As your senior loved one ages, you may be trying to figure out healthy meals they can enjoy. They still need a certain amount of calories that will help them fuel their bodies, and they should be focused on eating the right foods. However, when you start caring for your senior mom or dad it can be a challenge to figure out what to make of them, especially when there is so much misinformation online about what is healthy and what is not. Their companion care at home provider can assist in this matter as well.
The best thing you or your loved one can do is talk to a doctor. If you are trying to figure out what is healthy and you truly do not know, ask your loved one if you can join them in their next doctor’s appointment. A doctor will help you figure out what ingredients are the best for your loved one and what foods to avoid.
Your loved one may need to eat more fresh vegetables and find enough protein but also limit red meat. Something to consider is adding in tofu! However, you may be wondering what the pros and cons of adding this ingredient to a dish would be.
Here are things to consider when making tofu for seniors.
It’s Nutritional
One of the main things a senior needs to focus on is getting enough nutrients in their food especially if they’re starting to eat less. A senior should be eating the same amount of calories as other adults but it can be hard when they stop eating. They may start eating for many reasons like they have a harder time cooking alone, they may not be able to taste as well, or they may not notice they’re hungry. Companion care at home can help your loved one cook and they can start using tofu to add extra nutritional value. This is a soybean that is filled with protein, fiber, calcium, and much more. It’s also something that is easily prepared and doesn’t take a lot of time to make. This can be used in place of most meat dishes!
Tofu Can Help Build Muscle
As they age they naturally start to lose muscle mass and they must figure out ways to maintain their muscle as much as possible. Companion care at home can encourage them to go walking and lift light weights, but another way to maintain muscle mass is through diet. Tofu has a high amount of protein which is the building blocks of muscle. Your loved one should be focusing on eating enough protein because the more muscle they can maintain the more likely they will be able to do things alone and age in place for much longer.
Tofu Can Be Bland
One of the major drawbacks of tofu is that it can be plain. If companion care is at home with your loved one and they are helping prepare food, they need to focus on finding and adding in bold flavors. Tofu takes on the flavor of whatever it is cooked with, so it can be really good or really bad. This is why it is good in tacos or other bold-flavored foods. This is not an ingredient you will like plain.
It Can Be Hard to Digest
An issue to be aware of is that tofu can be harder to digest due to the enzymes in it. Tofu can travel to the gut without being fully digested which can make someone feel bloated and gross. If this happens while your loved one is eating tofu it may be best to find something else to eat even if tofu does have amazing health benefits.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Companion Care at Home Services in Boynton Beach FL please get in touch with the caring staff at Star Multi Care today. Call 954-962-0926
Star Multi Care is a Trusted Home Care Agency in Florida including Palm Beach, Miami Dade, and Broward County.
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