A simple guide to meal preparation for seniors
It’s important to maintain a balanced diet through every stage of life but as we age, our dietary habits require even more time and attention. A good diet protects against many chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. And, overall, following a well-balanced diet helps encourage happy and healthy aging.
Taking the time to plan out meals in advance can help make sure that your senior loved ones receive the nutrition they need on a daily basis. On top of that, meal prep can make mealtime easier for both seniors and their caregivers. The Foothills Home Services team provides services that help seniors stay safe, healthy, and happy in their homes, and our services include assistance with meal planning and meal preparation! Let’s take a look at meal prep, and how it benefits seniors.
What is meal prep?
Meal preparation (meal prep) is all about preparing the key elements of a dish (i.e. vegetables, protein, grains) or the entire recipe before you plan to eat it. There are a number of common meal prep approaches, including:
Batch cooking - make big recipes at once and save them for use later on.
Prepped ingredients - chop, peel, slice, or roast ingredients ahead of time so you can use them in recipes later on.
Individually portioned meals - prepare an entire meal and divide it evenly.
There are many great reasons to meal prep. It helps you save time and money while reducing the stress around cooking. There are more benefits to be had, especially for seniors.
Here’s how meal preparation helps your senior care strategy.
Meal prep can help seniors maintain their independence. Factors such as limited mobility and dietary restrictions can make meal preparation an increased challenge for many seniors. Your senior loved one may not be able to cook a meal for themselves from scratch every day. Preparing meals ahead of time can simplify their cooking process and maintain their access to healthy food at home, at their convenience.
Meal prep can facilitate healthier eating habits for seniors. Research suggests that individuals who plan their meals are more likely to have increased food variety and adhere better to nutritional guidelines. Meal prepping also gives you healthy options to choose from at home so the temptation to eat fast food and unhealthy snacks is reduced.
Meal prep can encourage seniors to eat regularly. It’s common for seniors to experience a gradual decrease in appetite. Offering meals and snacks at the same time each day helps regulate hunger patterns. Maintaining a meal schedule can help increase your senior loved one’s appetite, and meal prep makes it easier to follow a routine when it comes to meals.
Meal prep helps seniors stick to medication schedules. Meals are an important part of creating a routine. An established routine around mealtimes can help seniors take their medication as instructed by their healthcare provider. Without the routine provided by regular meals, it’s easier to take medicine improperly - whether that’s missing doses or doubling them. Many medications specify whether they should be taken with food or on an empty stomach, so proper meal planning and meal preparation can help seniors take their medication safely.
6 tips to make meal preparation for seniors a success!
Plan ahead. Reduce meal preparation stress by making sure you have all the ingredients you need in advance. Start by planning the meals for the week, then make a grocery list, and do the shopping ahead of time. Planning meals, shopping, and cooking are all tasks that Foothills Home Services’ caregivers can help with!
Consider dietary restrictions. Be aware of your senior loved one’s dietary needs. If they have a health condition like diabetes, they’ll need to follow a special diet so make sure you plan accordingly. A professional caregiver can help make sure your senior loved ones’ meals meet their unique nutritional needs.
Don’t forget to factor in flavour! As we grow older, our taste buds can change. Make the effort to prepare meals for your senior loved one that are not only nutritional but enjoyable too. You can use different cooking methods, herbs, and spices to bring flavour and fun to mealtimes.
Get your senior loved one involved in meal preparation. Staying socially active as a senior can help promote better mental health and physical health. Cooking together is a great way to socialize! There are a number of activities in the kitchen a senior can help with, from mixing ingredients to setting the table.
Think strategically about your ingredients. Limited mobility can make it harder for seniors to do certain things. If your senior loved one is going to get involved with the cooking, consider using healthy ingredients that are pre-made and/or pre-cut. Pre-made sauces, canned fruits, and pre-cut vegetables can help save time and effort in the kitchen.
Pack the food in a convenient way. After the meal prep is done, it’s important to store the food that has been prepared properly. Packing a complete meal in a container can make it easier for your senior loved one to stick to their well-thought-out, well-planned meals.
Would meal preparation services help your senior loved one?
Here are a few signs your senior loved one might need help with meal preparation.
Your senior loved one’s fridge is empty or filled with spoiled food.
They are leaving the stove on, or you notice their pans were burned because they were left on the stove for too long.
Mobility issues make handling cooking utensils, like knives, dangerous for your senior loved one.
They have difficulty purchasing groceries.
You’ve noticed their weight change.
They don’t have the energy to cook healthy meals.
If your senior loved one needs assistance in the kitchen, Foothills Home Services can help.
Let Foothills Home Services help with your senior loved one’s meal preparation needs!
Foothills Home Services’ professional caregivers can assist your senior loved one with every aspect of the meal preparation process. We can help with meal planning, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and more as part of our home care services offered in Calgary and the surrounding areas. Our team is here to help promote a healthy diet and lifestyle for the senior in your life! Connect with us to find out more about how our private home care services in Alberta can ensure your senior loved one is eating nutritious meals and following a healthy lifestyle while maintaining their independence.
