Oral health is a major problem for the elderly. It affects chewing, reducing appetite, and food leads to malnutrition. We recommend easy-to-chew menus with lots of nutrients!
Oral and dental health problems are one of the main problems of the elderly. This is because the body deteriorates, both in terms of calcium accumulation in bones and teeth, which makes it easier for the teeth to decay and erode. In addition, the taste buds on the tongue deteriorate, making it harder to chew food. Happiness and quality of life decrease because they cannot chew meat, vegetables or hard fruits and cannot taste the food they eat. All of these are reasons why the elderly do not want to eat or chew food, leading to malnutrition.
In addition, most elderly people suffer from chronic non-communicable diseases and have to take medication regularly, which has a direct impact on oral health. สมัคร ufabet กับเรา รับโบนัสทันที It can cause dry mouth, burning, and tooth decay, which are common oral and dental health problems in the elderly.
However, eating is still necessary, so choosing the right food is an important thing that should not be overlooked. Recommended food for the elderly who have chewing problems.
Food preparation techniques for the elderly with chewing problems
- Cut or chop hard and tough foods into small cubes or thinly sliced, especially meats. Choose easily digestible meats and high-quality proteins such as fish, eggs, lean meats, and tofu when cooking.
- Raw materials are boiled, stewed, blanched, and steamed before cooking, especially vegetables and dried beans, to make them soft and easier to chew.
- Emphasize on using various spices or herbs to cook the menu. Use ginger, galangal, and fingerroot in cooking.
Recommended menu for the elderly who have chewing problems
- Pumpkin Soup
Provides energy 180 kilocalories per serving. Rich in carbohydrates, protein, iron and various vitamins. Also contains beta-carotene from pumpkin.
Pumpkin Soup Ingredients
- 120 grams of mashed steamed pumpkin
- 1 box of low-fat fresh milk (220 ml)
How to make pumpkin soup
Add mashed steamed pumpkin and fresh milk. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Stir frequently. Season with ground pepper and a little salt.
- Minced Pork and Tofu Egg Clear Soup
Ingredients (for 2 people) 354 calories
- Minced pork 90 grams
- 2 grams of coriander root
- 3 cloves of garlic
- Chinese cabbage 80 grams
- 220 grams of egg tofu
- 3 teaspoons of light soy sauce
- 2 stalks of spring onions
How to make tofu, egg and minced pork clear soup
Pound coriander roots, pepper, garlic, mix with minced pork, form into small balls, boil until cooked, then add Chinese cabbage and spring onions.
- Fish porridge
Ingredients (for 1 person) Energy 207 kcal
- 2 ladles of cooked rice
- 50 grams of tilapia
- A few celery leaves
- 3 grams of spring onion
- 2 teaspoons of light soy sauce
How to make fish congee
Boil the tilapia with 2 cups of water until cooked. Scoop cooked rice into a bowl. Scoop the broth and fish meat over the cooked rice. Sprinkle with spring onions, celery leaves and ground pepper.
Recommended foods for the elderly
Nutrients that help in the process of strengthening and slowing down the deterioration of bones and teeth include calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, etc. In addition, there are other nutrients that play an important role in the process of strengthening and deteriorating bones and teeth and help maintain healthy gums and teeth. The food sources of these nutrients are as follows:
- Foods that are sources of calcium include milk and dairy products, eggs, nuts and nut products, etc.
- Foods that are sources of vitamin C include green leafy vegetables and fruits that are low in sugar, such as guava, oranges, etc.
- Sources of phosphorus include fish, eggs, and beans.
- Foods that are sources of vitamin D include milk, salmon, oysters, etc.
- Foods that are sources of magnesium include green leafy vegetables, grains, nuts, fruits, etc.
- Foods that are sources of vitamin K include spinach, broccoli, green leafy vegetables, cabbage, vegetable oil, etc.
- Foods that are sources of copper, manganese and zinc are found in nuts, seeds, beets, seafood, etc.
In addition, the elderly should avoid sweet foods, desserts, sweet drinks, soft drinks, and sour fruit juices, which destroy tooth enamel and cause tooth erosion. They should also avoid salty foods, which are commonly found in condiments such as seasoning sauce, soybean paste, fermented fish, and salted fish, etc., which are high in sodium and may result in more sodium than needed per day. They should also drink at least 8 glasses of plain water to stimulate bowel movements, or as recommended by their doctor.