We know it’s important to choose healthy food and drink every day. It’s the right thing to do despite our age. Our bodies are changing with each decade and needs nutrients no matter how old we are and throughout each phase of life.
Selecting Healthy Food Choice Tips:
Drink Plenty
Sometimes we don’t feel thirsty. It is essential to drink water and stay hydrated. While water is necessary, 100% real juice, low-fat or fat-free milk or alternative dairy drinks can also help you maintain hydration. Limit or avoid drinks that are filled with lots of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, or sodium.
Eat Together
Eating with others is fun. Consider hosting a potluck at your home or set up a group of rotating friends, so each of you is preparing dinner once a week and enjoying meals together while sharing the workload and responsibility. Explore ways to make mealtime something you enjoy socially with others such as at a senior citizen, church or community pancake breakfast.
Meal Planning
Planning menus can save you time and money when you grocery shop. It helps you make wise decisions instead of impulsive purchases. There are many websites available to provide quality nutrition information and to give advice on selecting the healthiest choices in the right amounts. Portion control is essential and there’s no reason to make yourself uncomfortable by clearing your plate at a restaurant. Pack part of your meal, safely store it and enjoy it the next day. As you plan your healthy meals, keep your schedule, limitations, time you are willing to spend on meal preparation and clean up all in mind. Plan your meals with flexibility and don’t make the plan overwhelming or something you dread. A meal plan should help make it easier by just glancing at the meals you have in your kitchen so that you can prepare and enjoy.
Eat Your Vegetables
Don’t forget your vegetables. Your body still needs nutrient-packed vegetables which have many health benefits. They are low-calorie, low-fat, and even beautiful. Sometimes it becomes necessary to cook the vegetables until they are soft because as we age, our teeth can make eating fruits, vegetables, and meats more challenging.
Spice It Up
Some of the changes we may experience as we grow older include changes to our sense of taste and smell. Prescription medications can also alter the way foods taste or smell. So, the menus may not necessarily be losing their flavor, and nobody has forgotten how to cook. However, you can add more seasonings, herbs, spices and even conveniently stored garlic or ginger from a jar to increase the flavor of many foods.
Stay Safe
Aging means we are at risk for more struggles including the seriousness of a food-related illness. It is vital to not take chances with food that might have already spoiled. It’s not worth risking your health and battling a disease. It is smart also to avoid any foods that are unsafe or can be harmful such as raw, undercooked or unpasteurized foods.
Read Labels
Take the time to make healthy food selections. Read labels and know the ingredients and nutrients listed on the label and what you are consuming. Ask your doctor, nutritionist or dietician if there are ingredients and nutrients you should limit, avoid or increase.
Supplements?
While food is the first line nutrient defense for your body, you can take vitamins or supplements to help support your system. This is something to discuss with your doctor, nutritionist or dietician to see if they could be beneficial to you. Sometimes they are and sometimes they are not. Occasionally, they can even interfere with an illness, disease, medication or another supplement you may already be taking on a regular basis.
No matter how old you are, it is always important to make the best choices possible of healthy food!
