Health Eating for Seniors | March 5, 2018
Proper Portions | In honour of National Nutrition Month, our senior care professionals encourage seniors to eat portion sizes for optimal health. Today’s larger portions mean extra calories and encourage seniors to eat more than they otherwise would.
Seniors unaware of proper portions can underestimate the amount of calories they are consuming. Try the following ideas to ensure you are keeping portions in check.
Restaurants are infamous for their service of large, oversized portions. Seniors who eat at restaurants regularly should try to split meals with family and friends or ask for half of their meals to be packed away to avoid overeating.
Portion control can help a senior’s body to become fuller after eating less food at meals, so they can meet their weight loss goals and maintain a healthy weight.
Ensure that most of the plate is vegetables, whole grains, fruits, lean proteins, and other fibre-filled foods. There will be less chance of overeating sweets, unhealthy fats, and snack foods with little nutritional value.
Seniors and older adults who stay hydrated and drink plenty of water can feel fuller and cut back on calories without feeling hungry. Seniors should attempt to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water.
Larger plates can lead to overeating and seniors have likely been taught to clean their plates to avoid food waste. Smaller plates can help give the appearance of a larger portion size and prevent adding too many calories.
Kitchen scales and measuring cups help seniors and older adults stick to the correct portion size with their meals. With time, seniors can estimate proper portions without using scales.
Seniors who skip regular meals are more likely to feel hungry, eat junk food, and eat portions that large. Sticking to a regular meal schedule consisting of nutrition-filled meals, and 2-3 healthy snacks throughout the day, is ideal. Older adults should refrain from going more than five hours without eating.
Firstly, if you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can help with 24-hour care. We offer senior care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, senior living transition services, and much more!
Aging in place means keeping seniors happy and healthy at home. Comfort Keepers® trained caregivers provide seniors with the highest quality of life possible. In particular, our Interactive Caregiving™ system provides care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living.
Personal and empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our clients’ needs. Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit. Our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life.
Our unique services offer families respite care, overnight care, personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care. To learn more, contact the Comfort Keepers Victoria office.
If you are searching for home care near you, we can help! Comfort Keepers® Victoria can provide home care for Victoria and surrounding areas. Service territory includes Colwood, Saanich, Sidney, James Bay, and Oak Bay. Please call (778) 265-5999 and learn how your loved ones can receive compassionate, professional in-home care.
© Copyright 2025, Comfort Keepers | Privacy Policy | Code of Ethics | Call: (778) 265-5999