Final answer:
The nurse should recommend that the client aim for more than four servings of vegetables and fruits per day as part of a balanced diet. Emphasizing whole foods, a variety of protein sources, and practicing moderation are key to improving diet quality and overall health.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse should counsel the client to aim for consuming more than four servings of green or yellow vegetables, tomatoes, citrus fruits per day. This level of consumption helps in improving overall diet quality, assuming it's part of a balanced intake from other food groups as well. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines suggest that an average 61-year-old woman who is not regularly active should aim for 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit and 2 to 2.5 cups of vegetables daily. Therefore, the nurse would encourage the client to incorporate these quantities into their home-cooked meals to improve dietary quality.
The focus should be on whole foods, which provide more nutrients than processed foods, with an emphasis on raw foods when possible. It's recommended to select a variety of protein foods throughout the week, like nuts, seeds, beans, legumes, poultry, soy, seafood, and when including meats, to choose lean cuts prepared with minimal saturated fat.
While it is necessary to introduce variety in the diet for all essential nutrients, it is equally important to maintain moderation and calorie control to avoid excessive consumption of high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods. The combination of dietary variety, moderation, and consumption of primarily home-cooked meals will contribute significantly to a healthier and more balanced diet.