Summer snacks for the elderly

When the sun shines, we crave sweet, fresh foods, so we’ve put together a list of summer snacks that are ideal for the elderly to enjoy, while still getting lots of the nutrition they need.

Watermelon

There’s nothing better than a cool, refreshing slice of watermelon on a hot day. It’s perfect as a snack or can even be popped on the barbecue or tossed into a summer salad.

Watermelon is full of antioxidants that have been shown to help prevent heart disease. It’s also a great source of potassium, vitamins A and C and amino acids. Due to its water content, it’s very hydrating, so perfect on a warm day.

Tomatoes

The summer means lots of juicy, ripe tomatoes that can be prepared a number of different ways. During the summer, pop them in your salad bowl, slice them up in your sandwiches or blitz them up into a delicious pasta sauce.

For any gardeners out there, tomatoes taste even sweeter when you’ve grown them yourself. Although it’s too late to start growing them now, you can start planning for next year with our top tips on growing here.

Tomatoes are a great source of salicylates, which have been shown to help reduce inflammation and help fight heart disease.

Peaches

Another summer salad staple that adds sweetness. Peaches are a great source of vitamin C, which helps build connective tissue and strengthens the immune system. They’re also low calory, juicy and go well with fish.

Strawberries

Strawberries are a real treat in the summer and are packed with fiber, folate and potatssium. They’re also great for improving cardiovascular health and strengthening the immune system.

As well as snacking on fresh foods, you should also keep up your fluid intake on hot days. Read our top tips on staying hydrated here.