It’s common for seniors to lose their teeth. And as a result, they need to adjust their diets and turn to soft foods. But that shouldn’t mean that they can no longer enjoy tasty and nutritious meals.
A balanced diet becomes particularly important as we reach old age. Many seniors experience loss of appetite, causing them to have less interest in food that ultimately affects their health. It becomes even more challenging as their ability to chew gets affected due to loss of teeth and other dental issues. And that is what makes soft foods so crucial for seniors.
The key is to offer good meals that they can enjoy. After all, meals are supposed to make you feel full, physically and spiritually. If you’re taking care of a senior, it’s vital to prepare meals with complete nutrients and delicious at the same time.
Here’s a list of soft foods recommended for seniors.
Scrambled Eggs
These are the king of all soft foods. It contains complete protein and is packed with healthy fats. Seniors love scrambled eggs as there are many ways to work around them. Plus, they are easy to chew.
You can add extra flavor to scrambled eggs by mixing grated cheese or sour cream with the eggs before placing them in a pan. Pair with a cup of tea or coffee and breakfast is served.
Loaded Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes don’t have to be boring. When it comes to preparing meals for seniors, versatility is vital, so if you’re planning to prepare mashed potatoes for lunch, give it an extra oomph. Try cooking potato cakes. This dish is perfect all day long, you can sere it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but your senior loved one will never get tired of it.
Steamed Vegetables
We cannot deny that vegetables are among the healthiest foods you can serve to anyone. But serving raw vegetables to seniors can be a challenge for them, especially those who don’t have teeth anymore.
Seniors from assisted living facilities enjoy their vegetables more when they are well-steamed. It makes chewing and eating a lot easier and allows them to enjoy their food as they eat with companions. Compared to boiling, steaming vegetables is better as it retains the nutrients and keeps the food nutritious.
Smoothies
Who doesn’t like smoothies? They are incredibly delicious and easy to prepare. If you’re finding a way to improve the diet of your senior loved one, smoothies are the way to go. The best part? They do not require chewing!
Prepare the smoothie by blending milk, fruits, yogurt, or supplements that can add flavor like acai powder and chia seeds. You can also add a superfood boost if you like.
Nutritious Chocolate Milkshake
Milkshakes are good treats. But they can also be a good source of nutrition. Healthy chocolate milkshakes are excellent in providing an extra protein boost, especially for seniors who don’t like to eat that much anymore.
Besides, sweet foods are often included in the favorites of older people. Living by its name, this soft food is healthy and low in calories. Just make sure to create the shake with natural ingredients and not with protein powder.
Slow-cooked Meat
Meat cooked at a high temperature is usually hard for older adults to chew. On the contrary, slow-cooked meats over low heat are softer and more manageable for seniors to eat. Some examples of meat slowly cooked are beef stew and pulled pork.
Flaky Fish
Fish is a good source of protein and omega-3, and that’s why eating fish at least once a week is highly recommended for seniors. However, it would be better to opt for flaky fish than the chewy ones. For instance, salmon or cod are way softer than tuna or swordfish, making them an excellent choice for seniors.
Soup
You can never get wrong with a soup. It’s one of the best soft foods for seniors as it’s pretty nutritious, especially the pureed ones. The good news is that there are hundreds of soup recipes, so you’ll never run out of soup meals to serve.
Oatmeal
One of the most traditional yet healthiest soft foods you can ever serve for seniors is oatmeal. In addition, they are exceptionally comfortable to chew. However, many people add sugar to this food, which is not advisable for older people. It would be much better to add soft and fresh fruit or honey instead.
Beans
They are packed with protein and fiber. And as long as they are cooked thoroughly, beans can become perfectly soft. Like soup, there are several ways to cook beans, including baked beans and refried beans.
As you can see, there are many recipes and meal options for seniors. You don’t have to keep serving them the same recipe repeatedly, as that can cause them to lose appetite. Try to match different foods that will provide them with complete nutrients.
