Cooking Under Pressure: An Introduction

Healthy eating is essential for people of all ages, but for many seniors, a well-balanced diet is the key to feeling their best. In fact, nutrition experts consider good nutrition the first line of defense in the fight to stay healthy.

Research conducted by the Home Instead Senior Care franchise network supports the important role healthy eating plays in successful aging. The caregiving network found that eating 62 percent of adult children in the U.S. and 57 percent in Canada caring for an older adult said their senior had three or more nutritional risks including:

1. Three or more prescribed or over-the-counter drugs per day

2. An illness or condition that made the senior change his or her diet

3. Having lost or gained more than 10 pounds in the past six months without trying

A variety of issues, from medications and illnesses to memory problems and physical constraints, can jeopardize a senior’s ability to maintain a balanced diet. Seniors may find grocery shopping difficult, feel uncomfortable in the kitchen or lack the skills necessary to maintain a well-balanced diet. Caregivers often want to help but may not have the time or ability to assist with daily meal planning. Factor in mixed incomes and a shaky economy, and it’s easy to see why achieving a healthy meal plan can be a pressure cooker of stress for seniors and caregivers alike.

With so many “cooks in the kitchen,” a senior’s diet is sure to suffer. This handbook is designed to help you understand the importance of senior nutrition and offer some no-nonsense ideas to transform mealtime into a healthy and pleasurable experience for everyone.