Protein is one of the macronutrients that your senior might not be getting enough of in her daily diet. Protein helps her to maintain her muscle mass and keep herself as healthy as possible. Increasing the protein in her diet can be easier than you think, and senior care can help.
Beans
Beans are a great source of protein, but they’re also high in fiber. Fiber might be another nutrient your senior’s doctor has recommended that she focus on getting more of in her diet. They’re a fantastic side dish for almost any meal, but beans are also versatile enough and high enough in protein that they can serve as the main focus of a meal, too.
Fatty Fish
Like beans fatty fish does double duty for your senior, nutritionally speaking. Fish that is high in omega-3 fatty acids is high in protein, but those fatty acids are healthy fats that your senior’s body needs. Fatty fish is excellent if your elderly family member is looking for foods that fight inflammation, too. Adding more fish to your senior’s diet gives her plenty of variety and it’s tasty, too.
Eggs
There is so much that your senior can do with eggs. They’re easy to eat and each egg contains roughly six grams of protein. That gives your elderly family member plenty of protein and she can mix and match eggs to find her favorite ways to eat them. Scrambled, poached, hard-boiled, or baked into a quiche, eggs are also inexpensive and have a long shelf life.
Yogurt
Yogurt is a great choice for snacks and meals because it’s got plenty of calcium as well as protein, especially if your senior chooses the right yogurt. Avoid ones that are high in added sugars because those can be less helpful. Instead, choose plain yogurt, especially Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt has almost twice as much protein as other types of yogurt. Your senior can bump up the protein even more by adding flax seeds, chia seeds, and more. Adding fresh fruit and honey allows her to enjoy slightly sweeter yogurt while being able to control the amounts.
When cooking becomes more difficult your senior might be tempted to just skip meals or to eat foods that aren’t really a great choice for her on a nutritional level. She might also not get the protein she really needs. Having senior care providers cooking for your senior lets you make sure that she’s getting exactly what she needs in homecooked meals. You’ll also know a lot more about what your senior is eating.