Nutrition is critical for healthy aging. Our bodies change as we age – skin becomes thinner and loses its elasticity; flexibility, muscle mass, strength, and bone density decrease; and metabolism slows resulting in increased body fat. What each person puts into their body forms the basis of their energy and mental clarity. You may have heard the adage, “you are what you eat”, and it’s true! If I want to feel great and ensure my body is performing optimally, I better be sure my nutrition is on point.
Three easy ways to improve your health and nutrition:
Listen to your body
By staying in tune with the feedback your body gives during and after meals, you can make better-informed decisions. If a certain food gives you a stomachache or makes you tired, make a different choice next time and see if your body has an improved response.
Stay hydrated
Hydration plays a critically important role in overall wellness and doesn’t have to be bland. Try infusing your water with fruit, or include options like tea, coffee, and juice (in moderation). But remember, if your beverage has calories, drink it sparingly and be intentional about your caloric intake.
Have fun with your diet!
Healthy eating does not have to be repetitive or boring. We can prove it! Contact a Volante community near you to schedule a tour and join us for a meal.
Four ways Volante Senior Living Supports Residents’ Nutritional Needs and Health Goals While Also Serving Delicious Food
Volante creates and uses resident profile notes.
From the moment someone tours one of our communities, we’re doing discovery. From a dining services perspective, we seek to understand their dietary needs, restrictions, allergies, preferences, and any doctor orders related to diet. What we learn goes into resident profile notes that is shared among staff to help create the best experience possible.
Volante handles the meal planning, prepping, and labor.
Some senior living facilities, like those in the Volante Senior Living family, include chef-prepared meals for all residents. This amenity relieves residents of the planning and labor that goes into preparing healthy meals.
Volante Dining Directors conduct “table touches” regularly.
We visit with residents during meals to gather feedback about what they’ve enjoyed, what hasn’t met their expectations, and how we can ensure their mealtime experience is excellent. When we miss the mark, we want residents to feel comfortable telling us so that we can adjust and ensure that we are serving food that is not only nutritious, but also delighting their tastebuds.
Our dining teams participate in national brainstorming calls.
Monthly our dining staff meets to brainstorm ways to continually improve residents’ dining experience through things like improved recipes, new menu items, more efficient processes, changes to dining room layout, furniture, cutlery, etc.
You matter. Your support network should agree.
Healthy eating is an individualized matter; defining what constitutes a nutritional meal or diet comes down to what each person’s health outcomes need to be. One person may benefit from including more fruit in their diet, while a second person may need more leafy greens, and yet a third person needs to prioritize more protein. When you’re looking for a senior living community for yourself or a loved one, choose one that cares about helping you hit your health goals while continuing to satisfy your palette.
You belong at Volante.
Mealtime at all Volante communities, whether independent living, assisted living, or memory care, is a time to capitalize on nutrition, and it provides a great opportunity to enjoy delicious food, in a restaurant-style setting, while visiting with friends and neighbors. The team at Volante Senior Living is committed to truly knowing each resident, and that includes their dietary needs and preferences.
March is National Nutrition Month.
National Nutrition Month is an educational and informational campaign sponsored annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a professional organization for registered dietitians and nutrition professionals. National Nutrition Month raises public awareness on the importance of making healthy, and in some cases, lifesaving, food and dietary decisions that develop sound eating habits.
Contact us today to learn more about our dining and hospitality experiences!
About the Author: Matt Perez, Vice President of Dining
