The Senior’s Guide to Healthy Eating

Did you know that the U.S. Government recommends you eat 2.5 cups of vegetables every day? Take a look:

You also notice that it’s recommended that you eat two cups of fruits, six ounces of dairy, and six ounces of grains. Take a look at the rest of the recommendations.

Many people aren’t even aware of these guidelines, and even more aren’t following them. But nutrition is vital for for your health – especially as you age. While it’s easy to look at the list of foods you should be eating, it’s hard to actually find a way to put them into your daily diet. So we went to the source of all of life’s important information – Pinterest – and found some great ways to incorporate healthy eating into your lifestyle.

First of all, let’s take a look at some of the best kinds of foods you can eat. Sure, we know fruits and vegetables are important, but do you know which ones are shown to have the greatest effect on your health, especially for senior adults? There are lots of great options out there, including:

• Blueberries
• Salmon
• Greek Yogurt
• Eggs
• Beans
• Avocado
• Sweet Potato

There are dozens of great foods that will not only meet the basic recommendations, but also give your brain and body an extra boost that will improve the quality of your life.

Next, let’s figure out how we add these superfoods into our daily meals and snacks. There are tons of great recipes out there, for all levels of chefs. Not sure if you’re up for preparing a big meal? Throw together something small, like a salad or soup, using some of the superfoods as main ingredients.

Or maybe you love to cook and have plenty of time to make elaborate meals. Great! See how many vegetables you can include in your meal and invite your friends and neighbors to share it with you. Sharing a meal with friends is another great way to add more healthy foods to your dinner. Ask a group of friends to commit to eating healthy for one meal every day for a month, and then take turns preparing meals for each other.

You can even get your whole community involved. Make your own Pinterest board with healthy recipes you want to try and invite your friends and neighbors to do the same. This will not only help you get a variety of nutritious foods, but you also get the chance to catch up with old friends and get to know new ones.

So you know what to eat, and you know where to get the recipes – how do you remember to eat healthy every single day? One easy way is to write yourself a reminder and put it on your fridge – you will see it every time you go to open the door to the fridge and remember to choose a healthy option. Are you someone who enjoys making lists? Print out a to-do list (or make your own) and keep it on your coffee table in the living room, where you will see it throughout the day. A Pinterest search will show you all sorts of ideas on organization.

 Another great idea is to make a healthy grocery list – and then stick to it. It’s easy to remember to eat healthy foods if you only keep healthy food in the house! If you are eating healthy on a regular basis, you will soon find that you don’t miss the unhealthy food.

And, of course, when you go out to eat with your family or when your granddaughter brings you homemade cookies, you can still enjoy those sweet treats – just remember the old adage “everything in moderation.”

Now you have the tools to create a healthy, happy lifestyle for yourself. It might seem like a big change, but just give it a chance – try it for a week, and soon you’ll be committed for life. Being at your healthiest allows you to enjoy time with your family, evenings with friends, and the knowledge that you are taking advantage of every moment you have to live the best life you can.