Page 2 - Senior Times South Central Michigan April 2023 - 30-04

Page 2 Senior Times - April 2023
KEEPING PACE – FOOD FOR THOUGHT
By: Ryan Miller, Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E.
March was National Nutrition Month. This annual campaign was created 50 years ago by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This was a perfect opportunity to connect with Kelsi Bruno, a Registered Dietitian (RD) at Senior Care Partners PACE. The conversation and suggestions below are opinion and infor- mation intended for a general audience. You should consult with your doctor before mak- ing any significant changes regarding your specific nutrition and eating habits.
on food intake as a whole throughout the day rather than specific meals, so if breakfast is not your thing early in the morning, listen to your hunger cues. The importance of break- fast varies from person to person and skip- ping it is not the end all, be all of chance to fuel your body during the day.
Ryan: Is there one, or maybe two, nutri- tion tips that apply to almost everyone? Is there something that we could all do better when it comes to nutrition?
Ryan: Some people do the traditional three meals a day – breakfast, lunch, and supper. Others do more small meals or snacks throughout the day. Is one method better than the other?
Kelsi: For general healthful nutrition edu- cation, we like to refer to MyPlate. It is a guideline on how to balance your meals to get enough carbs, protein, and fruits and veg- etables in a day. The recommendation uses a standard 9” plate. Fill one half of your plate with a variety of fruits and non-starchy vege- tables. Try to get as colorful as possible! One quarter of the plate is filled with a protein source. This can be animal or plant sources of protein. The last quarter is filled with your starches – pasta, bread, rice, or starchy veg- etables. Perhaps the most important thing to remember when it comes to nutrition is to keep it simple. As a society, we tend to over complicate things.
Kelsi: Everyone has individualized nutri- tion needs, and what works for one person, may not work for someone else and vice versa. Again, we look at nutrient intake as
a whole and the number of meals required
to reach their nutrition goals in a day can be modified as needed. Neither is better than the other and both can absolutely meet a person’s required nutrition needs.
Also, it is important to emphasize proper hydration! I think we focus so much on food sometimes we forget that drinking enough water is essential as well.
Kelsi: I think that the term “healthy food” has, unfortunately, been correlated with bland, dry, tasteless food for a long time. When in fact, nutrient dense foods can be enjoyed and very flavorful. A lot of times, the education on how to make these “healthy foods” taste good is lacking so the perception of them is negative. This is one of the things that RD’s can help with. Exploring each person’s likes and dislikes and working with them on an individual basis to create dishes or find recipes that include nutrient dense foods, but that are also enjoyable for this person to eat. This isn’t saying someone is
Ryan: Can you solve the age-old debate for us? What is the most important meal of the day?
Kelsi: As Registered Dietitians, we believe that all meals are important! But if you
are talking specifically breakfast, there are some very good selling points about why consuming breakfast daily is beneficial for your health and may be considered the most important meal. We wouldn’t try to drive a car with no gas, so we need to think about our bodies in the same way. Fueling your body in the morning gives it the energy it needs to function, especially your brain. The morning is also when your body is most sen- sitive to insulin and when it uses blood sugar most effectively. It is a great time to eat fiber- filled carbs to help lower cholesterol and pro- mote heart health. Although, we like to focus
Ryan: What would you say to the person who says, “I don’t like ‘healthy’ foods. They don’t taste as good?”
A healthcare team
wrapped around
you.
We provide coordinated healthcare for those aged 55+ meeting a nursing home level of care and desire to continue living and aging in their home. Senior Care Partners P.A.C.E. is covered by Medicare and Medicaid. Most Medicaid eligible participants pay no out-of-pocket costs for medical services while in their home.
Our mission is to empower independence and autonomy for participants and their support systems through exceptional interdisciplinary and integrated geriatic care.
Self pay options are available.
LEARN MORE
(269) 441-9319
referrals@seniorcarepartnersmi.org