Healthy Spring Recipes
Seafood Diet: an unfound belief where one is confident weight will be lost if they “see” food it may be eaten. If only this were so. A nutritious diet is the basis to a healthy life. Unfortunately, nutritious is not always synonymous with delicious.
According to scientific studies humans are born with nine thousand taste buds. By the age of sixty almost half have disappeared. Seniors may be reaching for saltshakers more often or opting for sugary treats instead of vitamin filled plates of fruit and/or vegetables to compensate. Excessive use of salt or sugar are leading causes of hypertension and diabetes.
Peruse the healthy recipes below for nutritious meal suggestions.
Breakfast
Banana Prune Smoothie Recipe
Do not laugh. This combination of ingredients gives an instant boost to energy, as well as a satisfied appetite.
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1 Tablespoon flax seed or powder
- 2 cups milk (almond, oat, rice, or skim milk)
- 4 ice cubes
- 5 whole almonds
- 5 pitted prunes
Blend ingredients with half of milk to start. When a smooth consistency, add remaining milk.
Lunch
Black Bean Veggie Pasta Bowl
Protein, Vegetables, Fiber, and a low carb option.
- 1 (14 ounce) package frozen Mexican-style corn
- 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 cups rotini (optional)
- 12 ounces cooked or broasted chicken
- 1 tomato, diced
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 green onion, diced
- ½ cup cilantro or Italian salad dressing
Directions: Cook pasta, drain, and rinse with cold water. Add corn, tomato, celery, and onion. Slice chicken into bite-size pieces and add to mix. Toss with salad dressing. This recipe may be refrigerated up to four days.
Dinner
Do It Yourself the Healthy Way
Some prefer fish, others meat or poultry. The important goal is a balanced plate. The Harvard School of Health offers an easy illustration for food choices. Visualize a round plate. Vegetables and fruits, fresh or frozen, not canned, should be one half of the plate. One fourth of the plate consists of whole and intact grains—whole wheat, barley, quinoa, oats, brown (not white) rice, or foods made with them. The remaining fourth of the plate is comprised of protein… fish, poultry, or beans. Red meat should be limited and processed meats avoided.
Bridge to Better Living understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle. When nutrition is an important component of choosing Independent, Assisted, Memory Assisted, or Long-Term Care consult Bridge to Better Living. Expert Transition Consultants know the many secret ingredients for choosing the most appropriate Senior Living Community for your loved ones.