Hi everyone! I hope that you are enjoying the longer days, and that more sunlight is doing you well. I know I’m feeling an energy boost.
March being Nutrition Month, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the importance of nutrition not only for ourselves, but in our relationships with others. Indeed, healthy food and water intake are crucial to our wellbeing, especially when we age. Appetite, however, is the very first step in assuring that we get the nutrients we need. How can we eat or drink properly when we don’t feel like it?
Older adults may experience a decrease in appetite at one point or another. Living situations, personal habits, and mood are all factors that can influence your food intake. Moreover, the common practice of eating three times a day can sometimes feel like a burden.
Giving meaning to mealtime
Beside what’s on your plate, good nutrition is also enjoying a meal with people you love. Sharing a meal with friends, family or neighbours can help you look forward to mealtime. Cooking for, and with, someone else can also make you feel useful, get your mind busy, and help you connect with others. Read more about eating meals with others and all the benefits it provides.
If you are caring for a loved one, you likely already know how intimate it can feel to share a meal with someone who may need your help to eat. In addition to providing a pleasant and soothing presence, you allow your loved one to safely access the nutrients they need. On the other hand, if your loved one can eat alone, your presence gives more of a meaning to mealtime.
To continue these reflections surrounding Nutrition Month, join us at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday March 8th for Eat Well to Age Well. Inès Auclair-Mangliar, registered dietitian, will tell us more about the nutritional aspects of aging. Whether you want to attend in person or on Zoom, be sure to register by contacting me through phone or email. This information session will be interactive, so bring your questions, concerns, and curiosity!
Lastly, if you are an English-speaking caregiver, I have some great news! We’re holding our first in-person Caregivers’ Circle at the Wellness Centre this month. You are free to join, bring your own crafts, and enjoy some pastries while chatting with other caregivers. Simply contact me to register!
Hope to see you at one or more of these coming events!
Anaïs
PS – Be sure take a look at our March e-letter for some other resources on caregivers’ guilt, sexuality as a caregiver, and Québec’s healthcare system.
