When it comes to helping your aging adult to live a healthier lifestyle overall, big changes may not be the way to go. Smaller changes can yield big changes, especially if you’re willing to take your time with them.
Eat Smaller Portion Sizes
Eating just a slightly smaller portion than usual doesn’t deprive your senior of anything and yet it can make a big difference. Paying attention to portion sizes can decrease the extra calories and cut back on ingredients that your elderly family member wants to ingest less of, such as sugar and salt. Most people don’t realize how much a serving size is for a particular food, so doing a little bit of label reading can really pay off.
Substitute Ingredients Now and Again
It’s not uncommon to find substitutions for recipes, such as using Greek yogurt in place of sour cream or applesauce in place of oil. While you might want to adopt some of these changes permanently, you really don’t have to. Even making those substitutions every other time you make a certain recipe can have a positive effect on your senior’s overall diet. You can also try asking elderly care providers what types of substitutions they’ve tried. You’re likely to learn some that you can put to good use.
Focus on Little Dietary Changes
Big dietary changes can yield big results, certainly, but they’re also intimidating and difficult to maintain for very long. Smaller changes are changes that don’t seem too challenging at first, but over time they lead to other small changes that really add up. Start by adding a few fruits and vegetables to your senior’s diet. From there, start limiting ingredients she really needs to watch, such as salt or sugar.
Let Tiny Activities Build Momentum
Your senior probably needs to start exercising, too. If her doctor hasn’t mentioned it first, make sure that you ask about whether it’s okay for her to begin exercising. Even really small activities, such as walking out to get the mail, can help your senior to be more active. Start with a walk out to get the mail and then add a stroll up and down the driveway before coming in. Eventually this can expand to include a walk around the block.
Even if your elderly family member isn’t ready to make big changes, that doesn’t have to mean she won’t see some results. Once she gives a couple of small tweaks a try, she may realize that she’s more ready to embrace some changes than she thought.
If you or an aging loved one are considering elderly care in Morton Grove, IL, please call the caring staff at A-Abiding Care today. Serving North and Northwest Chicago and the surrounding area for over 30 years. Call 847-698-1400.
