Healthiest Summer Foods for Seniors

Barbecues and picnics are on the schedule and the days are as warm as ever. Even better, with summer comes a bounty of fresh and healthy fruits and vegetables. Even if your older loved one does not join in on cookouts or parties, you can share some of the season’s greatest treats with them at every meal. Many of the summer’s most popular foods are rich in vitamins and minerals, essential for senior health. 

If you’re on a mission to improve life for your older loved one, try sharing a tasty and healthy meal with them. Here are some of the list-topping healthy treats that you can find in your local grocery store or farmers’ market this season:

Watermelon. This fruit is a summer favorite that is not just tasty and sweet, but it is also low in fat and rich in necessary nutrients. Per pound, watermelon has greater levels of lycopene than virtually any other vegetable and fruit. This antioxidant, commonly found in tomatoes, is linked with fighting off heart disease and cancer. Even more, watermelon is high in potassium, which can be helpful for those suffering from a potassium deficiency. To top it off, this fruit also provides lots of vitamins B6, A, and C.

Iceberg lettuce. Packed with alpha-carotene, an antioxidant, iceberg lettuce is a healthy powerhouse for your salads. Alpha-carotene is turned into vitamin A in the body, which helps promote eye health. Even more, it could help reduce a person’s risk of fatality from conditions like heart disease or cancer. Iceberg lettuce also offers lots of vitamin K, which is known to help fight osteoporosis and even regulate clotting in the blood.

Seasonal spices. Barbecues rely on family recipe sauces and rubs. But they can do more than make a meal even more tasty, especially if a senior’s sense of taste is reduced. Spices can also help them ward off diseases. Turmeric, for example, has lots of curcumin, which is linked with fighting off Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and even cancer. Cinnamon, another barbecue favorite, can promote reduced blood sugar and lower cholesterol and triglycerides, which is highly valuable for those with Type 2 diabetes. 

Party dips. Summer dips, like salsa and guacamole, offer powerful health promoting compounds. Salsa, made mostly of tomatoes and vegetables, can help an older loved one reach their recommended daily intake of vegetables. It can even act as a great source of antioxidants, like lycopene. Avocados, which are a staple in guacamole, are rich in minerals and vitamins that can be wildly healthful for your older family member or friend. 

Berries. Berries, particularly strawberries and blueberries, are linked with warding off Alzheimer’s disease. Thanks to their high levels of antioxidants and free radical-fighting compounds, they can even stave off mental decline by an entire 2.5 years. And chances are, during the summer season these berries are more affordable and readily available than at any other time of the year.

When providing quality senior care to your older loved one, nutrition is absolutely crucial. As summer is in full swing, look to nature for some of the most powerful, healthy, and tasty treats that can promote health and wellness in those who matter most to you.