If digesting milk is a problem, cultured dairy products, like buttermilk and yogurt, often are tolerated well. Use lactaid, available in most stores, to make reduced lactose milk. Post-menopausal women may need a calcium supplement if they can't get enough through diet alone. Talk to a physician or registered dietitian. Specific Nutrient Needs Calorie needs change due to more body fat and less lean muscle.
Less activity can further decrease in calorie needs.
The challenge for the elderly is to meet the same nutrient needs as when they were younger, yet consume fewer calories. The answer to this problem is to choose foods high in nutrients in relation to their calories. For example, low-fat milk is more nutrient dense than regular milk. Its nutrient content is the same, but it has fewer calories because it has less fat. Protein needs usually do not change for the elderly, although research studies are not definitive.