Six tips for eating well as we age
Eating right is an important part of aging gracefully. Not only does good nutrition keep your mind and body healthy, it also affects quality of life and longevity. It’s not just about living longer, but also living better. Older adults face new barriers w
Maintain a healthy weight with nutrition and physical activity
Physical activity plays an important role in maintaining muscle mass, which can be gradually lost with age. Maintaining a healthy weight includes avoiding putting on unwanted weight as well as the unintentional loss of muscle mass. Both of these concerns come with challenges. Maintaining a regular eating routine can help you consume correct amounts of calories and protein.
Maximize your appetite
Some older adults find their appetite decreases and they get full easily. Ensuring good nutrition despite these issues may require adjusting eating habits. For example, those who feel most hungry early in the day, with appetite decreasing in the afternoon and evening, may do best with a larger breakfast and lunch and a lighter dinner. Those with smaller appetites can benefit from more frequent small meals and healthy snacks. management, older adults require balanced meals of lean protein, fiber-rich carbohydrates, plenty of vegetables and healthy fats. Unless a special diet is recommended to you by your health care provider, it’s most always best to steer away from restrictive diets that eliminate food groups.
Take advantage of technology and resources
There’s no doubt that grocery shopping, meal preparation and cleanup can be a lot of work. The good news is there are services to help lighten the load. From Instacart to AmazonFresh and many others, a variety of convenient and cost-effective grocery delivery and pick-up options are available. For those interested in outsourcing the cooking too, meal-delivery services like Silver Cuisine, Mom’s Meals and Meals on Wheels offer premade dishes that adhere to various special diets.
Incorporate anti-inflammatory foods
A diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can play an important role in healthy aging. Inflammation is a concern associated with many chronic conditions including arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and heart disease. Some examples of anti-inflammatory foods include fatty fish, walnuts, leafy green vegetables, nuts, extra virgin olive oil, tomatoes and colorful fruit and berries.