Keeping a healthy weight becomes more crucial for general well-being as the years go by. A crucial component of this is understanding and controlling portion sizes. In addition to helping to maintain a balanced diet and prevent overeating, proper portion control can also help manage chronic diseases. Still, many seniors might not understand proper portion controls, which is where personal care at home comes in, offering tips on portion control and more.
The Significance of Portion Control
For many seniors, portion control might be the last thing on their minds. However, paying attention to it can help them stay healthier longer. This is significant because weight gain is more likely at an older age due to a slower metabolism. Also, meals that are smaller and better balanced can facilitate digestion. Another thing to consider is that reducing portion sizes can help seniors struggling with conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and more.
Understanding Portion Sizes
Personal care at home providers can help seniors understand portion sizes by providing them with visual tips like the following:
- Protein: The portion size for meat, chicken, or fish should be comparable to a deck of cards.
- Vegetables: A cooked vegetable serving size should be comparable to a baseball.
- Fruits: A tennis ball-sized portion of fruit is appropriate.
- Grains: The portion size for pasta or rice should be comparable to a fist.
- Dairy: Four dice roughly equal a dish of cheese.
With these images in mind, seniors can quickly and easily determine the right portion sizes without the need for scales or measuring cups by using common objects.
Useful Advice on Portion Control
While personal care at home professionals can assist with portion control as they prepare meals for seniors, there are also a few tips that seniors can incorporate on their own, including the following:
- Make Use of Smaller Plates: This easy approach can help create the illusion of greater amounts, which can have a gratifying psychological effect.
- Pre-Portion Snacks: Personal care at home can help seniors divide up their snacks into smaller bags or bowls before consuming them, rather than straight out of big bags or containers.
- Examine the labels: Learning how to read food labels to understand nutritional information and portion sizes can also be quite helpful for seniors.
- Practice Mindful Eating: By taking their time and practicing mindful eating, seniors can better detect signs of being full and avoid overeating.
Challenges Seniors May Face
When it comes to portion control, seniors may encounter particular difficulties, including changes in their appetites. If this happens, seniors may need to focus on more frequent meals a day rather than three large meals. Also, it’s important to make sure portion proportions still satisfy dietary requirements.
Personal care at home providers can help ensure seniors’ diets are high in nutrients that supply vital vitamins and minerals by offering suggestions for healthy meal planning.
Maintaining a healthy weight and general health depends on seniors receiving assistance in understanding and controlling meal sizes. With the support of personal care at home and family caregivers, seniors can make educated food decisions that support a better quality of life as they age.
If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Walnut Creek, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
Sources:
- https://www.storypoint.com/resources/senior-nutrition/healthy-eating-nutrition-tips-for-seniors
- https://elderwise.com/health-lifestyle/serving-and-portion-sizes-for-senior-citizens/
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/portion-control
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