Title:Need for Nutritious Convenience Foods for the Elderly Population: A Review
Volume: 17
Issue: 4
Author(s): Vyoma Agarwal* Ila Joshi
Affiliation:
- Department of Home Science, IIS (Deemed to be University), Jaipur 302020,India
Keywords:
Aging, cooking, consistency, nutritional deficiencies, healthy, affordability, nutrient dense, ready-meals.
Abstract: Worldwide, the population of elderly persons is rising at a very fast rate. Elderly people
have difficulties in performing day to day activities as the aging process deteriorates the normal
functioning of their body. There is risk of inadequate nutrition because of difficulties in shopping
for food, cooking a meal, chewing and putting food in mouth. Vision loss makes cooking, and even
eating, more difficult. Some elderly people live alone or with their spouses. Cooking for one or two
persons/s is not very stimulating. These changes have a great role to play in changing the eating
habits of the elderly which may affect their nutrient intake. All these factors may cause nutritional
deficiencies, malnutrition and other health problems among them. There are major opportunities to
develop convenience food products in order to meet the changing needs of aging population. In order
to get maximum product acceptance, it is important to combine the elements of convenience
and affordability. While designing products for elderly, it is desirable to modify the food consistency
to assist in swallowing, make it nutrient-dense and design it in a way that it can be easily handled
and eaten. The packaging can be easy to open, information written in large fonts and contrasting
colours to help in easy reading. The availability of nutritious ‘ready-meals’ can serve as an opportunity
for elderly people who do not want to cook or have low interest in cooking. This can provide
a variety of healthier food choices to them and help to reduce malnutrition. Access to nutritious
convenience food products can facilitate a positive intervention to the aging consumers.
