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..... I quite often will ask people to think of the human body in relation to an automobile. Let’s say that you buy a new car, and just because we can play here, lets make it the car of your dreams, a vehicle that is designed to use the highest octane premium gas at the pump. You ignore the dealer recommendations and gas up based solely on the cheapest price at the pump and you ignore the monthly maintenance schedule because you are just having way too much fun with it. You drive the car hard, and at first you seem to get away with it, but as the years advance, small issues creep in undermining performance   more of these healthy foods into the menu plan.
.....Seniors tend to be more sedentary compared to those of younger years and therefore they don’t need to take in as many calories throughout the day. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies over time if much of the diet is based on low quality food. Seniors that are suddenly single may lack initiative or skills to prepare healthy meals, others may struggle with loss of appetite due to loss of taste or smell, medications or emotional factors.
.....Eating well does not need to be a huge production in the kitchen. Building a menu around smaller, more
and eventually it just plain stalls out in the middle of the freeway in rush hour traffic. You are now facing lost days and dollars while you find out if you and your trusty ride will ever be able to cruise again!
.....I liken this to how many of us live our lives. Invincible in our 20’s, less vibrant yet still in denial in middle age and it may take something like a health crisis later in life to force us to become accountable for our lack of preventative measures when it comes to our own life style and health care.
.....Along with exercise and weeding out bad habits, eating a balanced and varied diet is a corner stone to building and maintaining optimal health. Ideally these patterns are
frequent snack sized meals may be more appealing to a senior than trying to eat the standard 3 square meals. Whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, legumes, lean proteins and healthy fats in the form of nuts and seeds can go a long way to creating a wide variety of mini meals. Here are a few ideas for easy meals that take little effort to prepare and pack a reasonable nutritional punch;
1. Calcium rich cottage cheese and seasonal fruit. Sprinkle with a tablespoon of flaxseed for a dose of healthy fats and fibre.
2. Boiled eggs are handy to slice into a salad or eat with a bowl of soup. Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass and
established in childhood but can be a daunting task for most any age group. The earlier we begin, the better chance we have of aging well but even with the best of intentions, seniors may face challenges when it comes to optimal nutrition.
.....As we age, our digestive juices deplete which makes it more difficult to break down and absorb the nutrients from the food we eat. Cooking and food processing techniques basically destroy all natural enzymes in our food so the addition of enzyme rich raw foods like papaya or pineapple or a broad spectrum digestive supplement may be of benefit at mealtimes. Raw fruits and vegetables are full of fiber, anti oxidants, vitamins, minerals and enzymes but may be difficult for seniors to bite or chew. Grating salad vegetables or using the blender to make green smoothies are just a couple ways to incorporate 		... strong immune systems. chopped kale. Play with different combinations and for an extra boost add a scoop of protein powder.
4. If you have a vitamix blender you can even make easy, enzyme rich, delicious soups with chopped vegetables and not even have to turn on the stove. Tomato, celery, onion, carrot and parsley are some of my favorites. Blend about 3 minutes on high and voila! Soup is on. Serve with a slice of whole grain bread and some tuna salad or melted cheese.
Eating nutritionally dense foods can make a world of difference in maintaining energy levels, as well as have a positive effect on mental and emotional well being. Discuss eating strategies with your healthcare specialist to keep you on the road to optimal health.
..... Good health to You!