Healthy meals for Seniors

by Tina Y. Gerber-McCurley

Anyone who knows me, knows I dislike cooking. It is difficult for me to find the motivation to cook but we both need healthier alternatives, so it's kind of needed.

My hubby has been sick, and I had a total knee replacement, and am now experiencing symptoms of gout. Yet, I am back in the saddle, with cooking. With so many health concerns and both of us being diabetic, I have adjusted how we do things. I love easy meals and try nutritious recipes which taste delicious.

If I make a soup or cook a chicken/turkey: I make several portions to freeze. Fortunately, we both love leftovers. You can freeze many things like Stews, Chili, Tuna Casserole/Burgers and Soup. This makes the overall experience of cooking easier, having these frozen meals to just reheat later. 

I love shopping at The Trading Post for smaller portions, and there, we are able to get fresh vegetables, and the seasonal items we love. I continue to do a weekly meal plan which helps us to be aware of the nutritional requirements we've met and still need. I keep to my weekly budget as much as possible. My hubby and I have cut our eating portions in half, sometimes even less, due to health, but this is also better considering the rising cost of food.

Healthy meals don't have to take long to plan or prepare. If cooking at home, make an extra serving to take to your loved one. These days hubby and I usually have two meals a day, and a small snack when needed. This has dramatically brought down my blood sugars and my Doctor is pleased. Often, we have breakfast for dinner. Sometimes, we have dinner at breakfast, like fish, mostly salmon, stir fry, and chicken as I am attempting to cut out red meat. My hubby could eat a sandwich at every meal, especially tuna: me not so much. I do love peanut butter and banana, so that works and is a healthy option, due to glycemic load, along with fruits and veggies. I try to avoid white bread and pick another option.

My favourite cooking appliance is my crockpot, especially this time of year. I also like pre-made salads, adding extra veggies. Two easy meals are stuffed bell peppers or stuffed squash, as you can customize the ingredients. I make this weekly, during the autumn season.

Eating a healthy meal is incredibly important as we age. Breakfast is the most important. Berries; boiled or poached eggs; yogurt, with fresh fruit on the side, are good sources of protein. There are so many options which take only 25 minutes or less to prepare.

As we get older, nutrients like fiber, vitamin D and calcium are important to keep our body healthy.

Eating healthy is an essential part of taking care of ourselves, both physically and spiritually. Proverb 30:8 reminds us, God promises to always meet our needs but His plan does not include excess food.

I have slowed right down, and am trying to take things one at a time. I focus on and do each thing mindfully avoiding unnecessary stress. Living well means keeping up on changes in health care and talking with your doctor, and if you are a christian, most importantly with God, about any concerns.