Fall is a truly magical time of year, especially if you are in a Northern state. It’s the time of year when it cools down from summer, and there is a bite to the air. It’s the season when you can start eating warm foods that will fill you right up. Some tasty fall foods a senior can enjoy during this time will warm them up and be nutritious.
For the elderly, the transition to cooler temperatures and longer nights may be difficult, despite the season’s beauty. The good news is that autumn is also linked with abundant harvests, so it’s a great time to assist your elderly loved one refill their fridge and pantry with tasty and healthful fall foods.
Seniors in any colder area may better adapt to the season’s change by eating substantial and nutritious meals that are perfect for this time of year. Is it time to start meal planning and grocery shopping, do you need some ideas? Here are five traditional autumn dishes that are tasty and good for your health.
Baking Sweet Potatoes
Whether mashed, baked, or whipped into a pie, sweet potatoes are a staple at many families’ Thanksgiving tables. Sweet potatoes are a fantastic addition to your autumn grocery list because they are a traditional side dish for the Thanksgiving feast. Even if it isn’t a holiday, these are a perfect fall dinner to focus on. If your senior needs help baking, chopping, or cooking, finding the right home care professional may help them eat better.
The best time to harvest sweet potatoes is between September and December. Sweet potatoes are a genuine superfood, filled with nutrients including vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, and fiber. Sweet potatoes have just a little more than 100 calories per serving and have been shown to promote the health of a senior’s eyes, skin, and bones while reducing inflammation.
Eat More Pumpkins and Squash
The autumn harvest wouldn’t be complete without at least one pumpkin, right? This vibrant orange squash is a staple of both autumnal fare and home design. Pumpkin and other winter squashes aren’t just a fun addition to your autumn diet. They’re also beneficial.
Nutritionally, pumpkin is excellent. It contains many B vitamins, fiber, and potassium. You may get more than 200% of your recommended vitamin A from just one serving of pumpkin. Being low in calories and simple to consume, it is also considered a nutrient-dense meal.
Pepitas, or pumpkin seeds, are delightful and healthy snacks that may be eaten in their own right. Check out the selection of winter squashes at your nearby supermarket or farmer’s market, not just pumpkin. Healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants may all be abundant in winter squash.
Strong autumn spices like turmeric, clove, cinnamon, and ginger complement squash beautifully and provide their own set of beneficial and energizing elements to the dish.
Eat More Pears
One of the most iconic traditions of autumn is a trip to the apple orchard for a day of selecting freshly harvested apples. You may feel good about providing your elderly loved one with a bushel of apples since they will snack on something sour, flavorful, and nutritious.
Apples are a classic autumn fruit and are renowned for their many positive health effects. It has been demonstrated that eating apples can help you maintain a healthy weight, protect your heart, reduce your risk of diabetes, aid digestion, build strong muscles and bones, and even increase your cognition. A home care professional can easily help cut an apple into easy-to-eat pieces.
Eat More Beets
Beets are the perfect addition to any autumn salad. Though this soft vegetable might be a pain to prepare on your own, most supermarkets have a wide variety of pre-packaged and even pre-cooked beets.
There are several reasons why beets are good for you. But the elderly who are actively working to improve their cardiovascular health or maintain an exercise routine would benefit greatly from eating them. Nitrates found in beets are converted into nitric oxide in the body. It has been demonstrated to dilate blood vessels, increase blood flow, and enhance cardiovascular health. Beets are good for your heart, but may also aid with inflammation and intestinal problems.