5 Healthy Meal Planning Tips for Seniors

Eating healthily is essential at any age, whether nine or 90. Even the smallest better-for-you choices can go a long way.

However, many older adults can struggle to cook nutritious meals due to limited mobility or debilitating chronic health conditions. Additionally, eating alone, side effects from medications, and a diminished sense of taste can prevent seniors from cooking.

Meal planning, or deciding what dishes they’d like to cook in advance, can help seniors make healthier choices, save money and time, and reduce food waste. 

But if you’ve never meal planned before, where should you start?

We’ve got you covered! Use these five handy tips to begin your meal-planning journey. 

1. Get Inspired 

Each week, spend some time gathering recipes you’d like to try. These could be from the internet, your daughter, your favorite cookbook, or a friend. According to your weekly schedule, consider which recipes are easiest to shop for and prepare. Be sure also to keep prep time and calories in mind.

Store your recipes in a folder or on your computer to easily access them as needed. 

2. Create Theme Nights 

Some seniors find that having theme nights for each day of the week makes meal planning easier. For instance, you can have Taco Tuesdays or Fresh Fruit Fridays. Knowing what types of dishes you’ll be eating every night makes grocery shopping and cooking a breeze. 

3. Select Vitamin-Rich Ingredients 

According to The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, older adults can actually use food as “preventative medicine to encourage health and well-being.”

As you food shop, carefully read the ingredients on each label while keeping your unique health needs and conditions in mind. Have arthritis? Choose anti-inflammatory foods, such as nuts, leafy green veggies, olive oil, and fatty fish. Want to improve your memory? Fill your cart with blueberries, broccoli, and turmeric.

Pay close attention to your protein intake. According to the Department of Agriculture’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, many older adults aren’t consuming enough protein. 

4. Make a List and Schedule a Shopping Day 

Maintaining a consistent schedule helps seniors feel more secure and reduces stress. Choose a shopping day that is most convenient for you and stick to it. The day before you head to the grocery store, prepare a list of the products you need to prepare your weekly recipes. 

5. Get Some Help 

Sometimes, declining mobility, fear of driving, and other issues make meal planning challenging for seniors. In these circumstances, it’s best to ask for help. Call your family or friends and ask them to drive you to the food store.

Do your loved ones live far away? If so, consider hiring a Visiting Angels’ Scotch Plains, NJ, in-home caregiver. Our friendly, professional caregivers can provide safe, dependable transportation to the supermarket and help you plan and prepare your meals. They can also assist with medication management, companionship, light housekeeping, and more.

Want to learn if caregiving is right for you? Contact us today by calling 908-322-0056. We serve residents throughout Scotch Plains and the surrounding communities.