Age-Related Eating
Problems
Healthy eating can be a challenge as we age. Often problems
center around underlying health conditions. It is important that
older adults learn methods for healthy eating. Below we address
common
issues that face older adults focusing on nutrition.
Problem: Problems Chewing
If you have difficulties chewing you may have trouble
eating fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.
What to do: Try other foods.
Instead of:
| Try:
|
|---|
Fresh fruit
| Fruit juices; soft canned fruits, like
applesauce, peaches and pears
|
Raw vegetables
| Vegetable juices; creamed and mashed cooked
vegetables
|
Meat
| Ground meat; other high- protein foods, like
eggs, milk, cheese, and
yogurt; and foods made with
milk, like pudding and cream
soups
|
Sliced bread
| Cooked cereals, rice, bread pudding, and soft
cookies
|
Problem: Upset stomach
Stomach problems, like too much gas, may make you stay
away from foods you think cause the problem. You
could be missing out on important nutrients, like vitamins,
calcium, fiber and protein.
What to do: Try other foods.
Instead of:
| Try:
|
|---|
Milk
| Milk foods that may not
bother you, like cream soups, pudding,
yogurt and cheese
|
Vegetables like cabbage and broccoli
| Other vegetables, like green beans, carrots
and potatoes;
vegetable juices
|
Fresh fruit
| Fruit juices; soft canned fruits
|
See a doctor about your stomach problems.
Problem: Difficulty Shopping
Shopping may be difficult if
you no longer drive or find it painful to stand for long periods of
time.
What to do:
- Ask the local food store to bring groceries to your home. Some
stores deliver free. Sometimes there is a charge.
- Ask your church or synagogue for volunteer help. Or sign up for
help with a local volunteer center.
- Ask a family member or neighbor to shop for you. Or pay
someone to shop for you. Some companies let you hire home health
workers for a few hours a week. These workers may shop for
you and run other errands. Look for these companies in the
Yellow Pages of the phone book under "Home Health
Services."
Problem: Can't cook
It is difficult to hold cooking utensils, pots and
pans due to arthritis related pain.
What to do:
- Use a microwave oven to cook TV dinners, frozen
foods, and packaged foods made by the grocery store.
- Take part in group meal programs offered through senior
citizen programs. Or, have meals brought to your home.
- Move to a place where someone else will cook, like a
family member's home or a home for senior citizens.
- To find out about senior citizen group meals and home-delivered
meals, call (1-800) 677- 1116. These meals cost little or no money.
Problem: No appetite
Older people who live alone sometimes feel lonely at
mealtimes. Loneliness can make you lose your appetite. Or
you may not feel like making meals for yourself.
Maybe your food has no flavor or tastes bad. This could be
caused by medicines you are taking.
What to do:
- Eat with family and friends.
- Take part in group meal programs, offered through
senior citizen programs.
- Ask your doctor if your medicines could be causing
appetite or taste problems. If so, ask about changing
medicines.
- Increase the flavor of food by adding spices
and herbs.
Problem: Short on money.
Financial problems may keep you from eating
nutritiously.
What to do:
- Buy low-cost foods, like dried beans and peas, rice and
pasta. Or buy foods that contain these items, like split
pea soup and canned beans and rice.
- Use coupons for savings on foods you like.
- Buy foods on sale. Buy store- brand foods.
They often cost less.
- Find out if your local church or synagogue
offers free or low-cost meals.
- Take part in group meal programs offered through local
senior citizen programs. Or, have meals brought to
your home.
- Get food stamps. Call the food stamp office listed
under your county government in the blue pages of the
telephone book.
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