Malnutrition for the elderly is an extremely worrying trend in the past few years. There are many reasons why this happens – inability to prepare healthy meals at home, decreased appetite, digestive issues, or just simply choosing the wrong types of produce. Regardless of the reason, maintaining a balanced diet and sufficient caloric intake is crucial to maintaining good health and an overall better lifestyle.
If you or your loved one is currently underweight, here are some high-calorie foods that you can take to help with weight gain.
Full-Fat Dairy Products
This might sound very counterintuitive for people who have preferred low-fat options for most of their lives. However, a diet full of yogurt, cheese, and full-fat milk is high in calcium, protein, and even good cholesterol. More importantly, they will also be good for people who have dental issues, or those who are only consuming soft foods. A glass of milk between meals will also be a filling snack for those looking to gain weight.
Eggs
Eggs are not only high in protein, but they contain vitamin D, E, and essential fatty acids. On top of that, eggs are also easily prepared. Whether it is boiled, fried, scrambled, or added to other dishes, they are a highly nutritious addition to your diet. Ranking high on the satiety index which gauges how fulfilling a food product is, they have also been known to be good for managing both eye and heart health.
Beans, Lentils, and Other Legumes
These are available, dry, canned, and frozen without much difference in nutritional value. They will, however, vary nutritionally depending on the type of beans and the part of the bean eaten. There have been many well-researched health benefits of having grains in your regular diets such as glucose metabolism and diabetes management, reduced chances of cancer, improving gut health, reducing chances of cancer, and even reducing fatty liver!
Coconut
Whether it is consuming the coconut fruit fresh, in a smoothie, or even to your soups, dips, and baking recipes, coconut is a delicious and nutritious add-on to all your meals. Coconut contains powerful antioxidants, benefits your heart health, boosts better blood sugar control, as well as many beneficial minerals and vitamins. Coconut’s best benefit lies in its versatility, being able to be eaten in many forms, raw and processed, in both savory and sweet foods. On top of this, coconut can be processed into oil that is both heat-stable and delicious in many forms of food.
There are many signs of malnutrition in the elderly such as altered mood and low energy, frequent bruising, dry skin, and even adverse effects on their sleep pattern. If you or your loved one requires assistance with preparing nutritious meals and other day-to-day living, it may be time to consider senior living options. Our professional chefs in Sensations Dining are here to prepare nutritious, delicious, and varied meals that meet all your dietary needs and preferences. For more information about how our team here at Discovery Commons At Bradenton, contact us today!
