In honor of International Mediterranean Diet Month in May you might want to consider whether this way of eating might work well for your senior. The goal of the Mediterranean Diet is to use fresh, whole foods prepared in simple ways to boost heart health and to reduce health issues. Any time that you’re considering making big changes to your senior’s diet, it’s wise to talk with her doctor first to make sure that it’s a good fit for your senior’s health issues and medications.
Benefits of the Mediterranean Diet
Caregiver La Crescenta, CA: Mediterranean Diet
The Mediterranean Diet is full of benefits that your senior might be seeking, like plenty of healthy omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and even plenty of fiber. These components have been shown to help with decreasing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation, all of which might be issues your senior battles.
What Does Your Senior Eat on the Mediterranean Diet?
But does your senior give up a lot by eating on the Mediterranean Diet? Not as much as you might think. The diet leans on whole grains, vegetables, fruits, eggs, and seeds. Plenty of herbs and spices give the food lots of flavor, and lean meats are part of the diet, but fish and shellfish are far more common. Olive oil and dairy products are also included.
Is it Tough to Stick to the Mediterranean Diet?
It might not be difficult at all for your senior to continue to eat according to the Mediterranean Diet. It’s a popular way of eating, so there are lots of recipes that can help her to feel as if she’s got the variety that she wants in terms of daily and weekly meals. The key really is to make sure that the foods she’s eating are foods that she enjoys.
Making Mediterranean Eating Easier for Your Senior
Much of the Mediterranean Diet involves changing how your senior prepares her meals. There are more whole foods than she might be used to eating and depending on the challenges that she’s facing with her health, that may be difficult. Bringing in a caregiver to help with cooking and meal preparation may be a good idea. Batch cooking meals might also be helpful.
Once your elderly family member starts to see benefits from eating the Mediterranean Diet, she may not find that it’s as difficult to stick with it as she worried that it might be.