What do senior citizens love to eat?

30 Aug 2021

 They say that wisdom comes with old age and if we have a look at what senior citizens are consuming that might actually be true. As we grow older we start appreciating life more and realize how important it is to eat good food to remain healthy and leave for longer.

Many senior citizens are careful of what they eat because they know exactly what the effects of food is on their bodies. But don’t worry you will not have to wait for 30 or 40 years to find out through trial and error what kind of food is beneficial for people of an advanced age. Read this article instead and you will find out exactly what kind of food they prefer and why.

 

Fruits and vegetables are the seniors’ best friends.

While eating fruits and vegetables is beneficial for all human beings it is especially advantageous for senior citizens. Eating multiple portions of fruits and veggies per day helps them avoid heart conditions as well as many types of cancer. Who do you think came up with the saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away”? It was surely an anonymous granny who knew what she was talking about.

Fruits and vegetables also contain fiber which is vital for the proper functioning of our digestive systems. And since senior citizens typically have to take several medications per day which can have a negative effect on our digestive system they know how important fiber is.

 

Dairy products and their alternatives.

Milk and various dairy products such as cheese and yogurt are vital for the elderly and they know it. Dairy products contain vitamin D, B12, calcium, and vitamin E, as well as protein. Calcium is crucial for bone health however it cannot be absorbed by our bodies without vitamin D. So if you see an elderly person with a good posture you can be sure that they know the importance of calcium in their diet.

Even if the elderly person is a vegan they can still get their calcium if they consume soy milk or almond milk; many brands of almond and soy milk now fortify their products with calcium so the benefits are just the same.

 

Fish containing omega-3 fatty acids.

Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for all of us however they are especially important for our grandparents since they can reduce inflammation that can cause rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, cancer, and many other ailments. Omega-3 fatty acids can also slow down what is called macular degeneration which is an eye condition that lead to poor vision and a loss of sight.

This essential nutrient can be found in a variety of fish such as tuna, sardines, and of course the favorite of all elderly people the salmon. So there you go, other than being delicious (whether fried or poached) salmon also helps your granny see you better for longer.

 

A humble egg.

Elderly people like to eat eggs. And why wouldn’t they? Eggs are delicious, and so versatile. You can fry them, boil them, poach them, scramble them, and everybody who came of age in the 70s grew up on egg and mayonnaise sandwiches.

Eggs are also favored by the elderly because no matter how you prepare them the end result is quite soft and easy to chew which is convenient for the elderly many of whom might have dental problems.

And, last but not least, elderly people are well aware of the benefits eating eggs provides. Although the egg yolk is said to contain a lot of cholesterol when eaten in moderation eggs are one of the best protein sources out of here; they also contain B12 which gives us energy and helps our metabolism. B12 is also essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and nervous system as well as creating red blood cells.

So, as you can see you don’t need to teach your grandmother how to suck eggs, she’s already been doing it for years and getting all the benefits.

 

Senior citizens know the importance of being hydrated.

It is very important to make sure that you are drinking enough water throughout the day, but if you can’t bring yourself to drink a lot of plain water then follow your grandmother’s example and sip some tea. The secret to your granny's skin looking so good at her age is not expensive skincare or plastic surgery it is all those fluids she keeps drinking all day long.

And if you really want to please your grandparents then go down to your local store and buy them a fruit juicer (provided they don’t already have one). Many elderly people cannot chew on hard food at an advanced age so putting the hard fruit and veggies in the juicer and drinking their juice instead will help them get those valuable vitamins and minerals.

As you can see, senior citizens like consuming mostly healthy food because at their age they realize what kind of effect food has on human beings health. “You are what you eat” is yet another phrase that was most likely coined by some wise old-timer. So forget Instagram influencers and their detox teas; if you want to be healthier look at what’s your grandma's eating and do the same.