Nutrition and Proper Portion Control for Seniors During #NationalNutritionMonth

Health Eating for Seniors  |  March 5, 2018

What Every Senior in Edmonton, AB Needs to Know About Nutrition and Proper Portion Control

What is proper portion control for seniors? Celebrate National Nutrition Month by ensuring that your senior loved one is eating the correct portion of food. Seniors often eat larger portions than they need and are not being educated on portion control. Subsequently, seniors can underestimate how much they’ve eaten and portions that are too large can cause unhealthy weight gain.

Six Tips for Seniors About Portion Control 

Tip #1. Avoid Skipping Meals or Going Too Long Without Eating:

Seniors who skip regularly scheduled meals are more likely to become hungry and eat unhealthy foods and larger portions. Sticking to a meal schedule consisting of nutrition-filled meals, and having 2-3 healthy snacks throughout the day is ideal for seniors. Likewise, older adults should refrain from going more than five hours without eating.

Tip #2. Share Meals or Ask for A Doggy Bag:

Restaurants and cafes are known for their oversized portions. Seniors who dine out may choose to share their meal or ask for a doggy bag. Proper portion control can condition a senior’s body to become fuller after eating smaller quantities of food to maintain a healthy weight.

Tip #3. Nutritious Foods First:

Seniors should ensure that most of their dining plates are vegetables, whole grains, fruits, lean proteins, and other fibre-filled foods. Equally, this means there will be less chance of overindulging in sweets, unhealthy fats, and junk foods with little to no nutritional value.

Tip #4. Utilize Cups and Scales to Measure the Correct Portions:

Measuring cups and scales for kitchen use can help seniors stick to the correct portion size with their meals. With measuring cups and correct portion control, seniors can estimate proper portions later as they get used to smaller portions.

Tip #5. Drink Water:

Staying hydrated and drinking enough water can help seniors feel full and can help cut back on calories without experiencing feelings of hunger. Seniors and adults should drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

Tip #6. Use Smaller Plates and Dishes:

Those who have been taught to “clean their plates” at meals to avoid food waste are likely to overeat if they are using large plates and dishes. Smaller plates can help give the appearance of a larger portion size and prevent adding too many calories.

Portion Control for Seniors: March is #NationalNutritionMonth

Comfort Keepers® in Edmonton Can Help with In-Home Elder Care!

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with retirement care, 24-hour care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more! 

Comfort Keepers®’ are trained caregivers who help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. 

Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Moreover, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality: empathy. Empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Portion Control for Seniors and Home Care Edmonton

To learn more about senior care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office to discuss our unique service offering. If you live in Devon, Edmonton, Sherwood Park, or Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact Comfort Keepers at 780-465-4665.

Is Invoicing Modelling and Client Direct Home Care the Right Option for You?

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. Read more about the program HERE.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible. Recently awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada, our Edmonton location has achieved the highest available certification in Canada for Home Care services, clearly demonstrating Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton.

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