Nutrition is an important element of home care, and since March is National Nutrition Month, this is the perfect month to assess one’s diet and health. This annual campaign was established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to encourage everyone to learn how to make informed food choices and develop healthy eating and physical activity habits. Everyday Home Care realizes there is no single approach to nutrition and health, so it offers custom wellness services.
Its home care wellness services include meal planning and a daily meal program to help clients customize their plate to reach optimal nutrition. There are a number of ways to ensure that each client’s meal plan is as special as they are. For example, Everyday Home Care caregivers factor in healthy histories, food allergies, dietary preferences and known conditions when curating a daily meal program.
These factors tie in with the 2021 National Nutrition Month theme, “Personalize Your Plate,” which is something all Everyday Home Care clients can expect. In accordance with guidelines from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, there are specific ways in which older adults can obtain the proper nutrition they need. First and foremost, this includes staying hydrated throughout the day. Other ways to build a healthy plate include:
- Making sure half of each plate consists of fruits and vegetables.
- Making at least half of all grains whole.
- Switching to fat-free or low-fat milk, yogurt and cheese.
- Varying protein choices.
- Limit sodium, saturated fat and added sugars.
For those helping to provide care for aging loved ones, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics also shared 20 general health tips as part of the 2021 campaign. These tips serve as guiding principles but may vary in effectiveness, depending on a person’s current health status and ability. Authored by Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics staff members, who are registered dietitian nutritionists, this full nutrition tips list includes:
- Eat breakfast.
- Make sure half of the plate includes fruits and vegetables.
- Watch portion sizes.
- Be active.
- Get to know food labels.
- Fix healthy snacks.
- Consult an RDN.
- Follow food safety guidelines.
- Drink more water.
- Get cooking.
- Order out without ditching goals.
- Enact family mealtime.
- Banish “brown bag” boredom.
- Reduce added sugars.
- Eat seafood twice a week.
- Explore new foods and flavors.
- Experiment with plant-based meals.
- Make an effort to reduce food waste.
- Slow down at mealtime.
- Supplement with caution.
About the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1917, by a visionary group of women dedicated to helping the government conserve food and improve the public’s health and nutrition during World War I.
Today, the academy represents more than 100,000 credentialed practitioners — registered dietitian nutritionists, dietetic technicians, other dietetics and nutrition professionals holding undergraduate and advanced degrees in nutrition and dietetics, and students — and is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.