Caregiver in Dresher PA
As a family caregiver you know how important it is for your elderly parent to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that will help their body function at its peak and ward off a variety of health 
complications and concerns. There are many things that you can do to help your parent achieve this goal, but what if there was one simple change that you could make that could help to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and even some cancers? This one simple change is to reduce the amount of meat that your parent eats and instead focus on a diet that is predominantly plant-based.
October 1 is World Vegetarian Day. This is a fantastic opportunity for you to work with your parent to find delicious ways that you can trim down the amount of meat that your parent eats so that they can reduce their intake of fat, calories, and cholesterol, and bump up their intake of vitamins, minerals, and dietary fiber. This does not mean that your parent needs to completely stop eating any meat. Instead, try choosing a few meals each week that will be totally plant-based so that your parent can enjoy greater health benefits as they age in place.
Try these simple and delicious power-packed breakfasts to try for World Vegetarian Day to get your day going on a healthy note:
- Protein smoothie. A great breakfast for those mornings when you and your aging parent are on the go, or if your parent has difficulty with chewing and swallowing, a smoothie is completely customizable to your parent’s tastes. Try almond milk, silken tofu, protein powder, and frozen fruit for a fresh, fruity smoothie. For something more indulgent, replace the frozen fruit with a banana, natural peanut butter, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.
- Tofu scramble. Starting the morning with protein helps to give your parent sustained energy to get them through the day and supports tissue growth, wound healing, and lasting satisfaction. Trim out the animal products by making your parent’s morning scramble with tofu instead of eggs. Add a sprinkle of black salt for a satisfying flavor, and bulk up the scramble with vegetables. If you are not trimming out animal products all together, use eggs and sprinkle in some cheese for added protein.
- Overnight oats. Sometimes you just do not have time in the morning to make a nutritious breakfast in the morning and you feel like you have to swing through the drive-thru to grab something to eat. This is not the case. Whether you want something that is easy for your entire family or just want to prepare your parent for a healthy meal the next day when you will not be with them in the morning, overnight oats is a wonderful option. Use old-fashioned oats and add dairy milk or your favorite dairy alternative, maple syrup, and chia seeds. Put this in the refrigerator overnight and in the morning either serve cold or warm up for a filling, fiber-filled breakfast that will fuel your parent through the day.
