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Health & Fitness

Eating Right in the Summer: Tips for Seniors (and Everyone Else!)

You are what you eat. The old saying rings true, as a healthy diet results in living longer and stronger, keeping the mind sharp and maintaining energy levels. A balanced diet is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and with the hot summer in full swing, it’s often easy to forget good eating habits.

The benefits of eating healthy can include increased mental acuteness, higher energy, faster healing time and better management of illness and health problems – important for everyone, but particularly valuable for seniors.  It’s even been found that a healthy diet helps keep people emotionally balanced.  

Here are some tips for eating right during the summer:

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  • Light and easy is the way to go. Fresh foods like salads are easily digestible in the summertime.
  • Keep the water flowing. Drinking enough water every day is critical to keeping yourself hydrated and away from sugary drinks or unhealthy snacks.
  • Eat lots of colors! The more colorful your plate is, the better it is.
  • Stay away from the sugar. Some of the favorite summertime treats such as popsicles and key lime pie are loaded with sugar. Opt to eat fruit instead for desserts or snacks.
  • Eat fruits and vegetables at every meal. Don’t weigh yourself down with starches.  And, by eating fruits and vegetables throughout the day, you’ll be able to maintain your energy level better.
  • Try some smoothies! Mixing fresh fruits, and even leafy greens, with some calcium and ice will keep you cool, provide you with necessary nutrients and taste great.
Be sure to consult your doctor or a registered dietitian if you have any special dietary needs. If you have questions, please feel free to visit us or to contact me at (678) 534-5075.

Farnece Roberts is the executive director at Plantation South Dunwoody (www.plantationsouth-duluth.com), a senior residential community center. She can be reached at (678) 534-5075.





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