Weight loss is a very popular (and controversial!) topic. While losing weight is often critical for health, it can be difficult to do in practice.
This issue is particularly relevant for caregivers and seniors. Seniors may find that they gain weight as they become more sedentary, while caregivers often lack the time or the energy to prepare healthy food.
There are plenty of ways to promote weight loss, including those that you will have heard before.
Getting enough exercise, focusing on healthy eating, making small and realistic changes, meeting nutritional needs and, planning meals well are all key approaches.
The problem is – those ideas often aren’t enough.
After all, many people who struggle with weight loss know what they should be doing. So, what’s the problem?
One recent research study provided a potential answer to the question.
Processed Food and Weight Gain
Research suggests that the nutrients we eat are only part of the story. The level of processing is just as relevant. Ultra-processed foods actually promote weight gain, even when the calorie intake is the same.
This is an extremely relevant point.
Many weight loss approaches promote highly processed foods. Take Weight Watchers as an example. Many of their meals and snacks are ultra-processed. Just read the ingredients list.
As a result, people often use those foods to try and lose weight. They’re basically sabotaging themselves in the process.
This is a horrible outcome. It suggests that, more than anything, healthy eating and weight loss relies on whole food. In an ideal world, you would be cooking this food yourself. Of course, that won’t always be possible.
Healthy Alternatives to Processed Food
Processed food is popular. There’s no doubt about that. Processed meals and ingredients save you a large amount of time. It’s certainly easier to heat something up at the end of the day, rather than trying to prepare a full meal when you’re tired.
Thankfully, there are some intermediate solutions. These can help to keep the amount of work down, while still ensuring that people eat well.
Meal Prep
Meal prepping works well for people short on time or energy. With this technique, you’re preparing the meals for multiple days at the same time. You might also be cooking components in batches to make the whole process easier.
For example, a side like quinoa or rice can pair well with many types of main meal. Likewise, an ingredient like shredded chicken has plenty of versatility.
Meal prepping also means that you’re doing most of the work at one time.
This means that you’re not going to have a messy kitchen other nights and won’t need to cook when you get home from work. The process can be more efficient too, as you can do things like chopping all of the vegetables at the same time.
Plus – you have the chance to choose when you are doing the meal prep work. What about a Saturday afternoon or something similar?
Meal Kit Services
Companies that deliver meal kits offer a powerful way to make mealtimes easier. The meal kit style means that you’re still preparing the food yourself. The main difference is that the ingredients are shipped to you, along with the recipe. Some of the prep work may be done too.
The style means that you don’t need to worry about meal planning or shopping for ingredients. The food simply turns up at your door and you can take it from there.
Meal Delivery Services
There are also companies that do all the work for you. They deliver entire meals that simply need to be heated up. The meals are typically made on-site, so you’re not getting processed products.
In many ways, this is the ultimate middle ground between home cooked meals and frozen processed dinners. You’re still getting a convenient meal, but it is a healthy one that relies on whole foods.
Our favorite option is the service Silver Cuisine, as it specifically focuses on seniors. Their approach means that the meals tie in well with senior health needs and food preferences.
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