February is National Grapefruit Month! Grapefruit is one of the best fruits for seniors to eat. Grapefruits are packed with essential vitamins and minerals. They also have antioxidants that can help boost the immune system. And they have been shown in studies to help regulate blood sugar and help with healthy weight loss. Grapefruit are also easily available everywhere. But grapefruit can lower the effectiveness of some medications, so every senior should check with their doctor to make sure it’s ok for them to eat grapefruit with the medications that they are on before they start eating more grapefruit. Once your senior loved one’s doctor says that it’s ok for them to grapefruit get your senior loved one to try these delicious ways to eat more grapefruit:
Grilled
Grilled grapefruit may sound crazy but it’s actually very delicious. It’s easy to make, so seniors can make it themselves or a companion care at home provider can make it for them. And it’s a great warm breakfast on a cold morning. To make grilled grapefruit cut a grapefruit in half and put it with the cut sides up in a foil lined pan. Add a little water to the pain. Sprinkle some brown sugar on the top and broil the grapefruit for about ten minutes. The heat will caramelize the sugar and make the grapefruit taste sweeter and richer.
In Salads
Grapefruit segments can be added to many different types of salads to add some pep and increase the health benefits. If your senior loved one gets tired of eating the same old salads during warm weather adding grapefruit to mixed salad greens and adding in walnuts and berries can make a delicious healthy salad. Grapefruit can also be paired with feta cheese, avocado, and other savory salad additives to make salad that are the perfect blend of sweet and savory.
Grapefruit Juice Smoothies
Fresh grapefruit juice can be used instead of water in smoothies and nutritional drinks. As long as the grapefruit juice is fresh squeezed it will have the same nutritional benefits as eating grapefruit segments. If your senior loved one has trouble squeezing citrus fruits because they have poor grip strength a companion care at home provider can help them squeeze fresh grapefruit juice. Or you can get them a juicer so that they can make all kinds of fresh healthy juices.
Grapefruit Desserts
Grapefruit can also be used in desserts. The tang of the grapefruit can perfectly balance out the sugar and sweetness in common desserts so that they aren’t too sweet. A very popular senior dessert is putting whole grapefruit segments into berry or citrus flavored gelatin and letting the gelatin firm up. Served with whipped cream it’s an easy to eat, refreshing, and low calorie dessert. Grapefruits can also be made into jellies and jams, compotes, or curds that can be served on shortbread or poured over ice cream for a great warm weather treat.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering companion care at home in Potomac, MD please contact the caring staff at Care At Home today. 301-970-9706
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