No matter how old you are, a healthy diet is key to a quality life. If we form healthy eating habits when we are young, this not only helps to reduce our chances of developing issues later in life, it also goes a long way towards ensuring we are fit and able to remain active in our senior years.
The good news is that there is no rocket science behind a healthy eating programme. In fact it can actually be easier and cheaper to eat well. With millions of healthy recipes available online and access to a greater choice of ingredients in stores, there really is no excuse!
The negative impact of a poor diet is well-documented, and many food producers now include traffic light warnings on products so that we can make more informed choices about what we put into our bodies and how often we do it.
When we age, our risk of malnutrition increases as we may no longer be able to cook, or we may lose interest in cooking. If we have just come out of hospital, we may be unable to spend time shopping or preparing healthy meals. But by making an extra effort, or by seeking home help, we can maintain a healthy diet that will benefit us in everything we do.
Home Instead Senior Care has a vast range of tips and advice for families who help care for older people available on its website, and also in its annual Senior Citizen and Family Carer Guidebook, which is available online.
You can read up on nutrition and dietary guidelines, learn how to improve bowel health, and get some recipes on preparing food for people with a poor appetite or who are losing weight. There are also great tips for family carers who are often cooking under pressure as they juggle a demanding job, a busy household and financial obligations as well as providing care for an elderly relative.
Visit HomeInstead.ie to download the guidebook or contact Home Instead Senior Care Galway for further information on caring for your loved ones in their home.