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KEEPING YOUR LOVED ONE HEALTHY

Healthy Eating

Good nutrition or healthy eating is a key to stroke recovery. Healthy eating can help to keep your loved one’s blood pressure, blood sugar and weight under control. Healthy eating may even help prevent another stroke.

What Do You Need to Know?	Does Your Loved One Have Problems Eating?
Why Should Your Loved One Drink Plenty of Liquids?	Remember
What About Salt?	More Resources
Helpful Tips

Good nutrition or healthy eating is a key to stroke recovery. Healthy eating can help to keep your loved one’s blood pressure, blood sugar and weight under control. Healthy eating may even help prevent another stroke.

What Do You Need to Know?

Visit ChooseMyPlate.gov to help you pick foods that are healthy. Follow the plate model to avoid overeating and make better choices.

Grains

Include grains in your loved one’s diet every day. Grains have fiber, vitamins and minerals. Fiber lowers the chance of having another stroke. Wheat, rice, oats and barley are common grains. Whole grains are best. Whole grain cereals, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat breads are good choices. Make at least half of your grains “whole” grains.

Vegetables

Vegetables are another good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Choose dark green, leafy vegetables like spinach, broccoli and collard greens. The darker the leaves, the more healthy the vegetable. Orange vegetables like sweet potatoes and carrots are good choices too. Vary your vegetables. Make half of your plate fruit and vegetables.

Fruits

Fruits are also good sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. Choose different fresh, dried, canned or frozen fruits. It’s best to choose whole fruits rather than juices. Juices have more sugar and less fiber than whole fruits. Make half of your plate fruit and vegetables.

Milk, Yogurt & Cheese

Dairy products contain calcium and vitamin D. They help keep bones strong. Switch to low-fat (1%) or fat-free milk (skim) products. If your loved one can’t have milk products, there are other choices. For instance, some cereals and juices are fortified or have extra calcium and vitamin D. Mackerel, salmon and sardines are high in calcium and vitamin D. Lactose-free products or calcium supplements can also be taken in place of milk products.

Meats, Beans & Other Protein Sources

Proteins are found in meat, fish, beans, eggs and nuts. Proteins help with muscle, bone and skin health. Pinto beans, kidney beans, chickpeas and split peas are also high in protein. It is important to limit red meat, which is high in saturated fat. Fish and poultry are better choices. Eat at least 8 ounces of cooked seafood per week. Avoid processed foods, as they have a lot of salt. Too much salt can raise blood pressure. Stay away from frying. Instead, boil, bake or grill meats. Be sure to remove the skin and extra fat before cooking.

Fats, Oils & Sweets

A healthy diet includes some fats. The key is to choose healthy fats. Vegetable fats like olive, corn and soybean oils are better for the heart than animal fats like butter and lard. Trans fats are man-made fats. Trans fats are unhealthy and increase the chances of heart attacks and strokes. Trans fats are found in baked goods and some restaurant food. Soft, low-fat tub margarine is better to use than stick margarine. Snacking on nuts is a healthy choice. Encourage your loved one to decrease sweets and high fat foods. For example, limit added fats to the size of the top of a thumb.

Why Should Your Loved One Drink Plenty of Liquids?

Drinking liquids helps prevent constipation (trouble having a bowel movement). Drinking water is one of the best ways to get the right amount of liquids. To improve flavor, add a lemon or lime slice. Drink water instead of sugary drinks. Unsweetened tea, low-fat or fat-free milk and 100% fruit juice are good choices, too. Liquids are also found in foods like fruits and vegetables.

What About Salt?

Too much salt can raise your loved one’s blood pressure. Cut back on salty snacks and processed food. Remember that your loved one should have only 2/3 of a teaspoon of table salt each day. This includes everything your loved one eats or drinks, not just what is added when cooking or eating. Remember that canned foods and many canned soups have added salt. Compare the sodium content and choose the foods with lower numbers.

Helpful Tips

• Cook several extra meals at one time. Date and freeze the extra meals to eat later.
• Read the food labels or “nutrition facts” on packaged or processed foods. Many of these products are high in fat and salt.
• Add more salads, vegetables and fruits to your loved one’s diet.
• Season foods with lemon juice, herbs and spices instead of salt or butter.

Does Your Loved One Have Problems Eating?

Dysphagia

After a stroke, some survivors have dysphagia or trouble swallowing. This makes eating difficult. The healthcare team will perform tests to find the cause of the problem. Most people recover from dysphagia in a short time. Sometimes surgery or medicine is needed. Speech pathologists are helpful in improving eating problems from dysphagia. Exercises to strengthen the muscles used for eating are often helpful. Your loved one may be taught to eat in a special way. For example, sometimes turning the head to the side while eating helps. Adding special thickening to drinks is helpful for some people who have problems swallowing liquid. Other tips are to sit up straight and slowly eat and drink. Suggest that your loved one take small sips of liquids and small bites of food. If it is unsafe for your loved one to swallow anything by mouth, a tube for feeding may be needed.

Decreased Appetite

Your loved one may feel less hungry after a stroke. Speak to your healthcare team to see if medicines are to blame. Try giving your loved one smaller meals through the day. If possible, have someone eat with your loved one. Talk with a dietitian (nutritionist) about other tips to improve your loved one ’s appetite.

Change in Taste

The stroke may have changed your loved one’s sense of taste. This can also be caused by some medicines. To help, serve foods with strong flavors. Use spices and herbs to add flavor.

Remember

• Plan meals to include poultry (chicken), fish, beans, fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Drink low-fat or fat-free milk.
• Bake, grill or broil foods, rather than frying foods.
• Use only 2/3 of a teaspoon of salt each day in all foods and drinks.
• Encourage your loved one to drink plenty of liquids.

More Resources

The following resources are related to this fact sheet only. View a full list of the resources from all RESCUE fact sheets.

MyPlate.gov Web: http://www.choosemyplate.gov MyPlate.gov provides information on the food groups and provides dietary recommendations. You can also find healthy eating tips and use the interactive tools to create a personalized plan.
MOVE! Weight Management Program Web: www.move.va.gov The Move! Weight Management Program is a VA diet and exercise program to help Veterans improve their health. To make the program more tailored to your needs, take the MOVE! 23 questionnaire. There are also handouts on nutrition, exercise and emotional health. Information is also available in Spanish.
My HealtheVet Web: www.myhealth.va.gov My HealtheVet (MHV) provides trusted information on stroke and other health conditions. It also provides resources for stroke caregivers and tools to track your loved one's health. Visit the My HealtheVet Caregiver Assistance Center for more information on caregiving.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Web: www.nhlbi.nih.gov* Phone: 1-301-592-8573 Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) is a diet used by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to help prevent or reduce high blood pressure. Read “Your Guide to Lowering Your Blood Pressure with Dash.*”
NIH Senior Health Web: nihseniorhealth.gov* Email: custserv@nlm.nih.gov* NIH Senior Health has information on stroke and eating well. See their list of stroke topics*.

References: National Stroke Association. (2006). Hope Recovery Guide. Retrieved July 10, 2008, from: http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/hope_full.pdf?docID=921*.; National Caregivers Library. (2008). Help with Eating. Retrieved July 10, 2008, from: http://www.caregiverslibrary.org/Default.aspx?tabid=468*; National Stroke Association. (2008). Stroke facts; Recovery after Stroke: Healthy Eating. Retrieved July 10, 2008, from: http://www.stroke.org/site/DocServer/NSAFactSheet_Eating.pdf?docID=987*;United States Department of Agriculture. (2008). MyPyramid.gov. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from: http://www.mypyramid.gov*; NIH Senior Health. (2008). Eating well as you get older. Retrieved September 2, 2008, from: http://nihseniorhealth.gov*; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (n.d.). Retrieved September 2, 2008, from: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov*.

These materials were created for the project:

Web-Based Informational Materials for Caregivers of Veterans Post-Stroke

Project Number SDP 06-327 funded by VA HSR&D Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI); Supported by the
Stroke QUERI

Visit the Stroke QUERI Website