Proper Portions for National Nutrition Month and Senior Care

Health Eating for Seniors  |  March 5, 2018

What Every Senior in Victoria, BC Needs to Know About Proper Portions and Nutrition

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.

Six Tips for Proper Portions for Seniors

#1. Share Meals to Save Calories

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.

#2. Fill up on Nutritious Foods First

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.

#3. Drink Plenty of Water

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.

#4. Use Smaller Dishes at Meals

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.

#5. Utilize Measuring Cups and Scales

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.

#6. Avoid Skipping Meals or Going Too Long Between Meals and Snacks

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.

At Comfort Keepers® Victoria we feel that home is the best place to be.

If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help with 24-hour care, overnight 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® Victoria provides in-home elderly care services

Comfort Keepers® trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ system provides care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).

Comfort Keepers® Victoria in-home caregivers can help with Interactive Caregiving™

Our philosophy is to elevate the human spirit and our caregivers will be there every step of the way to ensure your loved one has a better quality of life. Personal and empathetic care is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. 

Learn more about our unique service which offers respite care, overnight care, personal care, companionship care, palliative care, and end-of-life care by contacting the Comfort Keepers Victoria office.

Comfort Keepers® Victoria is proud to provide senior care and home care services to keep seniors safe in their homes.

If you are searching for home care near me, Comfort Keepers® Victoria can provide home care for the seniors of Victoria and the surrounding areas of 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.

Quality and Accredited Respite Care for British Columbia Families

Comfort Keepers® Victoria has been accredited with Exemplary Standing with Accreditation Canada. Accreditation is an intensive process in which industry experts examine an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures against quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada. 

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