Your parents’ lack of interest in food may stem from a variety of factors, such as decreased ability to smell and taste, loneliness, or lack of exercise. But it’s easy to boost the nutrition of their meals and whet their appetite. Here are simple moves to share with your parents (or their caregiver) that will help them eat healthier tonight. Boost flavor “Your sense of taste and smell dulls with age,” says Felicia Stoler, a New Jersey–based RD. Pump up any dish’s flavor by adding seasonings such as spices or herbs rather than salt. Try a squeeze of lemon or lime juice on fish, or sprinkle fresh herbs on pasta. A recent study from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center suggests that the phytochemicals in spices and herbs may help ward off diabetes, heart disease, and even certain cancers. Take a pre-meal walk The easiest way to stoke hunger? Get your parents moving, says Mara Vitolins, RD, a researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Light physical activity slightly increases metabolism and can rev a person’s appetite. Suggest a daily afternoon walk so they’ll feel hungrier by dinner. Pick the healthiest protein There are a bevy of reasons your parents may be skimping on protein—it can be pricey, and tough meats may be harder for them to chew, says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD. Eggs are a cheap source of the nutrient and take only minutes to cook. Canned wild salmon is less expensive than fillets but is still full of brain-sharpening omega-3 fatty acids. “Salmon burgers made with canned salmon, bread crumbs, egg, and herbs are great for people who claim they don’t like fish,” Blatner says. Stock their freezer If family members live nearby, switch off batch cooking for your parents and freeze leftovers in individual servings. Write the date on the meals and check to make sure they’re eaten. Or order healthy frozen dinners online—surf to magickitchen.com or peapod.com—and have them delivered. (Prices are comparable to those in grocery stores.) Pick entrées with no more than 4 g of saturated fat and 800 mg of sodium. Encourage regular sipping Older people might cut back on beverages to avoid midnight bathroom trips, says Enid Borden, president and CEO of Meals on Wheels Association of America. But dehydration has serious risks, such as impaired thinking. Have them aim for about eight glasses of water, juice, milk, or tea during the day, says Blatner—but make sure they have their last drink 3 hours before bed. Installing lights in the hall and clearing a pathway can calm late-night bathroom fears. [pagebreak] Switch to easy-to-chew foods Dental concerns can make parents leery of whole categories of food, Vitolins says. Recommend they go to the dentist; then suggest switching to softer foods like yogurt, cottage cheese, and oatmeal until the problem is solved, says Judy Hannah, PhD, nutrition committee coordinator for the National Institute on Aging. And don’t forget dessert! “I suggest ice cream for undernourished people,” Stoler says. “It’s a surprisingly good source of calcium.” Now they can stop worrying about what they put into their mouths and focus on what really counts–how a good meal can nourish body and spirit. Make meals in minutes Try these speedy weeknight dinners for meals that only take minutes. Make more happy meals A 2004 study found that older people consumed up to 76% more calories when they dined in groups. To make meals more social:
Scout out a communal dinner. Visit eldercare.gov to locate group meals offered at community centers in your parents’ neighborhood.Plan a monthly potluck. If you live close by, host a regular dinner party at your parents’ house and ask each guest to bring a dish. Get meals (and chitchat) delivered. Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver meals to home-bound seniors and also spend time swapping stories.Turn on some music. Have your parents turn on the radio or pop in a CD while they dine. Research shows that any type of music will encourage people to consume more food at meals.
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