The nutritional diet of the elderly has changed

Taiwan has gradually entered an aging society! According to estimates by the Executive Yuan's Economic Development Commission, Taiwan's population aged 65 and above will account for 17% in 2018, and nutritional care for the elderly will be an important issue in the future.

The elderly should consume whole grains for breakfast.

Rao Yuejuan, director of the nutrition department at the Yangming branch of Taipei Municipal United Hospital, said that food that is too hard, difficult to chew and difficult to swallow are the main problems faced by the elderly when eating. In Taiwan, children in dual-income families all have to work outside, so many seniors have to prepare their own meals. Limited by changes in physiological functions and food preparation resources or skills, they eat less and lack variety.

Rao Yuejuan suggested that many small tips for meal preparation can actually be incorporated into life to ensure nutritional balance for the elderly and solve eating problems. The following five principles are for reference by the elderly and their families:

A healthy breakfast should be balanced: choose whole grain steamed bread or bread with cheese slices and vegetables, and pair it with a cup of unsweetened soy milk. This way you can take in whole grains, root vegetables, milk, and protein.

High-quality protein is essential: pat boneless chicken thighs or tenderloins, season, dip in cornstarch, and steam in an electric cooker to maintain a tender texture. Tofu and steamed eggs are suitable for the elderly. Chicken, fish, etc. are mashed into a paste for easier swallowing.

Vegetables are not just leafy vegetables: choose softer melons, leafy vegetables, and root vegetables, and steam them in an electric cooker to achieve a texture that is easy to chew.

It is not difficult to have 2 servings of fruit: use the time between meals to eat soft fruits such as bananas, kiwis, papayas, etc. If you have a juicer or food processor at home, you can also choose harder fruits such as pineapples, apples, guavas, etc., and blend them together with vegetables and nuts until evenly mixed without filtering out any residue. Drink 250-300 cc every day.

There are some tips for replenishing water: drink 1,200-1,500 cc of water in several times during the day, or you can make some herbal tea to change the taste.

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