Does your elderly loved one eat breakfast? There are many people in this world – in all age groups – that don’t eat breakfast. You and your elderly loved one might have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. While every meal is important, breakfast does have an impact on a person’s day. Here is some information that you should share with your elderly loved one.
Benefits of Breakfast
You or an elderly care provider should talk to your loved one about the benefits of breakfast. There are various benefits to having a good breakfast every day. Some of these benefits that your elderly loved one should be aware of include the following:
- Having more energy
- Increased metabolism
- Lowering bad cholesterol levels
- Reducing high blood pressure
- Keeping the digestive system healthy
- Improving concentration and focus throughout the day
Now that you have a better idea of how your elderly loved one could benefit from having a good breakfast every day, you might be wondering what they should be eating for breakfast.
Best Breakfast Foods for Your Elderly Loved One
It is important that your elderly loved one is eating a healthy breakfast every morning. When you or the elderly care provider go shopping for your elderly loved one, keep the following things in mind:
- Foods should have enough protein to help with energy levels
- Foods should be high in fiber to help aid the digestive system
- Foods should be low in fat
- Different kinds of fruit should be added to the grocery list
- Whole grains should be chosen
On every grocery shopping trip, these are the types of foods that should be chosen for your elderly loved one. It can be difficult to pick out the healthiest foods all the time. However, eating a healthy breakfast can help to start your elderly loved one’s day off right.
Conclusion
If your elderly loved one hasn’t been eating breakfast, you should encourage them to start doing so. You can do this by having them eat a small breakfast (such as a banana or bowl of oatmeal) twice a week. After they get used to doing that, you can add in a larger breakfast or one more day of a smaller breakfast. Over time, your elderly loved one should be eating breakfast every morning. When they do that consistently for a long time, the health benefits they receive are going to be more extravagant.
Sources
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/food-assistance-programs/nutrition-programs-seniors
If you or an aging loved one is considering elderly care in Red Lodge, MT, please contact the caring staff at SYNERGY HomeCare Billings today at 406-839-2390.