Did you know that dietitian-approved menus can help alleviate arthritis pain and stiffness?
Arthritis may not be considered a diet-related condition, what we eat impacts our joints. Research shows that certain foods reduce inflammation while others can trigger inflammation. Serving seniors more arthritis-friendly foods – and less of those that cause inflammation – may help reduce pressure on their joints, helping to mitigate arthritis pain and stiffness.
This May, in honor of National Arthritis Awareness Month, consider adopting a meal planning program that features dietitian-approved menus for seniors. A meal planning program makes it easy to provide your residents with arthritis-friendly meals and snacks.
Focusing on Foods that Fight Arthritis Inflammation
To ease arthritis pain and stiffness, dietitian-approved menus aim to serve seniors more of the foods that reduce inflammation. The top arthritis-friendly foods to include in meals and snacks are:
- Tuna, salmon and other fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids
- Soy foods, including tofu and edamame
- Red and purple fruits, like cherries and berries
- Oranges, limes and other citrus fruits
- Low-fat milk, cheese and yogurt
- Oatmeal, brown rice and whole grain cereals
- Red beans, kidney beans and pinto beans
- Onions, leeks and garlic
- Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage and kale
- Nuts like almonds, pistachios and walnuts
Limiting Foods that Trigger Arthritis Inflammation
Studies show that eating certain foods can increase arthritis inflammation. To help fight arthritis pain and stiffness, dietitian-approved menus limit servings of the following foods:
- High-sugar beverages and treats
- Red meat, full-fat dairy products and other foods high in saturated fat
- Fried foods and others high in trans fat
- Mayonnaise, salad dressings and oils high in omega-6 fatty acids
- Refined carbohydrates like white breads, white rice and white potatoes
- Foods that contain monosodium glutamate (MSG)
Planning Arthritis-Friendly Meals and Snacks
Menu planning for seniors with arthritis requires more than serving up the right foods. Some medications prescribed to treat this condition can interfere with how the body absorbs nutrients. Consequently, you must take care to ensure that senior residents derive the maximum nutritional benefit from the foods they consume.
In addition, seniors who suffer from rheumatoid arthritis or gout have additional food considerations. For example, fish can lead to gout flare-ups, even though it’s a good choice for seniors with rheumatoid arthritis.
For those reasons, the task of planning with arthritis-friendly meals and snacks is best left to a dietitian – or to a meal planning program like Grove Menus, with hundreds of delicious and nutritious dietitian-approved menus for seniors.
Our cost-effective suite of menu planning tools makes it much easier to fight arthritis inflammation through food. All our recipes are designed by registered dietitians and each is simple to adapt for seniors with different dining and dietary needs. Adult care facilities can avoid the expense of keeping a dietitian on staff and instead rely on our dietitian-approved menus to plan arthritis-friendly meals and snacks.
In addition to menu planning, Grove Menus facilitates food ordering and food production, which saves time and reduces waste at adult care facilities. To learn more about how our software system can cut food costs and improve senior nutrition, or to schedule a free, no-pressure demonstration of our arthritis-friendly dietitian-approved menus, contact us today.