Are you eating well?
Food and drink is a subject close to our hearts here at Home & Company! But we are very aware that getting older or living with long term health conditions and disabilities can make eating well and drinking enough really tricky.
Cooking for one
Many of our clients were great cooks in the past, used to conjuring up meals for large families day in, day out. But the inclination to cook fresh food daily for oneself can understandably wain. There are so many lovely ingredients at this time of year. Lots of fresh fruit and salad items need very little preparation in order to turn them into something delicious. If you could do with a bit of inspiration why not arrange for one of our team to come and do a few cooking sessions with you? Sometimes it really helps to have input from someone else. Perhaps we could make a vegetable soup enough for several lunches, or a chicken casserole that can be portioned up and frozen?
Mobility
Poor mobility or finding it tricky to stand for longer periods of time is a real problem in the kitchen. The energy required can just feel too much. Chopping can be hard work too, and makes eating fresh vegetables, fruit and salad difficult. Our team often prep vegetables and other food that needs to be chopped, making the assembly of a fresh meal much quicker and easier at the point you want to eat. Let us know if support with food preparation would be helpful.
Lack of appetite
Our metabolism naturally slows down as we age or if we are less physically active. And many conditions and medications can reduce appetite too. Small, more frequent meals and snacks might be a good alternative to three square meals each day.
Staying mentally sharp
It appears there is no single magic ingredient when it comes to maintaining and improving brain health. According to Harvard Health Publishing the best foods to include in our diet regularly are: Berries; fresh vegetables (in particular leafy greens); healthy fats such as fatty fish and extra virgin olive oil; nuts; and seafood.
Buying ingredients
It can be a really nice trip out to shop for ingredients. If you need support to do that the Home & Company team can help. Our people come with their cars and local journeys are included in our hourly rate. Looking at food and drink in the supermarket is a great way of remembering what it is you like and stimulating the taste buds! But we are also happy to be sent to the shops with a list if that’s what you want. Online shopping is also a good option if you don’t feel able to manage a trip out.
If you’re struggling with the technology to do an online order then the Home & Company team can assist. It’s worth remembering that there is a minimum order, generally of approximately £45. Sainsbury’s offer a telephone ordering service for people who cannot travel to the shops or manage online orders. The minimum order is £25. If you want to purchase less you can make use of the range of delivery companies which can be accessed via your mobile phone, such as Deliveroo, and usually arrive within an hour.
Are you drinking enough?
Do you drink enough water? Most of us don’t, and as we get older we get worse. Those of us living with dementia, diabetes and kidney conditions are most at risk of dehydration but as a general rule we should all be drinking six to eight glasses of fluid each day. So it’s a good idea to make sure you’ve always got a glass of water in front of you. If you do find drinking that much tricky then squash, fruit teas and even soup are all good ways to keep hydrated. The experts say the key is to starting drinking water when we get up in the morning and continue regularly throughout the day.
Do give us a ring if you’d like to discuss Home & Company helping you keep on top of your food and drink.