Many elderly people like to eat "plain food" and believe that the simpler the diet, the better. Some even say that being vegetarian can lead to longevity. However, nutrition experts believe that elderly people who consume overly plain food can weaken their physical constitution, making them more susceptible to diseases.
Meat is an important source of nutrition for the human body. The body requires a large amount of high-quality protein and essential fatty acids for growth, development, and metabolism. Fish and meat, especially fish, contain abundant high-quality protein, various unsaturated fatty acids that can lower blood lipids, as well as vitamins and trace elements that are easily lacking in the human body. On the other hand, apart from legumes, vegetarian food contains little protein and has lower nutritional value, making it difficult for the body to digest, absorb, and utilize. Therefore, elderly people should make rice, flour, or coarse grains their staple food. Lean meat and various vegetables should be the main ingredients in their dishes, and they should also consume some soy milk or milk daily and eat fresh fish, shrimp, kelp, etc. in order to ensure the body receives the necessary nutrients.
