Soft, refreshing dishes to help the elderly stay hydrated in summer
Chicken soup cooked with mushrooms and vegetables is suitable for the elderly during the hot season.
In older adults, the nervous system's automatic thirst signals often weaken, so they rarely feel thirsty even when their bodies are dehydrated. As people age, difficulty chewing and swallowing also reduces their appetite on days hot weather.
To help parents replenish fluids promptly, regularly including soft, juicy foods in their daily meals, alongside drinking plain water, milk and fruit juice, can help keep older adults better hydrated.
1. Refreshing, light porridges and soups
Porridges and soups are always top choices for the elderly's menu thanks to their soft texture, ease of swallowing, and high liquid content. According to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Trong Hung - National Institute of Nutrition: As we age, the digestive system functions less efficiently, teeth weaken, and appetite is not what it used to be in our youth; therefore, porridge is a dish favored by many elderly individuals.
Mung bean and black bean porridge: These legumes are not only nutrient-dense but also have cooling properties, making them excellent for beating the heat. A warm, light bowl of porridge in the morning or late afternoon helps replenish fluids and B vitamins for the body.
Chicken soup with mushrooms and vegetables: Simmered from chicken broth combined with finely chopped vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms, this soup provides comprehensive nutrition. The abundant liquid in the soup, along with natural mineral salts from the bone broth, helps elderly bodies replenish sodium and potassium lost through sweat.
2. Cooling vegetable soups for hot sunny days
Summer meals for the elderly should never lack bowls of traditional vegetable soup. This is an excellent source of hydration and fiber, helping to cool the body from within.
Malabar spinach and jute leaf soup with minced shrimp/meat: These vegetables have cooling properties and contain natural mucilage that makes them easy for the elderly to swallow without choking, while supporting better digestion and preventing constipation.
Sponge gourd and winter melon soup with pork: Winter melon and sponge gourd contain over 90% water. When cooked in soup, the water molecules combine with the savory sweetness of minced meat to stimulate the palate, quickly relieve throat dryness, and provide a substantial amount of hydration for the body.
3. Tofu and soft braised dishes
Tofu is a soft, light, and mild food, well suited to the digestive systems and dental conditions of the elderly.
Soft tofu in tomato sauce: Tofu is rich in water and easily absorbable plant protein. When braised in a sauce with ripe tomatoes (a juicy fruit rich in vitamin C), the dish is not only visually appealing but also provides abundant hydration, helping improve appetite in the elderly.
Steamed or braised tender fish: Instead of fried dishes that are dry and hard to digest, fish steamed with scallions and ginger or gently braised will retain the food's natural moisture. The fish is tender, rich in omega-3s, easy to chew, and helps replenish nourishing fluids for the body.
Steamed fish helps preserve the fish's natural sweetness while remaining low in oil and fat, making it great for the health of elderly people.
4. Desserts made from jelly and beauty-enhancing sweet soup
To add variety and make everyday meals more enjoyable, prepare soft, refreshing desserts for your parents as an afternoon snack to help replenish fluids, support digestion and provide extra vitamins:
Natural fruit jelly: Made from jelly powder combined with fresh fruit juices such as orange and watermelon. This dish is soft, smooth, and helps provide natural water and vitamins.
Lotus seed and longan sweet soup: A bowl of lightly sweet, refreshing lotus seed sweet soup will help the elderly cool down, rehydrate, and support better sleep, which tends to be restless on sweltering days.