March is nutrition for seniors month

Why the concern? Nutrition remains important throughout life. Many chronic diseases that develop late in life can be influenced by earlier poor habits. But good nutrition in the later years can still help lessen the effects of diseases prevalent among older Americans or improve the quality of life in people who have such diseases. They include osteoporosis, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, gastrointestinal problems, and chronic under nutrition.

Studies show that a good diet in later years helps both in reducing the risk of these diseases and in managing the signs and symptoms. This contributes to a higher quality of life, enabling older people to maintain their independence by continuing to perform basic daily activities, such as bathing, dressing and eating. Poor nutrition can prolong recovery from illnesses, increase the costs and incidence of institutionalization, and lead to a poorer quality of life.

The McMinnville Warren County Senior Center celebrated National Nutrition Month with several educational programs presented by Lindsey Clayton, who is in the 4-H food science project.

The first program included basic senior nutrition information including: the single life, special diets, physical problems, and physical activity. The second program was ‘Ideas for Calcium-Rich Meals and Snacks’ which included a Smart Snack Cookbook that listed totals of milligrams of calcium on a snack ingredients list. The recommended adequate intake for calcium on those aged 51+ years is 1200 mgs per day. The third program was a Calcium Matters game. The seniors had to decode a secret message from ‘Bo the Cow.’ Eunice Haley was the winner and the message was Calcium Makes Strong Bones.

Whether it happens at age 55 or 85, seniors eventually face one of more problems that interfere with their ability to eat well. Social isolation is a common one. Older people who find themselves single after many years of living with another person may find it difficult to be alone, especially at mealtimes. They may become depressed and lose interest in preparing or eating regular meals, or they may eat only sparingly.

Lindsey, who volunteers at the Senior Center with the Faith in Action CARES program, invites seniors to visit the local McMinnville Warren County Senior Center and have lunch at 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about the lunch program, please call 473-6559.

Food provides the energy and nutrients you need to be healthy. As you age, you might need less energy but you still need just as many of the nutrients in food. To get them:

‘ Choose a variety of healthy foods

‘ Avoid empty calories, which are foods with lots of calories but few nutrients, such as chips, cookies, soda and alcohol

‘ Pick foods that are low in cholesterol and fat, especially saturated and trans fats

As we celebrate National Nutrition Month, remember to take time out for exercise, use food labels to help pick nutritious foods, take advantage of assistance programs available, and get medical attention when needed. These helpful hints will go a long way toward helping older people avoid the nutritional pitfalls of aging and more fully enjoy their senior years!