However, two of the most sensitive aspects of proper food habits are old age and diabetes. These external factors can have a very strong influence on the diet chat that is being followed.
So, if you are looking for the perfect diet plan for senior people who have diabetes, this is the perfect place for you. Let’s take you through a diabetic seniors’ diet plan that people should follow. Let’s delve in!
The Basics
The primary requisite for people to know about a diabetic senior’s diet plan is the kind of food that affects sugar levels. These are:
- Protein
- Carbohydrates
- Fats
- Fibers
Daily calorie intake | 1800 kcal (kilocalories) max |
Daily calorie intake (diabetic elders) | 1600 kcal max |
Daily carbohydrates intake (diabetic elders) | 160 gms (1/10th of total calories) |
Daily protein intake (diabetic elders) | 100 gms – 110 gms |
Daily fat intake (diabetic elders) | 100 gms – 150 gms |
Food to Include in the Diet
Protein | Eggs, lentils, tofu, varieties of fish, lean beef and pork, skinless chicken, turkey |
Low-fat items | Flax seeds, avocadoes, skimmed milk and yogurt, olive oil, almonds, walnuts, sesame seeds |
Carbohydrates | Brown bread, wheat bread, pasta, legumes, cereal |
Fibrous food | Oatmeal, whole-grain food, wheat bran |
Vegetables and fruits | Papaya, apple, guava, watermelon, cucumber, sweet potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, peas, green leafy vegetables, beans |
Food to Avoid
Now that you know about food items to be included in the diet plan for diabetic seniors, it is important to know which food to avoid completely. These are
- Packaged, canned, and processed food
- Potato chips, pizzas, fries (transfat)
- Bananas, mangoes, potatoes
- Table sugar
- White rice, flour
- High-fat milk
- Rich red meat and poultry
- Carbonated drinks, alcohol, coffee
Meal Plan for Diabetic Elders
Diabetic seniors need to be extremely careful about what they include in their diet plat and any type of processed food, or the ones that have transfat. So keeping the same in mind, an ideal meal plan for them would be:
Breakfast
- Poaches eggs, brown bread with avocado spread
- Cooked oatmeal, almonds
- Egg-veggie omelet, black beans walnuts
- Sweat potato toasts, low-fat cheese, spinach
Lunch
- Low-sodium beans, chopped tomatoes, spinach, and low-fat cheese, made into a cooked mixed bowl
- Fresh spinach salad, Grilled chicken breast, shredded carrots
Dinner
- Lentil penne pasta, mushrooms, and veggies cooked in tomato sauce
- Pork tenderloin, cooked asparagus
- Steamed broccoli, quinoa, tofu
Summing Up
When choosing a diet plan for diabetic seniors, you need to be extra careful about what they intake. After all, their days’ activities are very limited, and their metabolism is as small as a peanut. Controlling their sugar and fat intake can be a great way to ensure that they eat clean to keep their diabetes under check.