The doctor says that the elderly's digestive function is progressively declining, making it difficult to digest and absorb all the food they eat. Eating too much at each meal can easily cause indigestion.
This increases the burden on the heart and kidneys. However, if they eat too little, their daily nutrient intake is likely insufficient to meet the body's normal consumption, leading to discomfort such as hunger, dizziness, fatigue, and stomach pain. Therefore, it is best to eat smaller meals more frequently, with four meals a day.
So how should the timing of the four meals be arranged? Here are a few methods:
1. The interval between breakfast and lunch is relatively short, while the interval between lunch and dinner is longer. In this case, dinner can be eaten earlier, with a small snack added later. For example, have breakfast at 8 a.m., lunch at 12 p.m., dinner at 4 p.m., and a small snack at 8 p.m.
2. Elderly people generally have the habit of sleeping early and waking up early, so breakfast can be eaten earlier, with meals every four to five hours. For example, have breakfast at 7 a.m., lunch at 11 a.m., and two more meals at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
3. If dinner is eaten late, afternoon tea can be added. For example, have breakfast at 7:30 a.m., lunch at 11:30 a.m., and dinner at 6:30 or 7 p.m., so you can have afternoon tea around 3 p.m.
In summary, the elderly can adjust their diet by eating smaller portions but having more meals, based on their daily routine and digestive condition. This way, they can feel both full and well-nourished.