Get The Most Out of Summer By Incorporating Nutritious Meals Into Your Loved One’s Routine

Like the old saying goes, you are what you eat. And seniors are no exception! When it comes to keeping your loved one happy and healthy, one of the biggest ways you can support them is by helping them incorporate delicious, nutrient-dense meals into their routine. It’s especially important for those experiencing memory challenges, as their diet can impact mood, energy levels and even brain function!

At Heritage Point Memory Care and Transitional Assisted Living, we understand how important a nutritious diet is. That is why we provide our residents with a healthy diet for overall healthy living! Our expert chefs incorporate ingredients from the MIND diet (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) which emphasizes low processed, whole foods. And with summer produce filling grocery store shelves, our team has created a guide to the benefits of a healthy diet along with tips on how to incorporate nutrients into your loved one’s everyday meals.

3 Easy Ways to Incorporate More Nutrients Into Your Loved One’s Diet

• Choose whole grains. This is not only a key component of the MIND diet, but choosing whole grains over refined grains provides your body with a plethora of nutrients that are removed in the refining process, including fiber.
• Focus more on vegetables. By planning meals with multiple vegetables, you can ensure your loved one gets the nutrients they need. Try to prepare meals with veggies of all colors of the rainbow. You can even make it a challenge to eat the entire rainbow each day!
• Choose healthier sources of protein. The MIND diet recommendations include lean proteins like chicken, turkey, and white fish, as well as fish like salmon, which contain brain-healthy fats.

Benefits of A Healthy Diet

We all know that we are “supposed” to eat a healthy diet. But here are three concrete reasons why it is important for you and your loved one to focus on a nutritious, thoughtful diet this summer:

• Boosts immunity. Foods rich in vitamin C, vitamin D, zinc, selenium, iron, and protein all help build your immune system. In the summertime when social events are frequent, it is important to make sure that you and your loved one’s immune systems are as strong as they can be. Foods like fish, oranges, strawberries, legumes, brown rice, oats, and some red meat are great sources of these essential components of a healthy immune system.
• Supports muscle growth and maintenance. Just like your immune system, muscles require specific nutrients to function properly. With outdoor activities increasing in the warm weather, you want to make sure that your loved one is as strong as possible so they can participate in all of the fun! Keeping a balanced diet is crucial for healthy muscles. Luckily, the foods needed to boost the immune system also help support strong muscles!
• Promotes cognition. The MIND diet focuses on foods that are shown to promote cognition and potentially delay neurodegeneration. With the benefits that a healthy diet can provide, it is a great idea to focus on foods that will promote healthy brain function in both you and your loved one. Foods like whole grains, healthy proteins from fish, poultry and legumes, and dense greens are just a few foods to choose from. Interested in learning more about the mind diet and foods to try? Explore more MIND Diet information.

We are told all our lives that a healthy diet and exercise are key to a healthy lifestyle, and it is true! That is why making sure that your loved one is eating a well-balanced diet, complete with all of the essential nutrients, is a top priority here at Heritage Point. Our chef takes pride in incorporating these healthy ingredients into delicious meals that all of our residents can enjoy. Join us for a meal to see for yourself!

To learn more about our Indiana memory care residency or schedule a tour of Heritage Point, contact our friendly team today.

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