QA Forum

Question & Answer

We are discussing Nutrition for a happy, healthy life
With Jacinta Dugbaza, Sarah Flanagan and Vinni Dang

Question:
Is there a nutrition checklist to help me determine if I need to improve my eating habits?

Answer:
Jacinta - Yes, the twelve guidelines specified in the Dietary Guidelines for Older Australians can be used as a general checklist for healthy older adults who are living independently.

For older adults with health problems answering the questions listed below could help in assessing possibilities for being at nutritional risk:
*Do you have any health condition that requires you to change the kind and/or amount of food you eat?
*Do you eat less than 2 meals a day?
*Do you eat the recommended amounts of vegetables, fruits and milk-based foods on a daily basis?
*Do you have tooth or mouth problems that make it hard for you to eat?
*Do you sometimes run out of money to buy food?
*Do you have difficulty in doing the groceries, cooking or feeding yourself?
*Have you unintentionally lost or gained weight in the last 6 months?
*Do you eat alone most of the time?
*Do you take 3 or more prescribed or over the counter-medications in a day?

If you have answered ‘Yes’ to more than 3 of the questions listed above, it is recommended that you talk to a health professional, dietitian or nutritionist about the problems and ask for help to improve your nutritional health.

For more information you can find the Dietary Guidelines for Older Australians on the Foodwatch website.

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