Tips for Eating Healthily While Living Alone

Being alone at dinnertime can make eating seem unexciting. This is a common scenario for seniors who live at home alone.

“When eating is no longer a social experience, people don’t make an effort,” Melanie Persall says, a dietitian at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital. “There’s no joy left in preparing food because people don’t view it as something valuable to do for themselves.”

Many older adults might consider skipping meals completely or relying on fast food options because of this. Professionals of home health in Houma, LA advise against this habit and suggest cooking and preparing nutritious meals at home, claiming that it’s just as fun as having people over for a meal.

Here are some tips you can share with your loved one for eating healthy while living alone.

• Make the most of your freezer space.
  Fresh fruits and vegetables can be expensive. If your parent is buying these foods and letting them go to waste, that’s just as bad as not buying them at all. Encourage him or her to purchase frozen foods! The price is cheaper, and the freezer keeps foods from going bad too soon.
• Be versatile with greens.
  Leafy greens, such as kale, spinach, and chard, should stay in the refrigerator.
• Prepare meals ahead of time.
  Help your loved one come up with a meal planning strategy to tackle at the beginning of every week.
• Make cooking something to look forward to.
  If your parent doesn’t look forward to cooking, help turn it into something he or she can’t wait to get into.

Remember: Your parent can benefit from regular social interaction, so make it a point to head over for dinner regularly. Providers for home care in Pierre Part, LA believe that enjoying a home-cooked meal surrounded by family will benefit everyone in more ways than one.

For more information about our services at Bayou Home Care, including our home rehab in Denham Springs, LA, contact us through our respective numbers.