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A healthy Lifestyle as you age can help you look and feel your best. Make eating an enjoyable part of your life by:

·        asking a friend to lunch and trying a new dish;

·        baking cookies with your grandchildren;

·        helping with special meals or celebrations;

·        trying a new recipe.

Being active and feeling good about yourself through support from friends and family are important parts of a healthy lifestyle.

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Healthy eating can promote Independence in later years by helping to protect you from certain illnesses:

·        Emphasize whole grain breads such as bran and whole grain and/or enriched cereals. Have 5-12 servings of Grain Products.

·        Include colourful fruits and vegetables as bright orange and dark green offer more protective nutrients. Examples include squash, broccoli, and oranges.

Have 5-10 servings a day of Vegetables and Fruit.

Help strengthen your bones and possibly prevent osteoporosis by improving your intake of calcium and vitamin D. Choices include: milk, yogurt and cheese.

Have 2-4 servings daily of Milk Products.

For high quality protein include foods such as beef, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu and legumes.

Have 2-3 servings daily of Meat and Alternatives.

Choose lower fat foods more often; chose leaner meats, poultry and fish, lower fat milk products more often. Use small amounts of added fat in cooking and at the table.

Canada's Food Guide has more information about serving sizes

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When making Food choices:

 Be realistic: If you want to improve your food choices, make small changes one step at a time; there is a better chance that the change will last.

Be Adventurous: Expand your tastes to enjoy a variety of foods. Try a theme dinner with your friends featuring foods from other countries.

Be Flexible: Eat regularly, choose wisely and include some physical activity in your day.

Be Sensible: Enjoy all foods. If you’re craving chocolate cake, have a piece and enjoy it. Just don’t overdo if. Remember all foods can fit!

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Healthy eating and regular physical activity gives you Energy to get going and keep going.

·        eat and drink enough to maintain a healthy weight by following Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating;

·        choose healthy snacks to boost your energy level- try fruit or fruit juices, yogurt, cheese, a hard-cooked egg or a bowl of cereal for a quick "pick me up"!

·        plan nature walks at parks with a friend or group;

·        join a "mall walkers" group. Check out our Walking Works Page.

·        plant a garden, learn about community gardening. Check out our Community Garden information

In Summary Enjoying L.I.F.E. means:

Lifestyle… a healthy lifestyle as you age can help you look and feel your best.

Independence… Healthy eating protects you from illness and promotes independence in later years.

Food… Be realistic, be adventurous, be flexible, and be sensible

Energy… Healthy Eating and regular activity give you energy to get going and keep going!

For more information check out the Successful Aging Project in Thunder Bay.