Nutrition for seniors

Question
My Grandfather in law is getting on in years and we have found out that his diet isn't that great. He recently lost his wife and his appetite is declining. I need to know what sort of meals I can plan for him that would be low in fats, high in fibre and protein and also boost his iron levels. He doesn't like alot of spices and prefers to eat wild game. Could you point me in the right direction? A web site with meal planning based on this? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Dear Crystal,

There are at least two opinions on optimal senior diets.

1. Don't change anything after the age of 80: the lifestyle settled by this time proved working. Also, any change can be very hard on the body and mind of the elderly.

2. Insure the best nutritional values of foods, good appetite, and general well being. You might want to take a look at my tips on senior nutrition at http://diet.lifetips.com/cat/63583/diets-for-seniors/index.html

You'll see there that Mediterranean way of eating can provide protection from age-related health problems.

To learn more about this diet, read these articles:

http://bestofweightloss.com/your_Mediterranean.html (includes recommended food groups)
http://dietandbody.com/Miami_Mediterranean_Diet.html (includes sample recipes)

You can find hundreds of recipes at recipezaar.com making searches for, for example, "high in fiber" and/or "low in fat" categories or by ingredients.

Hope it helps,

Tanya Zilberter, PhD

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