Nutritional Needs for Seniors

As we age, we encounter a variety of changes within and outside of our bodies. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout our whole lives but it is even more important to prioritize our nutrition in our older years. Seniors are defined as age 60 and up. In this older age, one deals with an immense amount of lifestyle changes occurring from head to toe. 

Due to the changes one goes through in this older age, nutrition is extremely important. We are utilizing nutrition to reduce risk of chronic disease and maintain an overall healthy lifestyle. Within this dietary approach, it will be important to focus on the macronutrients as a whole and prioritize fluid intake. Each meal should focus on some form of protein, carbohydrates, and fat. This should come from lean meat sources such as chicken, seafood, eggs, or grass fed lean ground beef. This should also include fruits, vegetables, and healthy fat sources such as avocados, olive oil, nuts or seeds. Lastly, water or fluid intake should be prioritized. Setting a goal to consume water when you wake up and at every meal will allow you to increase and maintain fluid intake throughout your day. I am not placing a specific number on the intake amount as everyone's needs are different in this season of life. I would like for you to focus on the diet as a whole, incorporating these foods. 

A diet that is centered around these foods helps to maintain muscle mass and a healthy weight. Consuming a variety also allows for the senior to have regular intake of vitamins and minerals thus correcting or supporting any nutritional deficiencies. The last topic within this area is food security for older adults. A large number of older adults live in poverty or are considered very low income. Because of this, it can be a challenge to support a healthy diet. It is best to find the cheapest grocery stores and center your grocery list around lower priced fruits, vegetables, and meat. It may be a challenge but it is possible.