June is National Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Month and we have an idea for you! When you or his home care provider are preparing meals for your dad, introduce something new. Pick a different fruit or vegetable, or two, and add them to the weekly menu. Here are some of the fruits and vegetables that your dad may not have tried in his lifetime and should.
Dandelion Greens
Dandelion greens are one of the easier vegetables to find, as they may pop up right in your dad’s yard. The greens are similar to spinach but more bitter. As they contain a good amount of calcium and vitamin A, they’re a great addition to your dad’s meals.
Durian
Durian is a fruit that some people love and others cannot stand. It’s worth trying it once to see what your dad thinks. It’s one of the smelliest fruits you’ll find, but it’s packed with fiber, potassium, and vitamin C. The flavor is unusual, and some find it tastes like a garlic custard while others only get the custard taste.
Gai Lan
If you can find gai lan in stores, try it. It’s also known as Chinese broccoli and is high in both vitamins C and A and has plenty of iron. It’s similar to broccoli rabe in terms of taste.
Guanabana
This South American fruit tastes like a cross of strawberry and pineapple. One fruit provides 84% of your daily requirement of fiber, 214% of the vitamin C you need, and 21% of your daily requirement of iron.
Horned Melons
If you can find horned melons, also known as African cucumber, it’s a great vegetable for hydration as it’s 80% water. Its high water content is clear, and it’s an unusual flavor that some describe as being a blend of cucumber, kiwi, and lemon.
Jackfruit
Jackfruit is growing in popularity, especially for vegetarians who want to enjoy barbecued foods reminiscent of pulled pork or chicken. The fruit has a tangy banana flavor when it’s ripe. The flavor profile of a less ripe jackfruit is neutral and shreds well, which is why so many people grill it and use it in sandwiches.
Kohlrabi
Kohlrabi is very easy to grow, so it’s a great vegetable for your garden. The vitamin C-rich vegetable grows a bulb right above ground and greens come out of the top. The flesh inside the peel on that bulb is eaten raw or cooked and tastes like a mild cabbage.
Hire Someone to Help Your Dad Prepare Healthy Meals
Make sure your dad continues to have home-cooked meals. You may be too busy to stop by each day, but that doesn’t mean he has to rely on frozen meals or takeout. His home care aide can prepare meals for him each day.
In addition to meal preparation, ask a home care specialist about having a caregiver help your dad plan a weekly menu. His caregiver can help him shop for the necessary ingredients and bring everything in from the car. It all starts with a phone call to learn more.
If you or an aging loved one are considering Home Care in Chula Vista, CA, please contact the caring staff at Aaron Home Care. (619) 880-5522
A Trusted Home Care Agency Serving La Jolla, Pacific Beach, Point Loma, San Diego, UTC, La Mesa, Chula Vista, Coronado, Bonita, Eastlake and the surrounding areas.
In 1999, Aaron was named Residential Program Manager of a group home for disabled adults in Arlington, Virgina. Here, he built a reputation for being compassionate with his clients and efficient in company operations. In the years that followed, Washington DC’s human services field went through unprecedented reform when the city was fined $11 million for the previously unchecked abuse, neglect, and exploitation of the very population it was supposed to protect. In 2005, Aaron was selected by a watchdog company to co-create and implement a monitoring system to safeguard and advocate for the system’s most vulnerable residents. This system is still in use today.
Aaron is now using his unique gifts and profound experience in the human service field to provide San Diego County Seniors with dependable, compassionate caregivers through Aaron Home Care.
He currently serves on the board of the San Diego Regional Home Care Council and is an active member of the Senior Advocate Network of San Diego.
Aaron Home Care is a member of the American Board of Home Care and is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
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