Tips for Seniors on Eating Well in the Golden Years
As a senior, fulfilling your nutritional needs is an important pillar in maintaining your complete wellness. Here are some ways you can get what you need without breaking your budget.
Identifying Your Nutritional Needs
As we age, our nutritional needs begin to change. By the time we are in our senior years, our bodies need foods that are rich in protein, calcium, and vitamin B12, among others. When you address these needs, you’ll see the benefits of maintaining muscle mass and mental acuity. The Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute provides a good guide for the food sources that seniors should include in their diet when aiming to eat well. You can eat lean proteins such as meat, tuna, salmon, and trout, as well as get your calcium from dairy products. You’ll also want to pay attention to the fat content of the foods that you’re eating.
Getting Your Food on a Budget
While you’ll need to focus on the type of food that is in your diet, that doesn’t mean your shopping bill has to become unmanageable. Budgeting Income lists quite a few ways you can save money when shopping for food. Some of the tips include buying staple foods such as rice that can be used in multiple ways, as well as replacing meats with beans as a way of getting proteins in an affordable way. You can also save cash by purchasing fruits and vegetables when they are in season and preparing sauces or stews from vegetables that are approaching their useful life. As a senior, you can also benefit from discounts or coupons from certain stores. Don’t be afraid to look into coupon offers in local newspapers and online.
Supplementing Your Individual Nutritional Plan
Your nutritional health is so important, you don’t have to go at it alone. There are a number of fitness and wellness programs that are covered by Medicare. There are nutritional plans that work in conjunction with a fitness plan, as well as wellness services reserved for seniors who have been diagnosed with specific medical conditions. If you are enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, you should talk with your agent about their wellness plans. In particular, AARP Medicare Complete plans through providers like UnitedHealthcare offer a range of wellness programs that might be helpful with maintaining your nutritional health. If you’re not enrolled in one of these plans, you should definitely look into getting one.
Options for Budget-Friendly Meals
According to Money Crashers, you can eat both healthily and affordably whether you cook your meals at home. It’s recommended that you create a meal plan that adequately incorporates the fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates you need while keeping your salt and fat consumption low. If you’re eating out, you should research the restaurant first to see their healthy options. When cooking at home, you can take advantage of some affordable, quick recipes that are meant to meet your nutritional needs. It may also be helpful to learn how to modify your current diet so you can be at your best. Another option seniors can look into are meal delivery services. These are especially helpful for seniors who are unable to go shopping for their food or prepare their own meals but can be a treat for independent seniors as well.
Keeping fit and healthy in your golden years is a priority, and it makes sense to do this by incorporating little things into what you already do. Make sure to take these tips and tweak them to suit your own lifestyle and specific nutritional needs to get the best results.
Jennifer McGregor
mcgregor_jennifer@
PublicHealthLibrary.org
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