September is the time of year when the weather becomes colder. The leaves will begin to change color and fall, and people start to exchange the summer short sleeves for thicker sweaters. It is also the time of year when people change their eating habits significantly. This is a good opportunity for older adults to think about their diet and nutrition for them to remain healthy throughout the year. Read on to learn more about the top healthy eating tips when transitioning from summer to fall!
Moderation And Color
Healthy eating doesn’t mean you are never able to have the things you like to eat. There are often ways to prepare food to make them healthier, such as baking or grilling instead of deep frying. Calorie-dense, fatty foods should always be eaten in moderation. You don’t have to deny yourself of the food but portion control is key. Look at the plate and make sure you see many different colors for each meal. Half of the plate should be made out of color.
Fresh vegetables may be harder to get during the cold weather months. But frozen and canned vegetables are fine too. You should look for veggies with “no sodium added” or “low sodium” when you buy from the canned or frozen food section of the grocery store.
Staying Hydrated
Besides your fat intake, there are other things to watch for such as monitoring sugar and salt intake. You also have to make sure that you consume plenty of liquid. Older adults usually drink and eat less than younger people. There is a natural tendency to drink liquid when you are indoors and getting less physical activity. Replace the cool drinks of summer with hot liquids, such as tea, coffee, and soups.
Other alternate sources of liquid include certain fruits and vegetables such as bell peppers, broccoli, apricots, grapefruit, cherries, grapes, nectarines, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelon.
Cultivating Healthy Seasonal Fare
Take a healthy spin on comfort food favorites this fall including pot roast made using turkey and burgers that use black beans instead of ground beef. You can add a new twist on macaroni and cheese by replacing pasta with butternut squash.
While it can hard to make healthier meal plans, you need to have some variety in what you eat and reconsider your diet from time to time. There is always room for variety, and many types of foods can fit into a healthy diet. You just need to plan ahead and make sure it all fits together well over the course of the day.
Come Join Country Club At Woodland Hills
At Country Club At Woodland Hills, we have designed the best resident-focused retirement community with you and your health in mind. We do this by combining comfortable apartments and cottages, with first-class amenities, fun and engaging social activities, as well as health and wellness programs. Everything comes together to provide you with an active lifestyle. You will agree that this is a move worth making. Feel free to contact us for more information!
