Creating nutritious meals plays an important role in contributing to a healthy heart. As a carer making food for the people you visit can be a regular part of the job. Running out of culinary inspiration can become a problem! But first, why is the food we make so important?
The benefits of a healthy and balanced diet include:
- Maintains healthy cholesterol levels
- Healthy blood pressure
- Healthy weight
- Mental and physical health benefits
At Lifestyle Homecare, we have researched and discovered three delicious dishes to create some healthy meals to make for your patient to enjoy!
- Fish Pie- A homemade fish pie provides a balanced amount of carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. White fish contains protein and oily fish like salmon is a great source of omega 3. Doctors recommend this for the heart-protective properties fish have. To lower the levels of saturated fat, you can add chopped parsley instead of cheese or opt for a low-fat cheese.
- Mini Lemon Sponge Puddings- This sweet but healthy dessert is perfect for the upcoming winter months as it can be made quick and easy in the microwave! Using fresh ingredients makes it healthier and better than store-bought cakes! Can be served with ice cream or custard to add a little something extra.
- Healthy and fluffy pancakes- These delicious breakfast pancakes are perfect for a quick breakfast in the morning. The fluffy texture makes them easy to eat and can be decorated with some fresh berries, nuts, or granola!
How do I create a heart-healthy diet for my patient?
Some people may require more specific health helping foods within their diet. To create a healthy diet for your patient to enjoy, it is important to take on board these six points:
- Controlling portion sizes- Controlling portion sizes is an important factor to consider when making meals for your patient. You don’t want your patient to consume too much salt, fats, or calories as this can defeat the purpose of your healthy meal. A quick way to measure ingredients is to use measuring cups when adding ingredients to the recipe.
- Limiting the amount of salt used in food- Too much salt can lead to high blood pressure which can result in strokes, heart attacks, and other serious health conditions. When purchasing food, an easy way to check the amount of salt is to check whether they are green or orange which means they are lower in salt by 100g. If you are looking for ways to reduce/remove salt, consider opting for herbs, dried garlic, pepper, lemon juice, or spices.
- Healthy sources of protein and whole grain- Protein helps your body to grow and repair itself i.e., helps protect vital organs and hair and nail growth. Choosing lean meat, fish and plant-based sources like tofu, seeds, and nuts are great sources of protein to include in a balanced diet. Whole grains are fantastic sources of fibre. From whole grain bread to pasta. Adding whole grains means that you’re allowing your patient to consume a nutritionally rich diet.
- Five a day- The most common way to incorporate healthiness into any diet is choosing your five a day. Containing at least five portions of fruit and vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals. Ways to buy fruit and vegetables can be through fresh produce, frozen, tinned, or dried, there are many different options available to buy from the supermarket.
Knowing a couple of healthy recipes that you can make for service users can be really helpful on the day to day and remove the extra task of trying to figure out what to make on the spot.
For more information and tips on home care services, then please visit our website or get in touch, today!
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