Skip to main content

5 Essential Meal Planning Tips for Seniors


Following a healthy diet is essential all throughout life, but it becomes increasingly important as you age. Making better dietary choices and getting good nutrition can help seniors avoid serious health concerns like heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. One way to start eating healthier is by meal planning. Read on to learn four tips for planning meals in senior housing in Kirkland.

1. Find Out Any Deficiencies

The first step in planning your meals is to determine your unique nutritional needs. A simple blood panel and physical exam can help you find out whether you are deficient in any vitamins or minerals.

From there, you can start deciding what to incorporate into more of your meals. For example, if you are low in iron and protein, you may need to add more lean meats to your diet.

2. Check Your Cholesterol and Triglycerides

During your yearly physical, ask your physician to run a lipid panel and test your triglycerides. These blood tests can determine whether you have serious health issues, like high cholesterol, that put you at an increased risk of stroke and heart attack.

If your cholesterol and triglycerides are in the normal range, you should continue eating your usual diet. If either of these is high, you will need to cut out saturated fats, trans fats, and refined sugars.

3. Find Budget-Friendly Buying Options

Groceries can be expensive, and many seniors live on a fixed budget. When meal planning, you will want to determine where your groceries will be bought and how much you are going to spend. Take a look at weekly circulars and check deals online to find out where you can get healthy food items for a reasonable price in your area.

4. Get Organized

Meal planning is much easier when it’s done in an organized way. Whether you use a planner or notebook, you should write down what meals you are going to eat on which day. This will help you make an organized meal schedule for yourself. You should also keep a writing pad or whiteboard on your wall or refrigerator where you can write down all the groceries you need to buy for the week.

5. Use Appropriate Storage

To simplify your meal planning, you will want to have tidy and organized storage for all of your ingredients, supplies, and leftovers. If you live in senior housing in Kirkland, you should have plenty of space to keep everything you need for your weekly meals. To optimize that space, you can invest in sturdy storage containers, shelving, and other organizational tools that will make cooking and storing food run smoothly.

Starting Meal Planning

Do you want to start meal planning in order to follow a healthier diet? Planning and prepping your meals in advance is a great way to make better dietary choices. If you live in senior housing in Kirkland, there are numerous local senior resources, medical establishments, and nutritional experts prepared to help you begin your meal-planning journey.

Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How Many Steps Per Day for Better Health?

  We have all heard about the value of walking 10,000 steps a day but recent studies show it may not actually be the magic number. One study published by JAMA found walking 7,000 steps or more a day may decrease the risk for mortality and offer better overall health. In the cohort study of 2110 adults with a mean follow-up of 10.8 years, participants who walked at least 7000 steps a day, compared with those taking fewer than 7000 steps, had a 50% to 70% lower risk of mortality. Researchers also noted, “There was no association of step intensity with mortality regardless of adjustment for step volume.” A 2020 study found a decreased risk for mortality in participants who took 8,000 steps a day than those who only took 4,000 steps a day. In the same year, another study found more steps taken each day were linked to lower rates of diabetes. Researchers say the bottom line is evidence points to the importance of increased physical activity. Before you begin walking, talk to your health...
Post a Comment
Read more

Be an Active Partner in Your Medical Care

Experts suggest that a good way to reduce medical errors regarding your care or that of a loved one is to be an active partner in the process whether in a hospital setting, doctors’ office or the pharmacy. In fact, a study showed 7% of hospitalized patients experienced an event that was considered preventable which negatively affected their health. Furthermore, harmful errors in primary and outpatient health care settings are typically related to diagnoses, prescriptions and use of medicines. Mistakes associated with misdiagnosis result in delayed treatment for the real problem and having the wrong medications prescribed or supplied can cause serious complications. However, it is important to keep in mind that some medical errors are a result of patients failing to disclose all the medications they take including prescription and over-the-counter drugs. Another problem is the failure to reveal pertinent details regarding a person’s prior medical history as well as lifestyle habits s...
Post a Comment
Read more

Hosting a Senior-Friendly Book Swap Event

For book lovers, there’s nothing better than finding new stories to dive into and sharing favorite reads with friends. Hosting a book swap event is a fun, budget-friendly way for seniors to exchange books, explore new genres, and connect over a shared love of reading. Choose a Cozy, Accessible Space The first step in planning a book swap is choosing a comfortable, accessible space. A common room or a cozy corner in senior living Kirkland is ideal. Arrange seating in a circle or create small areas where people can gather, sit, and chat. Add a table or shelf for displaying the books, so everyone can browse easily. Decorating with a few simple touches—like tablecloths, flowers, or even book-themed decorations—adds warmth and excitement. A welcoming atmosphere encourages everyone to relax, explore, and enjoy the event. Invite Participants to Bring a Book (or Two) The beauty of a book swap is that everyone contributes! Ask each participant to bring one or two gently-used books they’re read...
Post a Comment
Read more