The Diabetic Senior Diet
As a senior citizen with Diabetes, you have most likely gotten a set routine for managing your Diabetes. Acceptance of what you may or may not eat is a done deal and wasting energy focusing on the “what ifs” is just that—a waste! However, just because you have long accepted the diabetic diet doesn’t mean that you aren’t open to new ways to prepare the “old” dishes. With so much of today’s media and marketing being focused on food—healthy or otherwise-it can be mind boggling to adjust to the product labeling so that you can follow your diabetic senior diet restrictions and guidelines. And, if you are a senior who is new to following the diabetic guidelines and restrictions, navigating the many food labels can be like trying to find the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. In addition, if you are trying to diet, then that makes your food sizes and selections seem that much more difficult.
As a senior, dieting is a bit different than when you were a younger adult. Your body has other needs than in the past. As you get older, the need for calories lessens because of physiological changes which affect metabolism and level of activity. To help you get started on the road to success, here are a few simple diabetic senior diet tips:
- Get a physical first, talk to your doctor and if you have one, a dietician and an exercise consultant.
- Set reachable goals, both long term and short term
- Don’t be tempted by diets that promise quick fixes.
- Be sure your diet includes your favorite foods. If it doesn’t, you may become easily discouraged and have a difficult time persevering.
- Don’t use a diet plan that requires you to buy expensive food items.
- Don’t try to diet during stressful events
- Stay active!
- Choose a diet with numerous food options
- Leave the table after eating
- Have a low-calorie snack before eating out or going to social events
- Take a break while eating. Often this helps you realize that you are full.
As one gets older, it is not uncommon for the taste buds to change. Foods you once enjoyed are no longer appealing (and vice versa). As a diabetic senior, diet restrictions can be more challenging unless you are open to new foods and fresh ways of preparing old favorites. To jumpstart your cooking and menu planning, here some helpful tips for making the diabetic seniors diet more interesting.
Diabetic Senior’s Diet Tips:
- Try one new food a week
- Pick up a cookbook and find a new recipe using one of your favorite foods.
- Prepare a favorite food item a different
- Try adding a new herb or spice to a favorite dish
- Plan meals in advance
- Eat meals that are “pretty on the plate”. For example–Baked chicken, a slice of tomato, green beans and applesauce are more colorful than baked chicken, cauliflower, apples and wheat bread.
- Use herbs and spices like nutmeg, paprika, parsley, or dry mustard to add color and extra flavor to your meals.
By implementing some or all of these diabetic senior diet tips, you will find that the diabetic senior diet restrictions and guidelines are not so dull. Before you know it, you will be enjoying meal times.
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