How to keep lolo and lola eating healthy this Holiday season

It's easy to let go of yourself come the holidays. All the parties, get-togethers, and Jesus being born are all great reasons to celebrate!

And much like you, it can also be difficult to get the more senior members of the household to hold back on the delicious, high-cholesterol treats, especially if they're being enjoyed by the entire family.

But unlike you, their indulgence might mean more serious ailments thereafter. So how do you help keep them on their diets?

In a segment on GMA-7 morning show Unang Hirit, registered nutritionist-dietician Jake Andal stressed that one of the most important things in encouraging an elderly loved one to eat healthy is communication.

"Pag kausap po natin sa mga minamahal nating nakakatanda, 'yung nasa pakikiusap lang," said the expert.

"'Pag po ay may kasama kayo sa bahay na katulad nga po ay mga merong pagkaing dapat iwasan, mahalaga na sila ay pangaralan lamang at huwag pagalitan," he added.

Photo by The Joy of Film on Unsplash

According to Andal, denying a person of food simply because it was "bawal" might result in a stronger craving.

"Kung kayo po ay sinabihang 'bawal 'to', ganyan, parang as a defense mechanism, you will feel bad and you will crave for more."

Another tip, Andal shared, is to start slow.

"Ang lifestyle change po hindi naman nangyayari overnight. Dahan-dahanin po natin ang pagpili at mas pagpili ng mga tamang pagkain," Andal said.

Finally, the nutritionist emphasized that putting a senior on a different diet might evoke a feeling of isolation.

One way to avoid this is by getting other members of the household to eat healthy, too.

"At least kasama po 'yung buong family members sa lifestyle change," he said. — Margaret Claire Layug/LA, GMA News