5 Healthy Summer Vegetables Seniors Should Be Eating
Senior Home Care in South River NJ
Summer is a great time for fresh vegetables, so if your senior parent isn’t eating healthy enough now is the time to tempt them to change their diets. If the reason why your mom or dad isn’t eating enough vegetables is that they have trouble washing, chopping, peeling, or preparing fresh vegetables senior home care can help.
A senior home care provider can help your senior parent cook delicious healthy meals. They can even help your mom or dad grow some delicious fresh vegetables in containers on the patio or porch during the warm summer months.
There are many seasonal summer vegetables that are packed with nutrients that senior parent can enjoy. But some of the healthiest summer vegetables that have the highest concentration of vitamins and minerals that seniors need are:
Tomatoes
Fresh tomatoes are a summer treat that will bring back lots of summer memories. Tomato sandwiches made with fresh juicy tomatoes are delicious. And no salad is complete without tomatoes. But tomatoes are also fantastic stuffed with rice or protein-rich quinoa.
Tomatoes are also very healthy and packed with nutrients that seniors often don’t get enough of. They are rich in vitamins C and K, potassium, and antioxidants like lycopene, which supports heart health and reduces the risk of certain cancers.
Bell Peppers
Bell peppers are high in vitamins A, C, and B6, and contain antioxidants that support immune function and eye health. They can be roasted, sliced and served in salads, or stuffed. Fresh bell peppers are an easy to make summer dinner too.
Zucchini
Zucchini is easy to cook and incredibly versatile. This green veggie is very low in calories but rich in vitamins A, C, and manganese, along with fiber which aids digestion and promotes a healthy gut. Zucchini is great sliced and sauteed in a little olive oil, or sliced and fried in the air fryer to make it crispy. Zucchini can also be shredded and used to make zucchini fritters.
Eggplant
Eggplant is a wonderful substitute for meat if your senior parent doesn’t like to eat meat or is trying to cut back on the amount of meat that they eat. It can be used in lasagna and other pasta dishes. Or, you can use it make “burgers” for a backyard cookout.
Like most purple vegetables and fruits, it contains lycopene, which is important for eye health and brain health. It also contains fiber, vitamins B1, B6, and K, and antioxidants like nasunin, which may help protect brain cells from damage.
Green Beans
Green beans are another summer favorite that are easy to find, easy to make, and easy for seniors to eat. They can be eaten plain as a snack or with a dip like hummus. They can be cut up and put into salads. Or they can be steamed and used as a side dish with chicken or fish.
Packed with vitamins A, C, and K, folate, and fiber, which contribute to bone health and digestive health, green beans should be in every senior’s pantry this summer.
If you or an aging loved one is considering senior home care in South River, NJ, please contact the caring staff at Care Street Home Care today. Call (732) 607-8870.
The Care Street mission is straightforward and compelling: to provide a comprehensive range of the highest quality home health services in a professional and efficient manner that will enhance our clients' quality of life and empower families to keep their loved one at home.
Care Street has earned a reputation of excellence among hundreds of families, and is recommended by medical professionals and hospital discharge planners throughout the State.
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