Homecare in Darien, CT

You already know that nutrition is a valuable element of your care plan for your aging loved ones and that it makes a tremendous difference in their ongoing physical and cognitive health. If you are like most family caregivers, however, you are always looking for more ways to make this element of their care as impactful as possible. One of the ways you can do this is by integrating super foods into their regular diet.

Super foods are those foods that contain high levels of nutrients that improve and sustain ongoing health. These are foods that pack a major nutritional punch with even a serving or two, and that are also surprisingly delicious. Challenging your seniors to find creative ways to add more of these wonderful foods into their diet can help them to achieve more of their health and well-being goals, and can have the added benefit of stimulating their minds with new flavors and textures.

Team up with your aging loved ones' in home health care services provider to work some of these super foods into their regular diet:

• Peanuts. A favorite that often gets a bad reputation for its fat and calorie content, peanuts are actually extremely healthy. Just one serving contains 7 grams of protein, which is more than both almonds and walnuts, and is actually a legume, not a nut. This means that the amino acids within peanuts create a more complex protein than within actual nuts, making them a fantastic choice for vegetarians who may not get the full range of amino acids as easily. Enjoy these tasty legumes in the classic peanut butter sandwich or ants on a log snack, or get more creative and work them into a Thai dish with peanut sauce.

• Dark chocolate. Everybody loves a sweet treat, and with dark chocolate you can feel good about indulging your aging loved ones every now and then. Many experts even say that an ounce of high quality dark chocolate every day can be a beneficial addition to a healthy diet. Dark chocolate contains antioxidants and well as compounds that improve blood vessel flow and can even protect against the development of diabetes. Snack on dark chocolate as a treat by itself, drizzled over a dessert, or even in a more unique savory application such as a mole in Mexican cuisine. You can also get a nutritional double-punch by putting your chocolate together with peanut butter for a dose of protein.

• Avocado. This rich, savory fruit has increased in popularity considerably in recent years as more people have come to appreciate its creamy, dense texture and fantastic nutritional value. Avocados contain a wide array of vitamins and minerals, as well as monounsaturated fats that can help to lower cholesterol, protect against stroke, and reduce the risk of heart disease. Slice avocadoes over your favorite salad, slip them into vegetarian sushi, or even mash them up and use them to replace mayonnaise in sandwiches and wraps.