5 Ways To Get Your Senior Parent To Eat More Veggies

September is National Fruits and Veggies Month, and it’s the perfect time to eat more vegetables. Most seniors do not eat enough fruits and vegetables, which is one reason they are at a high risk of becoming malnourished. If your mom or dad is living alone and you suspect they aren’t eating enough vegetables, there are some things you can do to encourage them to eat more.

One thing that you can try is home care services. Seniors who have home care get regular visits from a home care provider who will help them cook healthy meals, serve them healthy snacks, and share meals with them to try to coax them to eat more and healthier foods.

Some other things you or home care providers can try to get your mom or dad to eat more vegetables are:

 

Incorporate Vegetables Into Their Favorite Dishes

One way to get your mom or dad to eat more vegetables is to not tell them that there are extra vegetables in their favorite dishes. Add finely chopped or pureed vegetables to soups, stews, casseroles, and sauces. This way, the vegetables blend into the dish, making them less noticeable.

For example, add spinach to pasta sauces, blend carrots into mashed potatoes, or include extra vegetables in meatloaf. A home care provider that makes meals for your mom or dad can also hide extra veggies in their favorite dishes.

 

Try New Ways Of Cooking Veggies

If your mom or dad doesn’t like eating vegetables because they don’t like steamed vegetables or raw vegetables, try making vegetables in new ways to tempt them. You or home care providers can experiment with different cooking methods to enhance the flavor and texture of vegetables.

Your mom or dad may like vegetables prepared differently. Roasting, grilling, or sautéing can bring out the natural sweetness and add a pleasant crunch. For example, try serving roasted carrots and parsnips, grilled zucchini and bell peppers, or sautéed spinach with garlic.

 

Make Vegetables Easily Accessible

A big reason seniors don’t eat a lot of vegetables is that they have difficulty washing, peeling, and cutting fresh vegetables. Canned vegetables can also be difficult because your mom or dad cannot easily open a can.

Buy pre-cut vegetable trays or buy different kinds of prepared veggies and keep the containers in the fridge for quick and easy snacking. Having ready-to-eat options makes it more likely for your mom or dad to eat those veggies as a snack. For example, buy pre-cut carrot sticks, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and bell pepper strips. You can also buy the veggie trays often served at parties.

Home care providers can help shop for these vegetables and help prepare them so they are easy to grab for your senior loved ones.

 

Incorporate Vegetables into Breakfast

Adding vegetables to breakfast will increase the vitamins and minerals your senior parent is eating and keep them full for longer. Good vegetable-heavy breakfasts include vegetable-rich omelets, smoothies, or spinach added to scrambled eggs.

For example, try making a spinach and mushroom omelet, vegetable breakfast burrito, or smoothie with kale and berries for your mom or dad. You can also have their home care provider make them a veggie breakfast.

 

Use Dips and Dressings

Pairing vegetables with tasty dips and dressings can make them more appealing. Veggies and dip are fantastic healthy snacks any time of the day. Include their favorite dressings, but also offer some healthy options like hummus, yogurt-based dips, or homemade vinaigrettes.

For example, carrot sticks with hummus, cucumber slices with Greek yogurt dip, or a salad with a flavorful vinaigrette.

 

 

If you or an aging loved one is considering Home Care in Manassas, VA, please contact the caring staff at Thrive Health Care Services today. (703) 992-0484