As the holidays arrive, families spend more time together. This is the first time you’re all gathering since your dad learned he has diabetes. You’re new to this, so how do you make sure he has plenty to choose from? Here are a few tips to consider and how senior home care can help.
Avoid Temptation
Keep tempting desserts and foods out of his home. Even though others may love them, it may be hard for your dad to resist the fudgy chocolate cake he loved. It won’t hurt everyone else to stick to his dietary needs for a day or two.
Talk to Him
Sit down and talk to your dad about the things his doctor or dietitian recommended. He may have meal plan print outs that you can use. If not, ask his doctor for guidance. If he has the chance to work with a dietitian, ask your dad if you can attend that appointment with him.
Find Diabetic-Friendly Recipes for His Favorites
Go back to that fudgy chocolate cake your dad always loved. He misses getting to have it, so why not make a version that he can have. Brands like Swerve make a brown sugar substitute that contains no sugar that works just as well. They also have powdered sugar and granulated sugar options.
You can also make them healthier by switching to white wheat flour instead of all-purpose flour. Skip the butter and use healthier options like low-fat yogurt. There are several stevia-sweetened chocolate chips that are perfect for making ganache.
His favorite side dish with a roast beef dinner is mashed potatoes and gravy. Mash some cauliflower into the potatoes to cut the amount of carbs. Or, make mashed cauliflower instead. If he loves scalloped potatoes, make it with turnip instead.
Follow the Rule of Quarters for Plating
Plating a holiday dinner is easy to manage if you follow the rule of quarters. Divide a dinner plate into quarters. Two of those quarters need a non-starchy vegetable. One needs to have a whole grain, fruit, or vegetable like sweet potato. Finish the plate with a protein.
Use Online Guides
The American Diabetes Association runs a Diabetes Food Hub that’s packed with recipes for everything from breakfast to dessert. You can use the website to build a meal plan and build a shopping list. It takes a lot of the stress out of planning holiday menus.
What Happens After the Holidays?
What does your dad do for meals and snacks the rest of the year? Does he have the support he needs while shopping for foods he needs to eat? Does he choose what’s easiest to prepare? If so, it’s time to look into senior home care.
Schedule meal preparation services to ensure your dad eats the foods he should. Caregivers can help him plan a weekly menu, shop for ingredients, and cook the meals his doctor recommends.
If you are considering senior home care in The Heights, TX, for an aging loved one, please call the caring staff at At Your Side Home Care. We will answer all of your senior care questions. Call today: (832) 271-1600.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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