The weather is warming up which means that the world will soon be full of all kinds of delicious fruits and vegetables just waiting to liven up your elder care menu with their bright flavors and incredible nutrition. This is the perfect time for you to explore some new flavors and reinvent the ways that you enjoy your old favorites to make sure that your elderly parent gets the type of nutrition that she needs on a daily basis, and that her diet does not become boring or dull.

Blackberries are a particularly delicious, and highly nutritious, fruit that you can enjoy in a wide variety of ways to keep your parent healthier and stronger throughout her aging years.

Some of the potential nutritional benefits of enjoying more blackberries with your aging parent include:

• Low calorie snack. A full cup of blackberries contains only 62 calories which means that you can indulge in these sweet treats without sabotaging the rest of your dieting efforts. This is a great way to give you a special snack in the afternoon or sweet dessert at the end of the day while still staying within your calorie constraints.
• Dietary fiber. Dietary fiber is an absolutely essential nutrient that most people do not get enough of on a regular basis. Not only does fiber promote healthy digestion and reduce cholesterol levels, but it also helps to create a feeling of fullness and satiety so that you do not need to eat as much. This further helps to keep your calorie intake controlled to pursue your weight loss goals.
• Antioxidants. The very dark blue coloration of blackberries indicates high levels of antioxidants. These compounds fight free radicals throughout the body, helping to prevent cell damage and fight off a variety of cancers.
• Healthier skin. The compounds in blackberries promote a natural tightening effect in the tissues, creating skin that is healthier, younger-looking, and smooth.
• Brain health. Studies have shown that consuming blackberries on a regular basis can improve brain health by stimulating the brain, making it more alert and improving memory skills and cognitive clarity.
• Digestive health. Blackberries contain high levels of tannins. Consuming these on a regular basis can help you to control digestive and intestinal issues including inflammation, hemorrhoids, and diarrhea.

Try some of these delicious ways that you and your parent’s elderly health care services provider can integrate into your parent’s diet:

• Blend some into a morning smoothie with silken tofu, vanilla soymilk, vanilla protein powder, and chia seeds or flaxseeds for a strong morning-starting dose of protein, fiber, and essential fatty acids.
• Chop some up and add them to your pancake batter for a twist on your favorite family breakfast.
• Boil and crush the berries and combine with balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper, and olive oil, chill, and whisk before drizzling over a bed of spinach and field greens for a rich, delicious salad dressing.
• Combine boiled, crushed berries with sugar and fruit pectin to create sweet preserves perfect for spreading on toast.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/01/31/blackberry-facts_n_2581622.html