Published October 8, 2020

Healthy eating habits reduce the risk for diet-related chronic disease, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain kinds of cancers (HHS & USDA, 2015). They also help to ensure your body is receiving the nutrients it needs. Diet fads and nutrition misinformation in the media may make this area of health seem confusing, but there are science-based studies from credible sources that can provide some clearer guidance. Here are some guidelines on creating healthy eating patterns from some of these sources, specifically for older adults.

MyPlate Guidelines

MyPlate is a set of recommendations for healthy eating that shows you the proportions of different food groups you should have on your plate. It is highlighted by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a tool for meeting the 2015 – 2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (HHS & USDA, 2015). MyPlate places food into five groups: Vegetables, grains, fruits, protein, and dairy.

As the graphic shows, vegetables are the largest category, followed by grains, then protein and fruit, and finally dairy. The measurable amounts you eat from each depend on your caloric intake. Visit MyPlate Plan to find out your personalized calorie recommendation, plus the specific amounts of each food group that you are advised to eat.

Seeking Nutrient-Dense Foods

Many of these guidelines are geared towards maximizing the amount of nutrient-dense foods you eat. “Nutrient-dense” means that nutrients and other healthy components (like vitamins and minerals) are concentrated in a food, rather than being diluted by other calories from solid fats, sugars, or refined starches. Since older adults tend to require a lower caloric intake, it is especially important for them to prioritize nutrient-dense foods like the ones listed above, in order to consume the necessary amount of nutrients (NIDDK, 2020).

Reading Nutrition Facts Labels (FDA, 2020a)

Nutrition Facts: What to Look For, What to Limit (FDA, 2020a)

Older adults are encouraged to search for foods high in dietary fiber, calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. Many older adults do not consume enough of these nutrients, which are important for digestion, bone health, and functioning of the heart, muscle, and nervous systems.

Older adults often consume too much saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. Try to choose foods that have lower amounts of these three components. In general, older adults should also try to limit foods that contain many calories and few essential nutrients. These include sugar-sweetened drinks and foods, foods made with solid fats (butter, lard, margarine, shortening), and foods high in added fat and salt.

Asian cooking can tend to be especially high in sodium – for information on reducing the kinds of sodium commonly found in Asian foods, see JACL’s “Facts on Salt”. Instead of adding more salt to different meals, consider adding flavor through various herbs and spices.

Malnutrition and Maintaining a Healthy Appetite 

Creating and following healthy eating habits like those outlined in MyPlate helps prevent against malnutrition. Malnutrition is a health condition that happens when a person’s body does not receive enough nutrients, and is often indicated by rapid weight loss, tiredness and irritability, and a lack of interest in food and drink. Older adults tend to be at a higher risk for malnutrition as a result of restricted diets, illness, social isolation, or other health-related factors (NHS 2020).

Despite the prevalence of malnutrition in older adults, this condition often goes undiagnosed by physicians and nurses (Volkert et al 2010). However, you can do a basic check for malnutrition on your own. A simple way to test this is checking your Body Mass Index (BMI), using a BMI Calculator. In general, a BMI of lower than 18.5 is considered malnourished. If you think you or a loved one is experiencing malnutrition, inform your doctor. Malnutrition can be linked to an underlying health cause, which should be addressed.

Hydration Considerations

In addition to the nutrients you consume, your body needs a healthy amount of fluids in order to digest your food and absorb nutrients from it. The amount of water you need depends on your level of activity and other physical factors, but in general, you are recommended to drink four to six cups of water a day (Harvard Health, 2016).

When planning your next meal, we challenge you to try selecting your food in accordance with MyPlate guidelines. Find out your recommended amounts with the MyPlate Plan, and practice reading the Nutrition Facts labels on your food packaging as you prepare. Before starting a new meal plan or changing your food intake, be sure to check in with your physician or a nutritionist to determine that this change will work for you and your current health situation. Additionally, if you take any medication that affects your appetite, ask your doctor if they have any suggestions or options to address that issue.