Can Seniors Stick to a Low-Salt Diet at a Restaurant?
There are several reasons your aging relative’s doctor may have suggested they reduce the amount of salt they eat. For example, older adults with high blood pressure are usually advised to reduce their sodium intake to no more than 2,000 mg per day, or perhaps even 1,500 mg or less.
Caregiver Prince William County VA: Seniors Low-Salt Diet
When eating at home, sticking to a low-salt diet can be a challenge. However, it’s even more difficult to eat low salt when going out to a restaurant. Restaurant chefs often use a great deal of salt to boost the flavor of their dishes. Still, it’s possible for seniors to make healthier choices and avoid going over their limits. Below are some tips to help older adults to eat less salt even when going out for a meal.
Plan Ahead
One way for seniors to prevent going over their daily limit of salt is to eat even less salt at home that day than they might otherwise. This will help them to offset the excess salt in the restaurant meal. In addition, it’s a good idea to think about healthy choices before going to the restaurant. Check the restaurant’s website to see if they post their menu. If they do, look for dishes that are marked as healthy choices and help the senior to make their choice before going. Also, don’t be afraid to call the restaurant and ask if the chef can make substitutions or alter ingredients.
Consider a Local Restaurant
Chain restaurant chefs are sometimes required to follow the recipes for menu items without making changes. Locally owned restaurants often have more freedom to make changes and cook meals to order.
Inform the Server
Encourage the elder adult to tell the server that they are on a low-salt diet. They can ask the server for recommendations as well as request that the chef not add salt to any of the foods they choose.
Use Condiments Sparingly
Condiments like ketchup, barbecue sauce, and salad dressings contain a lot of salt. However, people often forget to take them into account when calculating their daily salt intake. Seniors should avoid condiments or use only small amounts.
Ask Elder Care for Help
Did you know that elder care can assist your aging relative even when they are not at home? An elder care provider can drive the older adult to the restaurant to meet with friends. While there, the elder care provider can help them to pick menu items and assist them if they need help. As an alternative, elder care providers can also prepare a special meal at the senior’s home and help them to invite friends to visit them. This way, the salt content of the meal can be controlled better and the older adult and their friends can spend as much time visiting in a comfortable environment as they like.
If you or an aging loved-one are considering hiring a Caregiver Prince William County, VA, please contact the caring staff at LivinRite Home Care.
Call Us Today at (703) 634-9991.
Sources
Webmd.com
Health.harvard.edu
Everydayhealth.com
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