Food: What Matters to Older Adults?
Consider serving seafood to give consumers over age 50 to meet their health and nutrition goals.
Nutrition concerns about weight management rank lower than other concerns for an aging population, finds a new survey of adults over age 50 from the International Food Information Council (IFIC). In fact, for half of the adults surveyed, “eating healthy means something different now than it did when they were younger.”
Consumers over age 50 believe these things are most important when choosing food:
- Heart health (80%)
- Muscle health/mobility (75%)
- Energy and brain function—memory, focus and cognition (74%)
Eating for protein
87% of survey respondents also said they were trying to eat the correct amount of protein. However, one in three adults over age 50 doesn’t eat the amount of protein they need, says Abby Sauer, a registered dietitian at Abbott Laboratories, according to IFIC.
Eating for independence
Additionally, protecting long-term health and independence is motivator for 79% of survey respondents. To that end, 9 out of 10 respondents say they try to replace less healthy foods with nutrient-dense options.
Seafood for brain function, protein
Seafood’s nutritional benefits may particularly address health needs of older adults. Seafood is an excellent source of protein, parvalbumin, and omega-3 fatty acids. Strong evidence suggests that eating seafood can boost brain function and support heart and muscle health. Learn more in the free Seafood = Brain Food CE course.
Consider serving seafood to give consumers over age 50 meal solutions that meet their health and nutrition goals.
For more info on shifting food priorities in older adults, read the full IFIC press release.
