Four Ways for Your Senior to Eat Better Fats
Is fat completely bad for your senior? Turns out that “fat free” isn’t always the healthiest option. There are healthy fats and your elderly family member’s body does need those healthy fats in order to keep functioning well. The key is to focus on the best sources of fat and that will naturally end up limiting foods that are full of the unhealthy fats.
Add More Fish to Her Diet
Fatty fish is an excellent way for your elderly family member to get protein and healthy fats into her diet. Eating fatty fish a couple of times a week can be a huge nutritional boost for your senior’s diet. Some fish to consider include:
- Salmon
- Trout
- Mackerel
- Herring
- Anchovies
- Sardines
- Tuna
Add Flaxseed to Her Diet
Flaxseed is high in fiber and in omega-3 fatty acids. Ground flaxseed is easy to sprinkle over yogurt or to add to smoothies. It’s also something your elderly family member can add to baked goods, like muffins or breads, in order to add nutrients. If your elderly family member wanted to add it in other places, she could consider adding it to salads as a topper, hot cereals, and as a replacement for breadcrumbs.
Increase Intake of Nuts
Nuts are high in protein and they’re high in healthy fats. Walnuts, almonds, peanuts and more are excellent options for your senior to snack on or to add to meals. Ground nuts and nut butters are easy to add to other recipes, and nut butters in particular work well as a snack with fruits and vegetables, like apples or celery.
Look for Other Foods High in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
It’s also important to look at other foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Foods like avocado are excellent to include, for example. If you can find foods that have added omega-3 fatty acids, like dairy products, those are a good option. Other good choices include eggs and yogurt and even some juices that have added omega-3 fatty acids.
Healthy fats really are good for your elderly family member. They’re especially important if she’s concerned about her cognitive health. Eating a healthy diet will have positive impacts for her, but it doesn’t happen overnight. She needs to consistently eat well to get the full benefits. One of the best ways to ensure that she’s able to do that is to have help with meal preparation from home care providers.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering home care in Livonia, MI please contact the caring staff at No Place Like Home Health, LLC today. 734-259-4200
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