Creating a Meal Plan for Seniors with Diabetes or Other Similar Conditions
Setting the right eating habit is very important, irrespective of the age group. Further, food habits and diet also depend on body structure, metabolic rate, and external factors.

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
So, the diet should reflect a good blend of all of these to strike a balance of everything. But first, take a look at the dietary requirement for elders for these types of nutrition.
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.

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