As people age it becomes harder to make healthy eating a priority. When you work full-time your job becomes the priority. When you’re raising a family the children are the priority. When you are caring for a parent or spouse who is ill they become the priority. It is easy to fall into a rut of fast food and frozen dinners. It’s time to break the cycle of poor eating.

  1. Cook Well

It’s a known fact that as we get older we tend to lose our appetites. Our taste buds change and we become less able to taste our foods. (This might be why I over-salt my potatoes and put five sugars in my coffee.) Try these three ingredients to spice up your kitchen, or ask your Homemaker to add these to your next meal.

  1. Curry Powder. Curry is a blend of spices often found in Indian food. Don’t worry, it’s not all hot and spicy. Some blends are mild and others are more robust. Experiment with adding a pinch of curry to your classic chicken or beef recipes.
  2. Sprinkle some on your oatmeal or sweetbread, but It’s not just for breakfast and dessert. Try a dash of cinnamon on sweet potatoes, butternut squash and roasted carrots.
  3. The tried and true flavor-booster, garlic goes well with almost everything. Meat, vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes, you name it; garlic is a great addition.

 

  1. Eat Better

Mom always said to chew forty times before you swallow but that seems a little extreme. The truth is our bodies need to slow down to digest food well. Here’s a quick quiz to see if you are good at eating:

I sit down to eat. True False

I take at least 20 minutes to eat a meal. True False

I take small bites and chew thoroughly. True False

I eat three full meals a day. True False

I eat a few small snacks during the day. True False

If all of these were ‘True’ for you, then you are good at eating! If you missed one or two, that can be a place to start a healthier habit. If you know someone who might not eat well, tell them about the Homemakers at Franciscan Ever There Care. We’d be happy to help!

 

  1. Be at Your Best

When you take the time to care for yourself you might be surprised at how much more energy you have. Go out and seize the day!