Collaborative guest post
Proper nutrition is essential at any age. Getting an old adult to eat a balanced diet can be a significant frustration for any caregiver. In fact, getting a senior to eat anything at all is a common problem. There are many reasons why eating habits change as we get older. Some of these include:
- Difficulty in chewing and swallowing
- Lack of energy to shop for different groceries and cook
- Weak sense of taste and smell
- Medication side effects
- Reluctance to dine alone
Eating healthy, especially for seniors, doesn’t involve dieting and sacrifice. Instead, it is about enjoying fresh and tasty foods with nourishing ingredients in a good social atmosphere. It’s not too late for you to try out a new food no matter your age.
If you want to start exploring new foods, you don’t have to start with something scary, but you have to start somewhere. Here are some of the reasons why it’s valuable to explore new foods:
- It helps you fall in love with new flavors.
- It allows you to get a variety of nutrients from different foods.
- It helps sharpen your mind by continually growing and evolving and learning about food.
- It helps broaden your food spectrum.
- It’s adventurous.
Picky eating not only affects children but older adults who struggle with this too. Mostly, seniors have a limited set of favorite foods that they prefer to be made in a certain way. It’s easy for a senior to pass on food simply because it looks, tastes, or smells different from the usual.
What Seniors Eat
Most seniors tend to eat comfort foods like toast, French fries, grilled cheese, and crackers. These are usually salty and sweet foods.
In most cases, seniors with picky eating behaviors grew up with parents who put pressure on them during mealtimes. These seniors grew up with a negative experience with food. However, there are different ways that you can push yourself to try out new foods.
1. Have a Non-Threatening Social Setting
It is crucial to keep the meals stress-free and as pleasant as possible. A dinner party may not be the best set up to try out something new. Also, having someone put pressure on you to eat doesn’t make the situation any better, but rather, it can make the situation even worse. You can try out a portion of the new food with a supportive and non-judgmental family member or friend.
Residents of a senior living community with a dedicated dining area may have an advantage in this department. If the community provides new and different foods for the seniors to try, then there is a communal aspect of trying something together.
2. Don’t Introduce Many New Foods At Once
Don’t get adventurous with new foods right away. Try focusing on one fruit or veggie or any other new food at a time. Stick with simple but familiar flavors at first. As you get more comfortable trying new foods, you can now shift up to trying many unique flavors and seasonings simultaneously.
3. Do Start Small
Don’t overwhelm yourself with a full plate of new foods. A small bite makes it more manageable for a first taste. Put a tiny bite on your plate, and you can work up to more significant portions after the first taste.
Alternatively, you can pair your favorite foods along with the new foods. These make them look more appetizing, and you may eventually like it. Also, the pairing helps you see the new foods to be less strange and unusual. However, if you ultimately do not like the new food, you will still have something to eat.
4. Keep Trying and Build Up Familiarity
If a parent presents new foods several times to kids, most kids will eventually take them. It can take as much as ten tries, but finally, they will give in. This is no different for older adults. The more times you try out the food, the higher the chances of eventually liking it. You can watch others eat it first and take the first bite. Eat and swallow at your own slow pace till you finally get used to it.
5. Get Help
If certain foods are difficult for you to eat, occupational therapy could be a solution. A professional food therapist will give you methods that will help you chew and swallow foods effectively. Eventually, they will help you get comfortable trying out different types of foods.
If you don’t like how something tastes the first time, try it in another way. Experimenting with new foods is very rewarding, and it expands your meal options. Like you, everyone’s health is unique, and what works for you may not work for another. Before making significant lifestyle changes, consult your primary care physician or nutritionist. Your doctor will know what’s best for your health.
About the Author
Jennifer Bell is a freelance writer, blogger, dog-enthusiast, and avid beachgoer operating out of Southern New Jersey.