The absorption difficulty will be there for the elders due to weakening of the digestive system. Therefore easily digestible and highly nutritive food should be given. The bones will get weak. Calcium rich diet must be a part of their diet. The secretion of digestive enzymes by the stomach, pancreases and intestines usually diminish with advancing age. Therefore ability to digest food is diminished.

Before dealing with nutritive diet it will be appropriate to note the common diseases found among the seniors. They are more prone to many diseases due to degenerative process, impaired immunity and malignancy. Common diseases are visual impairment, hearing loss, tooth problem, bronchitis especially in smokers, hypertension, cardiac disease, constipation, arthritis osteoporosis and cancer of different organs.

1. Drink plenty of oral fluid to prevent constipation.
2. Clear soup at the beginning of meal to aid digestion.
3. Soft and easily chewable food to be taken because seniors have problem of dentition.
4. Food should be easily digestible, because they have decreased production of digestive enzymes.
5. Oil to be restricted and preferably taken in the form of Poly unsaturated fatty acid. They are prone to heart disease.
6. Diet should contain adequate tender vegetables and fruits for fibre. It prevents constipation and reduces the serum level of cholesterol.
7. Coffee, tea and cola to be restricted. Their over stimulation can interfere with sleep.
8. Calcium rich diet to be taken. Calcium is necessary for strengthening bone.
9. Enjoy on green leafy vegetables. It is an easily available and rich source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
10. Food items should consist of familiar food. Seniors are emotionally attached even to their food. Any sudden change can cause emotional problems.
11. Small frequent food instead of three heavy meals because it is easier to digest.
12. Comparatively heavy meal in the afternoon than at night.
13. Avoid too much of sweets and sugar.
14. Drink a glass of warm skimmed milk at bedtime.

* Adapted from "Dietetics"

Sample menu for the seniors

Time	Vegetarian	Non vegetarian
	Warm water - 1 glass Tea/ coffee 1 cup	Warm water - 1 glass Tea/ coffee 1 cup
	Oats porridge in skim milk - 1 cup Banana - 1	Toast - 2 slice Half boiled egg - 1 Paneer - 4 slice small Apple - 1
	Fresh fruit juice - 1 glass	Tender coconut water - 1 glass
	Softly cooked rice - 1 cup Dhal or khadi - 3/4 cup Vegetable stew - 1 cup Curd - 3/4 cup	Chapathi or bread - 2 Minced chicken - 1/2 cup Mixed vegetable - 1 cup Curd - 3/4 cup
	Tea/ coffee - 1 cup Marie biscuit - 2 nos	Tea/ coffee - 1 cup Digestive biscuit - 2 nos
	Tomato soup - 1 bowl Veg Khichadi - 1 cup Curd - 1/2 cup Custard - 3/4 cup	Vegetable soup - 1 bowl Tomato rice - 1 cup Fenugreek leaves - 3/4 cup Fruit salad - 3/4 cup
	Skim milk - 1 cup	Skim milk - 1 cup