Healthy Eating Ideas for Winter

For older adults, having a balanced diet is especially important during the winter months in order to maintain energy and prevent sickness. However, it can be a challenge to eat healthy when cold weather keeps us from venturing outdoors on a regular basis.

Nutritious Winter Meal Tips for Seniors in Northern Illinois

If you’ve found yourself stumped as to what to cook during the winter season, we have several suggestions for easy meals, along with helpful nutrition tips.

Eat Seasonally

While fresh produce is a bit limited in the winter, there are still many great seasonal options to choose from, like sweet potatoes, carrots, kale, and squash. These items can all be incorporated into soups and casseroles or simply roasted on their own. Check out the Beloit Indoor Farmers’ Market each Saturday through April to stock up on local produce and artisan goods.

Warm up with Soup

Soups are perfect for fitting in fruits and veggies, grains, and proteins in one simple meal. Need recipe ideas? Better Aging has a list of hearty soups and stews to help warm you from the inside out. If you don’t have the ability to cook, you or your caregiver can pick up ready-made soups from local cafes.

Enjoy Healthy Comfort Foods

During the winter, we often crave heavy comfort foods. The only problem is that many of these choices are high in fat and calories. Luckily, you can make simple ingredient swaps to enhance the nutrition of most of these meals. Substitute spaghetti squash instead of regular pasta, add veggies to your favorite chili recipe, and use Greek yogurt to thicken mashed potatoes instead of butter and cream.

Get Your Vitamins

Sunny days are rare during the winter in Northern Illinois. Less sun exposure can lead to a vitamin D deficiency, affecting your bone health. That’s why it’s crucial to eat foods that are rich in calcium and vitamin D throughout the season, like eggs, fatty fish, and dairy products. If you’re unsure of where to start, Taste of Home has 41 Recipes to Boost Your Vitamin D.

Enjoy Cozy Beverages

There’s nothing quite as comforting as a warm mug on a chilly day. Be sure to stay hydrated with plenty of water and enjoy warm drinks like herbal tea and hot cocoa.

Local Resources for Nutritional Guidance

For further nutritional guidance and support, the following resources can be of help:

Navigating the kitchen isn’t always easy for seniors–dexterity issues and health conditions may decrease your desire to cook. To help make the task easier, we have a past blog post full of Kitchen Gadgets for Seniors.

Visiting Angels Helps Support Senior Nutrition

If you or your senior loved one could use assistance in the kitchen, Visiting Angels Rockford is here to help. Our team of friendly caregivers can help with meal planning and grocery shopping, and they’re also able to ensure senior clients adhere to any dietary guidelines. Additionally, we offer support with tasks like hygiene, medication management, and much more.

For more information about our home care service options or to schedule a free consultation, contact us today.

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