Continuing our celebration of #OlderAmericansMonth we are sharing with you six tips to help you live longer, stronger, and better by improving your diet.
Bribe yourself into eating vegetables.
Find a salad dressing or dip you love; you’ll be more inclined to eat veggies dipped in it.
Store fruit in front of the fridge.
When you bring fruit home, immediately wash and put in a bowl at the front of the top shelf rather than in a drawer. The minute you open the fridge, it will prompt you to eat some.
Portion out nuts.
In a study that appeared in BMC Medicine in 2013 of adults ages 55 to 80 at high cardiovascular risk, those who ate over three servings of nuts per week were 39 percent less likely to die of any cause over the next five years of the study. The problem is that people often overindulge and eat them straight out of a large bag or can. Pre-pack them into individual serving sizes in zip-close bags so you have just one serving, not five.
Decorate healthfully.
If chocolates are on the table, you’ll eat them. Hide the less-healthy snacks and put fruit and nuts on the table within reach.
Snack before you shop.
Going to the grocery store on an empty stomach — even if it’s a digital store — can lead to unhealthy impulse buys. Have a bite to eat, and while you’re eating, write out a shopping list and stick to it.
Drink your fiber.
Throw some fruit into the blender right before it goes bad. Try blending a banana, an orange and spinach; throw in some walnuts for even more fiber and omega-3 fatty acids.
Reference: AARP 60 Ways to Live Longer, Stronger, and Better
