Dietitian-approved menus rely more on nutritious foods – and less on dietary supplements – to improve the health of senior care center residents.
Nutritional supplements can be beneficial for older adults, but dietitians and health experts agree that they supplementation should not be the first line of defense against malnutrition and weight loss. Instead, the primary focus should be to help seniors meet their dietary needs through healthy eating.
Dietitian-approved menu plans take a food-centric approach, which can also help reduce the need for nutritional supplements.
Meeting Nutritional Needs from Food
Consuming a wide variety of nutritious foods is a better way to stay healthy than turning to dietary supplements to meet nutritional needs.
Nutrient-dense foods can have a positive effect on senior health, as they contain essential vitamins, minerals and other naturally-occurring substances. Taking a nutrient out of a food and concentrating it into a pill or tablet isn’t the same and supplements can’t replicate all the nutrients in real food.
On this topic, the Mayo Clinic says that, “Supplements aren’t intended to be a food substitute because they can’t replicate all of the nutrients and benefits of whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables.”
When adult care facilities use dietitian-approved menus, nutrient-rich foods significantly reduce the need for nutritional supplements.
Older Adults and Dietary Supplements
Older adults are at an increased risk of developing nutrient deficiencies, and sometimes dietary supplements are necessary for overall health.
As we age, getting enough vitamin B12 and vitamin D can be difficult. Senior care facility menus typically include fortified foods, but older adults often require additional supplementation.
Nutritional supplements can also be helpful in the management of certain senior health conditions, especially for those residents who have digestive disorders and other ailments that affect how their bodies use nutrients may need dietary supplementation. In addition, seniors with specific nutrient deficiencies often need to take supplements.
However, in addition to vitamins and minerals, whole foods also provide essential dietary fiber and highly beneficial substances such as antioxidants and phytochemicals, which help seniors stave off diabetes, heart disease, cancer and hypertension.
So, even if residents need supplementation, a dietitian-approved menu provides many other important health benefits.
Dietitian-Approved Menus Meet Individual Nutritional Needs
Dietitian-approved menus are designed to address the health needs of older adults. However, some residents at senior care centers have limited food choices due to allergies, medical conditions or dental problems.
When older adults cannot obtain sufficient nutrients from standard menus, or when special conditions must be addressed, it can create a challenge for food service staff.
The Grove Menus meal planning program is designed to meet the dietary needs of older adults through healthy eating, as well as to simplify the processes of food service. It also offers a high degree of customization potential through diet extensions, to address special dietary needs of individual residents.
The cost-effective, user-friendly Grove Menus suite of food menu program tools makes it easier for adult care facilities to take a food-first approach to senior nutrition. Contact us today and schedule a free, no-hassle demonstration to learn more about how our dietitian-approved menus can save you time and money and help your senior care center residents stay healthy.