Older adults’ lifestyles and appetites can change and this can affects the types and amounts of foods they eat. When there is decreased appetite and/or reduced ability to buy and prepare healthy foods, this can negatively affect the ability to intake the required amount of essential vitamins, mineral and fibre. Therefore, meal choices for older adults must be nutrient dense but not energy dense.
Tip #1 - Eat Widely From All The Food Groups
Tip #2 - Meal Plan
If budget is more limited, plan well, use what’s available and buy only what is needed.
Tip #3 - Eat With Others
If they are cooking for one, promote them to collect some healthy but quick and easy ideas and try to get them to organise to eat regularly with friends and family.
Tip #4 - Softer Texture Foods
If nuts, grains and hard fruits and vegetables are a problem for their teeth, opt for milled wholegrains, soft cooked and canned fruits and vegetables and nut pastes.
Tip #5 - Increase Fibre and Water
Older adults may need to eat more high fibre foods and drink more water to avoid constipation as bowels tend to slow down with age.
Tip #6 - Prioritise Protein Foods
It is important for older adults to prioritise protein based foods particularly if their appetite is poor. A way to do this is eating main meals before soups or having the protein portion of the meal before vegetables to maximise protein intake.
Health, N. (2021, March 24). The guidelines | Eat For Health. Eatforhealth.gov.au. https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/guidelines
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