A Day of Meals For Seniors With Dementia From An Evans Senior Center

Meals For Seniors That Keep Memory Care in Mind

When it comes to caring for your loved one with dementia, it’s extremely important that you correctly nourish their body. You know what they say–you are what you eat! Here at Marshall Pines, we follow the MIND Diet to provide nutritious meals for seniors. The MIND Diet was developed by researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

It breaks down ten food groups that are brain-healthy and five unhealthy groups you should avoid. The researchers found evidence that these recommendations have the potential to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by as much as 53 percent, and also mitigate symptoms of it. Not only do these food groups help with memory, but they also have so many other benefits such as weight maintenance, improving heart health, and reducing the risk of certain cancers. Here are some meal ideas for a full day of eating for your loved one from Marshall Pines, one of the top Alzheimer’s nursing homes in Georgia:

Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day for your loved one, so make it count! Three of the food groups identified as healthy in the MIND Diet include nuts, berries, and whole grains. Here are a couple of breakfast ideas using these foods:

• Smoothies
• Acai bowls
• Yogurt bowl with nuts and berries
• Fresh fruit with nut crumble
• Nut bars
• Whole-grain cereal
• Toast

Pastries, sweets, and butter are identified as “unhealthy” food groups, so try to limit those when it comes to your loved one’s breakfast.

Lunch

In addition to the healthy groups mentioned for breakfast, the plan recommends leafy green vegetables, other vegetables, beans, poultry and olive oil, which are great ingredients for a tasty lunch. Here are a few lunch ideas:

• Whole grain pasta salad with chicken
• Chicken and roasted or sauteed veggies (using olive oil)
• Leafy salad with veggies and chicken
• Burrito bowl with beans, brown rice, chicken (or ground turkey), and veggies
• Chicken stir fry

While cheese might taste great with some of these meals, you’ll want to limit it to once a week, as it is deemed an “unhealthy” food group under the MIND Diet guidelines.

Dinner

Fish and wine (yay!) are also included in the healthy groups! Although fish is a healthy food group, it is recommended that you limit it to once a week. If your loved one is a wine advocate then they’re in luck–the MIND Diet allows for one glass a day–perfect for pairing with dinner! Here are some dinner ideas:

• Salmon with asparagus and potatoes
• Fish tacos on whole grain tortilla
• Fish with roasted veggies

Red meat, although a yummy dinner option, is identified as an “unhealthy” group. Try to limit it to four servings a week.

Snacks

These healthy food groups also allow for yummy snacks for your loved one throughout the day, such as:

• Fruit salad
• Nuts or trail mix
• Whole grain snacks (popcorn, crackers, etc.)
• Raw veggies with a dip (think carrots and hummus)

There are so many different combinations of the recommended food groups from the MIND Diet that you can use to make a full day of healthy meals for your loved one with memory challenges–so get creative! While it is okay for your loved one to have some of the unhealthy foods in moderation, we recommend largely avoiding some of the most unhealthy foods, like fast food.

And if you’re looking for a memory care facility in the Augusta, Georgia area, look no further than Marshall Pines! Your loved one will not only enjoy healthy meals like these, but also the best care and active social life, as well.

To learn more about residency or to schedule a tour of Marshall Pines, contact our friendly team today.