Anyone who has suffered a stroke should ensure that they are eating well during their recovery. Selecting the healthiest foods will help you to increase your energy levels so that you can exercise and continue to enjoy all of your favorite activities.
It is very important to remember that as many as 1/3 of stroke survivors suffer from some degree of malnutrition. By ensuring that you are eating a varied and healthy diet, you can be sure that you will stay in as good of health as possible to speed your recovery.
Tips for Eating Healthy Post Stroke
It is important after your stroke to have a healthy variety of foods every day. Try to have foods with a lot of color on your plate at least once or twice per day. You should strive to eat five servings of fruit and vegetables daily, and make sure you are getting enough calories for someone of your age and weight. You also want to be sure that you are not overeating, or eating too much of foods that are not good for you. These include cookies, cakes, crackers, white breads and pastas, and other similar foods with high calories but limited nutritional value.
Of course, eating right requires a good deal of energy. You need to plan meals, shop for groceries and cook. You may not have the energy to do all of this as you are first recovering from your stroke. Keep these tips in mind:
- Eat the largest meal of the day in the morning when you have the most energy. The last meal can be something easy, such as a sandwich.
- Try to buy fruit and vegetables that are pre-washed and pre-cut at the store. Most grocery stores offer apples already cut, baby carrots that do not require cleaning and celery sticks already cut.
- Ask your friends and relatives to help you make healthy meals that can be stored for a few days in the refrigerator. You can save these meals for days when you are too tired to cook.
- If you find that prepping and eating three large meals is too much, you might try having six very small meals instead.
- Many towns offer Meals on Wheels, which can be a real lifesaver for people who have suffered a stroke.
- Many senior citizens can get inexpensive meals at local senior centers. Try to call some of these places and see what is available.
Dining Aids for After a Stroke
The Tenura Non Slip Table Pad minimizes slippage as you eat your meal.
As you are preparing to cook and eat meals after your stroke, keep in mind some of the very helpful stroke aids that are on market to help you. For instance, the Tenura Large Table Pad is made of silicone rubber and helps to eliminate sliding problems as you eat your meal. The Mixing Bowl Holder is helpful to keep your mixing bowl in place as you are cooking your meal.