Diet & Food
Good nutrition matters more and more as we age. Learn healthy eating habits for a healthy later life.
Key Rules for a Healthy Senior Diet
- Get enough protein — To help prevent muscle loss, you need 1.0–1.2 g of protein per 1 kg of body weight. Fish, eggs, tofu and chicken are good choices.
- Calcium and vitamin D — To help prevent osteoporosis (weak bones), have milk, tofu, or small fish eaten with the bones every day.
- Plenty of fiber — To help prevent constipation and keep blood sugar steady, eat plenty of vegetables, seaweed and whole grains.
- Drink enough water — We feel less thirsty as we get older, so make a point of drinking 1.5–2 liters of water a day.
- Cut down on salt — Eating less salty food helps protect you from high blood pressure and keeps your kidneys healthy.
Foods to Enjoy vs. Foods to Limit
Highly recommended
- Oily fish (mackerel, salmon) — rich in omega-3
- Broccoli, spinach — antioxidants
- Nuts (walnuts, almonds) — good for brain health
- Blueberries, strawberries — may help support memory and thinking
- Tofu, beans — good-quality plant protein
- Olive oil — good for heart and blood vessels
Foods to limit
- Processed and instant foods — too much sodium and trans fat
- Sugary drinks, cookies and snacks — make blood sugar spike
- Too much red meat — watch the saturated fat
- Alcohol — raises the risk of dementia and liver disease
- Fried foods — raise the risk of heart and blood vessel disease
- Too much caffeine — can disturb your sleep
Meal Plan for October2041
A simple Korean-style meal plan for older adults. Each meal also shows its calories (kcal).
| Date | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Tuesday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 2 Wednesday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 3 Thursday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 4 Friday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 5 Saturday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 6 Sunday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 7 Monday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 8 Tuesday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 9 Wednesday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 10 Thursday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 11 Friday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 12 Saturday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 13 Sunday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 14 Monday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 15 Tuesday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 16 Wednesday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 17 Thursday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 18 Friday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 19 Saturday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 20 Sunday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 21 Monday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 22 Tuesday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 23 Wednesday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 24 Thursday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 25 Friday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 26 Saturday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 27 Sunday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
| 28 Monday |
Yogurt + fruit 250Kcal |
Low-salt bibimbap + soybean paste soup 580Kcal |
Chicken rice porridge 350Kcal |
| 29 Tuesday |
Vegetable rice porridge + steamed egg 300Kcal |
Brown rice + soybean paste soup + grilled mackerel + seasoned greens 600Kcal |
Vegetable rice porridge 300Kcal |
| 30 Wednesday |
Soy milk + banana + boiled egg 350Kcal |
Mixed-grain rice + seaweed soup + chicken breast + vegetables 550Kcal |
Braised tofu + seasoned greens + a little rice 400Kcal |
| 31 Thursday |
Pumpkin porridge 280Kcal |
Barley rice + bean sprout soup + braised tofu 520Kcal |
Steamed egg + barley rice 420Kcal |
