Good food is essential for a healthy lifestyle, especially for seniors.
A healthy lifestyle refers to living in a way that promotes physical and mental health. And eating good food is one of many ways to encourage both.
The food seniors eat affects their mood and physical health in a number of ways.
Healthy Lifestyle for Seniors 
Eating nutritionally balanced meals is essential for your physical health, but feeling good and eating food you like is also essential for your mental health.
There are many ways to keep your meals balanced and nutritious. Being aware of what is in your food and how much you are consuming is important to maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. Portion size is also important.
An excellent way to judge how much to eat is just to eat until you are feeling full and then stop. Many people will eat even after they feel full because they think they did not eat enough or were taught to eat everything on their plate. But you should trust your body to tell you when you are done and not eat more than you really need. Additionally, if you still feel hungry after finishing your meal, it may not have been enough food.
Typically, each meal should have a certain variety to meet all of your nutritional needs. These include:
- Fruits and vegetables: These should take up about half of your plate, and you should have some variety. Eating a mix of fruits and vegetables every day helps you to get many of the vitamins and minerals you need to stay healthy.
- Whole Grains: These should take up about a fourth of your plate. It’s healthier to eat whole grains instead of refined grains because they have a milder effect on your blood sugar.
- Protein: Protein should take up about a fourth of your plate. You can get good protein from many different sources, including fish, poultry, and meats. Red meat should be limited.
- Oils: Plant oils like olive, canola, or soy oil are healthy and should be used in moderation in your meals.
- Water: You should drink water throughout the day and with meals. Drinking enough water is essential for a healthy life, and you should make sure to drink several cups of water a day.
It is also important to note that seniors may have their nutritional needs change as they get older. Personal preferences and dietary requirements can always be taken into account when meal planning. It is also important to consult your doctor or dietitian when considering any significant diet changes.
Healthy Meals
Healthy meal prep is an excellent way to ensure that each meal is nutritionally balanced. You can prep the meals yourself each week and prepare your favorite dishes.
There are a lot of healthy meal ideas online that you can use or tweak to fit your lifestyle and preferences. Prepping in bulk at the beginning of the week can free up time for the rest of the week and help to make sure you get balanced meals each day instead of eating junk food or throwing a meal together last minute.
You can also sign up for meal delivery services. For many seniors, it may be hard or even impossible to make it to the store or make meals themselves. Programs like Meals on Wheels and our partners will deliver healthy frozen meals to your door each week.
Having meals delivered each week gives seniors peace of mind because they know that they don’t have to worry about food and that someone will check up on them that week. Seniors can also be confident that they will be eating healthy food every time they receive their delivery. And they will be receiving cheap healthy meals, as Meals on Wheels will usually help cover the cost depending on the specific area and resources available.
Meals on Wheels Across the Nation 
Meals on Wheels of America is one of the most prominent nonprofits in the United States, helping seniors live a healthy life.
Using meal delivery services like Meal on Wheels can help you maintain a healthy diet even when you may be unable to get to the grocery store or prepare your own meals. The program works to ensure that every meal you receive is balanced and meets all the basic nutritional needs. Having a prepared meal delivery service can help seniors maintain a healthy lifestyle and benefit their physical and mental health in the long run.
Meals on Wheels in Your Backyard
You may be wondering how to get Meals on Wheels in and around Contra Costa county. The best way to get a senior family or friend the help they need is to contact our partner organizations and get them signed up.
If you need any help, please call the Meals on Wheels phone number at 866-669-6697 or fill out our easy-to-use online form!
