Eating Well for Seniors

Eating well is important at any age. Canada’s Food Guide recommends eating a variety of vegetables and fruit, whole grains and protein foods. It also recommends satisfying your thirst with water. In addition to following Canada’s Food Guide, if you are 51 years of age or older, take a supplement with 400 IU (10 µg) of vitamin D every day.

Following this eating pattern can help you get the nutrients that you need, help prevent muscle and bone loss and reduce the risk of falls and broken bones. It can also help you stay independent, maintain and improve your quality of life, and manage and lower the risk of chronic diseases.

Eating well is more than just the food you eat. It also includes cooking more often, enjoying your food, eating with others and being mindful of your eating habits. Check out Canada’s Food Guide for more information and tips. It includes a specific section with tips for seniors.

As you age, healthy eating may become more difficult.

• Many people have less of an appetite as they age. This can happen for a variety of reasons. It can make it challenging to get adequate nutrients and lead to decreased muscle strength and an increased risk for falls. To deal with this you can try eating small amounts more often and increasing activity to stimulate the appetite.
• It might be more difficult to chew or swallow some foods. Try choosing and preparing foods differently. For example, for a softer texture, try cooking vegetables instead of eating them raw.
• You may lose teeth, have pain in your teeth, or have loose-fitting dentures.
• Some foods may taste or smell different than they used to. If your sense of taste or smell has changed, try different spices and herbs to add more flavour instead of salt.