Is your senior getting enough water? With more of these vegetables and fruits, she might be able to sneak more into her diet.
Berries
Berries are perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth, but their rich colors betray some other important information. Berries are high in antioxidants and other necessary vitamins and minerals. They’re also full of water and fiber, so they’re healthy in a multitude of ways.
Squash
Squashes are incredibly hydrating and they can substitute for higher carb foods like noodles and even crackers. It all just depends on how you slice them. Zucchini in particular is over 95 percent water, making it a super hydrating food for your senior to eat.
Melons
Melons typically rank extremely high in water content, usually over 90 percent water. Like berries, they also have antioxidants, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. July is National Watermelon Month, so it might be a great time to add watermelon to your senior’s summer diet. Like tomatoes, watermelon contains lycopene, making it great for heart and eye health.
Cucumbers
Cucumbers are high in potassium and anti-inflammatory antioxidants. They’re also high in water content, so they’re a great addition to salads or to snack on out of hand. Like squashes, you can cut cucumbers into rounds and use them to replace crackers for snacks.
Celery
Celery gets a bad rap for being boring at times, but it’s over 95 percent water and there are studies that are showing promising findings in terms of slowing or stopping cancer growth. Plus, celery is easy to pair with a protein like peanut butter to get even more nutrients.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are high in lycopene, vitamin C, and vitamin A. They’re also rich in potassium. Beyond that, tomatoes are over 90 percent water. As an addition to a salad, on their own, or sliced for a sandwich, you can’t beat tomatoes for taste.
Lettuce
Lettuce is mostly water, which is part of why it’s such a refreshing base for summertime salads. Various types of lettuce have a lot of flavor and they’re high in vitamins C and A. Try mixing a variety of lettuce blends to create delicious salads or to add to sandwiches and wraps.
Broccoli and Cauliflower
Both cauliflower and broccoli are excellent vegetables for your senior to eat on a regular basis. Broccoli contains antioxidants, fiber, and so much more. Cauliflower seems dull, but it also contains plenty of nutrients. And both contain more than 90 percent water, which makes them extremely hydrating.
Apples
Apples are tasty and there are a huge variety from which to choose. They’re high in fiber and they contain a great variety of vitamins. Apples also contain over 80 percent water, which makes them more hydrating than you might have expected.
Food prep can get time- and energy-consuming, especially when it’s hot. Your senior might find that having home care providers to take care of some of the fruit and veggie prep leads to her eating healthier meals and snacks and it just might increase her hydration levels, too.
If you or an aging loved one needs home care services near Lincoln, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
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