The journey of ageing brings changes in how our bodies respond to food and nutrition.
At BlueCare, our dedicated dietitians like Ella Leach help us understand these important shifts in nutritional needs.
“One big misconception is people think, well, if I’m getting older, I’m moving less, so I just don’t need to eat as much,” Ella explains.
“And it’s true to an extent that maybe you don’t need as many calories because you’re not as active as a young person. But for certain nutrients, your requirements actually increase as you get older. So things like calcium, vitamin D, certain B vitamins – you actually need more of those than, say, a younger person.”
Following the Australian Dietary Guidelines, Ella recommends eating a variety of foods from the five food groups:
- Vegetables and legumes
- Fruit
- Meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts, seeds, and beans
- Dairy, milk, cheese, yogurt, and alternatives
- Whole grains and cereal foods
While limiting foods that don’t add nutritional value: “The obvious ones would be your cakes, chocolates, biscuits, greasy takeaway foods, all those sorts of things. Limit those because they’re not going to be providing you much good.”
What’s particularly concerning is that between community and residential care, about 50% of elderly Australians are either at risk of, or already experiencing, malnutrition.
“I think it’s really important for clients and residents to become more empowered by learning more about nutrition and diet,” Ella shares. “That way they’ll be able to make the most informed choices for their own health and wellbeing.”
And remember, it’s never too late to make positive changes to your diet, and small improvements can make a big difference to your health and wellbeing.
