people it doesn’t hurt to have sensible desserts every day after dinner. You be the judge. Most people can get enough nutrients out of a 1600 calorie diet, and it won’t hurt them to have an extra 200 to 300 calories for dessert. You would need to use some judgment if your elder is diabetic and on a strict diet. In which case, check with your doctor about speaking with a nutritionist for a specific plan to allow some sweets into the elder’s diet. If the elder is not on a strict diet, then plan desserts made from wholesome food. Rather than cake, try fresh fruit with flavored yogurt. Low cal jello desserts with fruit and topped with low cal whipped cream, or vanilla yogurt. Even ice cream is better, since it has milk in it and not just sugar and flour.
Some elders I have cared for have had poor appetites for various reasons, mostly having to do with chronic diseases and prescription medications. One lady in particular used to make me laugh. She would always remind me not to make her meals too large. When I assured her I would try to keep the meal small, but that she needed to eat enough protein, she would smile at me and say "Oh, I know you'll sneak it in somehow." Sneaking it in was alot easier than arguing about it, which led to yet another Pleasant Day.
Here's wishing you and your Elder "Pleasant Days."
image above by serenejournal
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