Making healthy choices and trying to eat right should end at a certain age. Choosing to stay healthy and continue making food choices and have good eating habits is something that you should continue throughout your life. For seniors, however, this can sometimes be a difficult task.
As our bodies change, so too do our nutritional needs. A meal that may have left you still hungry when you were younger may be more than enough to satisfy that same craving now. In addition, as you age, your metabolism doesn’t quite work as quickly or effectively as it once did, making some foods harder to enjoy than they used to be.
What this boils down to is knowing how to best construct a meal plan that works for you and your body. Our senior apartments in Madison Heights, MI specialize in taking care of your entire self – meal plan included.
1. Know what a healthy plate looks like for you
A healthy plate is going to look a bit different for everyone. Instead of using the more outdated food pyramid system, try taking a look at the new and updated methodology of MyPlate. MyPlate is a similar idea as the food pyramid, but illustrates this with more realistic serving sizes and standards in a more easily digestible format – the plate itself.
No matter the size of your plate, whether you’re enjoying a larger serving or a smaller one, MyPlate can help you determine how much of what type of food you should be eating in order to maintain a balanced diet. Of course, if you have certain dietary needs or restrictions outlined by your doctor, then you should always follow your doctor’s orders. To get a general idea of what your plate should look like, though, MyPlate is a great place to start.
2. Use recommended servings for your age
Different ages, genders, weights, etc. are going to have different day-to-day dietary needs. Seniors are no exception to this rule. On the American Heart Association‘s website, you can take a look at all of the recommended servings of foods for your age group, height, weight, and more.
If you don’t want to try to figure this out on your own, though, you aren’t alone. Many people, seniors and not, find this to be a bit confusing and overwhelming. That’s why Reserve at Red Run’s senior apartments in Madison Heights, MI can handle all of the legwork for you. Many senior living centers, including ours, have trained chefs and dieticians on staff that can craft wonderfully delicious and balanced meals that suit both your diet and your taste buds. No longer will you need to sit down and figure out what’s best for you – let us help you take care of it!
3. Stay hydrated
As we age, staying hydrated becomes more and more difficult. This isn’t because your body doesn’t still need the water; instead, as we age, our bodies try to tell us that we don’t need as much water, when that simply isn’t true! It is important to know, however, that being hydrated doesn’t only need to come from drinking water. You can stay hydrated by drinking things like tea and coffee as well, though they won’t be quite as hydrating as water.
If you find yourself struggling to make your water intake throughout the day, try adding in some flavoring to your water! That flavoring can be from fruits like lemons or oranges, or you can add some sugar free flavoring packets to your water to give the plain water just a little bit of a fun flavor. This is a great way to encourage you to drink more water and have a delicious drink on top of that!
4. Cut out the extra salt
Salty foods may be delicious, but having too much salt in your diet is bad for your health. Instead of adding more salt to your food when you find it a little bland, try adding a different kind of seasoning like garlic, basil, rosemary, or another herb or spice. That way, your food can have a bit more of the delicious flavor you crave without all of the extra salt.
5. Check with your doctor about your medications
Did you know that your medications can affect your diet? They may influence how hungry or thirsty you feel, or they may affect what kind of foods that you’re craving.
If you’re concerned that your medications may negatively be impacting your diet, then reach out to your primary care doctor to see what can be done. They may have a solution on an alternative medication to help curb those strange feelings or cravings, or they may be able to offer solutions for more balanced diets to help counteract the effects. You won’t know unless you speak with your doctor!
6. Combine healthy eating habits with healthy overall habits
No matter how healthy your diet is, if you don’t practice overall healthy habits, then your diet won’t help your overall health as much as it could! Eating healthy and maintaining a balanced diet is only half the battle. A healthy diet should always be combined with a good amount of exercise.
Seniors often struggle to regularly exercise because many seniors struggle with mobility and balance issues. Exercising, though, doesn’t have to be only running laps around the track! Exercise can look like a chair yoga class or taking a walk around the grounds with your fellow resident friends. As long as you try to get out and move every day, you’re doing great at getting regular exercise.
Eating Healthy at our Senior Apartments in Madison Heights, MI
Here at The Reserve at Red Run’s senior apartments in Madison Heights, MI, we understand how important it is to maintain a healthy and balanced diet. Our onsite restaurants and chef-prepared meals strive to do just that – and deliver your healthy and balanced meals in a delicious way that will make you excited for your next meal.
If you’re interested in seeing what The Reserve at Red Run has to offer, contact us and schedule a tour today!
