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Seniors - Their Nutritional Need - Part 2

By Mumtaz Khalid Ismail

The difficulties confronted by seniors
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  • The difficulties confronted by seniors
  • Common diseases among the seniors
  • Dietary modification for seniors
  • Sample menu for the seniors

    • The absorption difficulty will be there for the elders due to weakening of the digestive system. Therefore easily digestible and highly nutritive food should be given. The bones will get weak. Calcium rich diet must be a part of their diet. The secretion of digestive enzymes by the stomach, pancreases and intestines usually diminish with advancing age. Therefore ability to digest food is diminished.

    Common diseases among the seniors
    Before dealing with nutritive diet it will be appropriate to note the common diseases found among the seniors. They are more prone to many diseases due to degenerative process, impaired immunity and malignancy. Common diseases are visual impairment, hearing loss, tooth problem, bronchitis especially in smokers, hypertension, cardiac disease, constipation, arthritis osteoporosis and cancer of different organs.

    Dietary modification for seniors*

    1. Drink plenty of oral fluid to prevent constipation.
    2. Clear soup at the beginning of meal to aid digestion.
    3. Soft and easily chewable food to be taken because seniors have problem of dentition.
    4. Food should be easily digestible, because they have decreased production of digestive enzymes.
    5. Oil to be restricted and preferably taken in the form of Poly unsaturated fatty acid. They are prone to heart disease.
    6. Diet should contain adequate tender vegetables and fruits for fibre. It prevents constipation and reduces the serum level of cholesterol.
    7. Coffee, tea and cola to be restricted. Their over stimulation can interfere with sleep.
    8. Calcium rich diet to be taken. Calcium is necessary for strengthening bone.
    9. Enjoy on green leafy vegetables. It is an easily available and rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
    10. Food items should consist of familiar food. Seniors are emotionally attached even to their food. Any sudden change can cause emotional problems.
    11. Small frequent food instead of three heavy meals because it is easier to digest.
    12. Comparatively heavy meal in the afternoon than at night.
    13. Avoid too much of sweets and sugar.
    14. Drink a glass of warm skimmed milk at bedtime.

    * Adapted from "Dietetics"

    Sample menu for the seniors
    Time Vegetarian Non vegetarian
    Early Morning Warm water - 1 glass
    Tea/ coffee 1 cup    		 Warm water - 1 glass
    Tea/ coffee 1 cup
    Break fast Oats porridge in skim milk - 1 cup
    Banana - 1    		 Toast - 2 slice
    Half boiled egg - 1
    Paneer - 4 slice small
    Apple - 1
    Mid morning Fresh fruit juice - 1 glass Tender coconut water - 1 glass
    Lunch Softly cooked rice - 1 cup
    Dhal or khadi - 3/4 cup
    Vegetable stew - 1 cup
    Curd - 3/4 cup    		 Chapathi or bread - 2
    Minced chicken - 1/2 cup
    Mixed vegetable - 1 cup
    Curd - 3/4 cup
    Mid evening Tea/ coffee - 1 cup
    Marie biscuit - 2 nos    		 Tea/ coffee - 1 cup
    Digestive biscuit - 2 nos
    Dinner Tomato soup - 1 bowl
    Veg Khichadi - 1 cup
    Curd - 1/2 cup
    Custard - 3/4 cup    		 Vegetable soup - 1 bowl
    Tomato rice - 1 cup
    Fenugreek leaves - 3/4 cup
    Fruit salad - 3/4 cup
    Bed time Skim milk - 1 cup Skim milk - 1 cup

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