Do your elderly parents have issues eating regularly, remembering to eat, or eating enough in general? The following five tips can help caregivers assist elderly individuals to eat more healthy food consistently, so that they can feel their best every day, and that you can continue to spend quality time together. These five tips can help you make sure that your parent is getting proper nutrition and eating regularly:

1. Subscribe them to a meal delivery service
It can be hard to be fully responsible all the time, so it is helpful to utilize services that can help elderly patients eat properly. There are many meal delivery services that you can sign up for and no longer have to worry about. If your parent struggles to make food often enough for themselves or just needs an extra bit of help with meal prep throughout the week, this is a great option to have a fresh meal delivered at the frequency that you choose. Also consider having a frozen meal plan delivered for them to store for later. Having a meal delivery service is especially useful if you are not always near your parents to help them out.

2. Adhere to a regular meal and snack schedule
Having your elderly parent on a schedule for eating will make things a lot easier and straightforward for them. Plan out what time their breakfast, lunch, and dinner is, and when they should be eating snacks. If they often get dehydrated, you can also schedule times for them to drink water or tea. Having a set schedule eliminates any confusion about when they should be eating, and will help the process go smoothly for both of you.

3. Server smaller portions throughout the day
This tip is especially helpful for elderly parents who don’t have a big appetite or that do not often finish their meals. Serving smaller portions throughout the day will be less of a stress on your parents and will also aid in boosting their metabolism as well. Each time they get a small meal is a good opportunity to incorporate extra bits of protein or water to keep them energized and sustained throughout the day. Make sure to give your parents more frequent snacks and meals if they have low blood sugar.

4. Prepare ahead snacks
Dealing with a constant meal plan can get tiring, so try not to make every meal right before it is served, and don’t feel as if you have to create something new every time. Instead, prepare some snacks ahead of time in bulk. Your parents will surely not mind if they have the same snack a few days in a row! Get a few food containers from the nearby store to store away snacks in your fridge that you have prepared ahead of time. This way you don’t have to be constantly preparing food and are also left with some extra time to care for any other needs your parents may have.

5. Serve fresh produce in smoothies
Smoothies are great options for elderly parents, especially those who have trouble chewing on their own. When preparing smoothies for your parents, incorporate some fresh produce such as spinach, kale, strawberries, blueberries, mangoes, and other items you may find at your local farmers market. Both fruit and vegetables have antioxidants and necessary vitamins and minerals in them that can help support the physical and mental health of your parents.