March is National Nutrition Month® and Harvest for Hunger Month.®
For seniors, maintaining good nutrition is so important. As we age, maintaining healthy eating habits can make a difference in our overall health and mood, but the COVID19 pandemic made maintaining those healthy habits challenging. Some have been fearful of going to the grocery store, while others worried about affording healthy foods or hurting themselves while cooking. By not eating well or maintaining their health, seniors put themselves at risk of illnesses. It is time we move forward together and improve the lives of those we care for in our community.
National Nutrition Month®
National Nutrition Month® is an annual campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics® for people to learn about making healthy food choices and habits. For seniors and their caregivers who may have experienced disruptions to their eating, shopping, and other healthy habits Seniors Helping Seniors® recommends they follow these tips from the USDA:
- Add sliced fruits and vegetables to meals and snacks. Shopping for pre-sliced varieties is a good alternative if slicing and chopping is a challenge.
- Ask your doctor for other options if the medications you take are causing changes to your appetite.
- Drink 3 cups of fat-free or low-fat milk throughout the day. If you cannot tolerate milk, try small amounts of yogurt, buttermilk, hard cheese, or lactose-free foods. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
- Consume foods fortified with vitamin B12, such as fortified cereals.
- Avoid salt and try adding spices such as oregano to flavor your meals.
Harvest for Hunger®
Harvest for Hunger® is a regional campaign led by Second Harvest Food Bank of North Central Ohio® that helps restocks local food pantries. Consider donating at a local Giant Eagle or Heinen’s store to Second Harvest Food Bank and Lorain County Office on Aging to ensure low-income Lorain County residents have enough to eat!
Too many people in Lorain County face the challenge each day of not knowing where their next meal is coming from. The rising costs of food, utilities, gasoline, and housing have forced difficult choices – between food and heat, food and medicine, or food and rent. Unfortunately, the odds are good you know someone struggling to put food on the table because the number of older adults seeking help at food pantries has risen 60% since before the pandemic.
In Lorain County, over 26,000 families received much-needed help with food at a pantry in 2021. Second Harvest and the network of food pantries like Lorain County Office On Aging, work tirelessly to meet the needs of Lorain County residents, but they need your help! For every $1 you donate Second Harvest provides 5 meals to Lorain County residents. LCOOA, a partner of Second Harvest, operates three food pantries devoted to helping older adults with nutritious food to ensure they have the food they need.
LCOOA accepts donations of food and is always looking for great volunteers to deliver bags of food to homebound older adults! If you are interested in volunteering or donating food at the Lorain County Office on Aging call 440-326-4800 or Second Harvest at 440-960-2265. Or visit them online at www.lcooa.org.
Seniors Helping Seniors ®
Seniors Helping Seniors® provides a variety of services to support seniors so that they are able to maintain their independence and enjoy life not just in their homes, but also in their neighborhoods. These services include companionship, light housekeeping, cooking, and shopping support, assistance with personal care, dementia care, pet care, yard work, and medication reminders.
Visit our website to learn more about our services. You can also call or text us at 440-935-3848 to ask questions and start service or visit our website at https://seniorcarelorain.com/in-home-senior-care-services/