Warm summer evenings make salads a great option for dinnertime for seniors. Preparing separate bowls of fresh ingredients and homemade dressing will make it simple for your senior loved one to make lunch or dinner every day. Try one of these nutritious salad options to boost your loved one’s health.
1. Strawberry Spinach Salad
Combining sliced strawberries, baby spinach, and parmesan together makes for a salty-sweet salad combination your loved one will enjoy. Strawberries are full of vitamin C, a water-soluble vitamin that cannot be stored by the body, so it must be continuously replenished. Spinach is high in vitamin A, a nutrient necessary for good eye health.
Some seniors need assistance with tasks such as grocery shopping and meal prep. Homecare professionals can be a wonderful boon to seniors. Whether they require around-the-clock supervision or just need assistance with exercise and household tasks a few days a week, seniors can enjoy a higher quality of life with the help of trusted in-home caregivers.
2. Caprese Salad
Caprese salad is an Italian classic that’s simple to prepare. Sliced ripened tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves are arranged on a plate and drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. One serving of basil provides 98 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin K, which controls blood clotting, and including it in your loved one’s diet decreases the risk of developing dangerous blood clots.
3. Broccoli Cranberry Salad
Chop up broccoli into bite-sized pieces and toss it with diced red onion, dried cranberries, low-fat cheddar cheese, crumbled turkey bacon, and sunflower seeds. Drizzle it with low-fat poppy seed dressing for a sweet and savory meal. Broccoli is considered a “superfood” because of its many nutritional benefits, which include sulforaphane, a sulfur-containing compound that has been found to fight cancer.
4. Panzanella Salad
If your loved one doesn’t enjoy traditional green salads, Panzanella salad may be a good option. This rustic Italian salad is made with diced day-old crusty bread, sliced tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and mozzarella cheese. Drizzling the salad with olive oil and herbs boosts the flavor while keeping sodium levels lower than store-bought dressings. Tomatoes are high in lycopene, an antioxidant that can keep the heart healthy.
If your loved one has difficulty maintaining a heart-healthy diet, consider hiring a professional caregiver. Fremont respite care professionals can assist seniors with a wide array of daily tasks, offering family caregivers the chance to focus on other personal responsibilities or take a break to prevent burnout. Whether it’s for a few hours a day or a few days a week, home care is the perfect solution for family caregivers who are feeling overwhelmed.
5. Red Potato Salad
Potato salad is a classic side dish at summer barbecues. Using red potatoes and keeping the nutritious peels on makes this version healthier than typical potato salads. Combine tender red potatoes, chopped hard-boiled eggs, and sliced olives. Instead of the traditional mayonnaise-based dressing, try using a vinaigrette made with olive oil. Red potatoes are high in potassium, which regulates blood pressure levels in the body.
6. Chicken Salad
If your loved one is diabetic, serving chicken salad on lettuce leaves is a low-carbohydrate option that has plenty of protein to keep his or her blood sugar levels stable. Getting enough protein each day is essential to maintain muscle mass. Eating protein with a meal can also help your loved one manage diabetes by slowing down the rate of digestion and preventing sharp rises in blood sugar levels.
Eating nutritious meals can help older adults remain healthy. If your aging loved one needs help managing everyday tasks or encouragement to adopt healthier lifestyle choices, turn to Assisting Hands Home Care. The type of home care Fremont seniors need can vary. Some need assistance a few hours a day, while others require more extensive around-the-clock assistance. At Assisting Hands Home Care, we tailor our care plans based on each senior’s individual care needs, and the plans can be adjusted at any time. Call us today to discuss how we can give you the peace of mind that comes from knowing your loved one is being cared for with professionalism and compassion.
