Archive for the ‘Nutrition’ Category

Happy National Nutrition Month!

Thursday, March 16th, 2017

Submitted by: Jenn Ryan, Mosser Dietician

This year’s theme is “Put your best fork forward”. Eating healthier doesn’t always mean changing your entire eating pattern overnight! Small changes, made over time, can add up and make a difference in your health.

Eating right and staying fit are important no matter what your age. As adults age, they need fewer total calories, but more nutrients, especially protein, B-vitamins, and calcium.

Recommended calories per day for:

Activity Level Women aged 51+ Men aged 51+
Sedentary (not active) 1,600 2,000
Moderately active 1,800 2,200-2,400
Active 2,000-2,200 2,400-2,800

Fiber

Eat more fiber-rich foods to stay regular, help lower your risk of heart disease, control your weight, and prevent type 2 diabetes. Great sources of fiber include whole grain breads and cereals, beans, fruits, and vegetables.

Vitamin B12

Many people older than 50 do not get enough of this vitamin sometimes due to difficulty absorbing vitamin B12. Those individuals may benefit from a dietary supplement. Fortified cereal, lean meats, eggs, milk products, and some seafood are great food sources of vitamin B12.

Calcium and Vitamin D

Older adults need more calcium and vitamin D to help maintain bone health. Have 3 servings of vitamin D-fortified low fat or fat free milk or yogurt each day. Other calcium rich foods include fortified cereals and dark green leafy vegetables. If you take a calcium supplement or multivitamin, choose one that contains vitamin D.

Potassium

Increasing potassium along with reducing sodium (salt) may lower your risk of high blood pressure. Good sources of potassium include vegetables, fruits, low fat or fat free milk, and yogurt. Try to select and prepare foods with little or no added salt.

Protein

Some older adults do not get the protein they need to maintain muscle mass, fight infection, and recovery from surgery. Chewing protein foods such as meat or chicken can be a problem for some older adults. Some easier to chew protein rich food sources include beans, nut butters, eggs, and dairy products like milk powder and low fat cheeses.

With nutrient-rich foods and activities with friends, older adults will feel the difference in their strength, energy levels, and quality of life!

 Source: Eatright.org

Food First: Encouraging Residents to Eat More Calories and Avoid Nutritional Supplements

Thursday, January 16th, 2014

Unintentional weight loss is common among seniors. As many as one in four aging adults may experience unintentional weight loss without any underlying cause. While losing weight is common, it can have some adverse effects on your health and sometimes lead to malnutrition and/or dehydration. That’s why together with your food service partner, Culinary Services Group, LLC, we created the Enriched for Life Program.

In order to help residents maintain a healthy weight, CSG developed a fortified foods program called Enriched for Life. Enriched for Life has changed the way senior living communities like LifeQuest approach nutrition intervention. Your Registered Dietitians and Certified Dietary Managers will work together evaluating residents’ nutritional needs and preferences. When residents aren’t eating and require intervention, our philosophy is “food first,” before prescribing supplements.

Enriched for Life uses natural, rich, nutritionally dense foods to improve resident health. Our Culinary Team has selected comfort foods and simple menu items which are then fortified to taste great while giving residents the calorie and protein boosts they need. Enriched for Life program menu items include:

  • hot cereals
  • soups
  • shakes
  • smoothies
  • entrées
  • desserts

We use all natural ingredients to fortify these foods. Ingredients like whole milk, sugar and butter make traditional foods taste great while encouraging residents to eat more and stay healthy. Enriched for Life uses recipes which have been developed in Culinary Services Group’s own test kitchen and taste-tested by residents. CSG’s goal is to keep everyone eating their best.

Jocelyn Spreitzer, Director of Marketing
Culinary Services Group, LLC