tad Good Nutrition Made Easy For Older Adults (NAPSA)—Roughly 110 million adults in the U.S. are age 50 orolder. If you're one of them or know someone whois, there’s something you need to know:As you age, your nutrition needs change. You may becomeless active, your metabolism slows, and yourability to absorb some nutrients becomesless efficient. You need fewercalories to keep you going—which means the amount of nutrients in your food becomes even MyPlate for Older Adults Fruits & Vegetables more important. To help, the U.S. DepartmentofHealth and HumanServices and nutrition scientists at the Jean Mayer U.S. Departmentof Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Older people can help their own health by watching whatthey eat. Center on Aging at Tufts University, with support from AARP Foundation, created MyPlate for Older Adults. you decide on types and combinations Based on the federal government’s guide to forming healthy dietary hab- The rest of the recommendations include: Brightly colored vegetables such as carrots and broccoli Deep-colored fruit such as berries and peaches What’s on MyPlate for Older Adults? its, MyPlate for Older Adults makes goodnutrition easy. Even better,it helps seniors with fixed incomesselect healthy foods within their budget. That includes showing how frozen, dried and canned fruits and vegetables can be wisealternatives to fresh produce. MyPlate for Older Adults encourages eating whole grains, which are high in fiber, as well as plant-based proteins such as beans and tofu, along with fish and lean meat. Vegetables and fruits make up half the plate, reflecting the importance of eating several servings a day in a range of colors. MyPlate for Older Adults also recommends using herbs and spices instead ofsalt to season food. Cutting back on salt can have big health benefits—especially for older adults, who are at risk of hypertension. You can use the MyPlate for Older Adults as a tool when you shop to help of foods, and as a reminder that the foods you choose to eat should be rich in vitamins and minerals. Whole, enriched and fortified grains and cereals such as brownrice and 100 percent whole wheat bread Low-fat and nonfat dairy products such as yogurt and low-lactose milk Dry beans and nuts, fish, poultry and eggs Liquid vegetable oils, soft spreads low in saturated andtrans fats Lots of fluids such as water and fatfree milk Physical activity such as walking, resistance training and lightcleaning. Learn More You can check out MyPlate for Older Adults and find more information about AARP Foundation at www. aarpfoundation.org/myplate.
