Plan to Eat Healthy Every Day

Lets face it: When life happens, and the unexpected occurs, one of the last things on our mind is cooking a healthy meal. In fact, we might even tend to do takeout just to get dinner on the table on time. However, our in-home care providers at Qualicare ” Newmarket want you to know it doesnt need to be that way. With a little meal planning and some help from our in-home care providers, you can ensure you and your loved one eat healthy every day ” no matter what happens during the day.

Preparation Is Key

In any situation, preparation is key. This includes handling meals as a caregiver to your loved one and your family. And while we would all love to be home at a reasonable hour to put a healthy meal on the table, sometimes life events occur that doesnt make it possible. But, that doesnt mean that you and your loved ones healthy eating habits should suffer.

Lets look at some ways you can help create a healthy eating plan that works for both you and your loved one.

For starters, make one day of the week a meal prep day. Usually, people use Sunday afternoons as their time to prepare meals for the week. By cooking healthy meals ahead of time, as well as keeping frozen or canned vegetables on hand to cook for each main dish, you can prepare a home-cooked, healthy meal even on days that you are running behind.

In addition, you want to make sure you are choosing a variety of foods (fruits and vegetables, whole grains, lean meats, etc.) that your loved one enjoys. This will help to entice him or her to eat if you have difficulty with getting your loved one to eat enough at meals.

Also, you want to make sure you select meal options that fit his or her needs. For example, you dont want to make an item that is difficult to chew if he or she has dentures or trouble eating. Furthermore, if your loved one takes certain medications that upset his or her stomach, you might want to consider foods that will help to absorb and settle the stomach rather than upset it like a spicy dish could.

Remember, make meal time family time. Avoid eating in front of the television or computer. Mostly because being distracted by the screen can cause you to eat more than you planned, but you might also be missing out on valuable conversations you could be having with your family, including how everyones day went, any recognitions that might have happened at work or school, etc. Having meals most days of the week as a family is just as crucial to your loved ones health as is the meal itself. 

Our in-home care providers at Qualicare ” Newmarket understand that not every loved one is the same, and each one requires different nutritional needs. As a result, our team of in-home care providers is properly trained to handle any situation to help ensure your loved one can consume the healthy foods he or she needs to maintain his or her health. Give us a call today to learn how we can assist in caring for your loved one.