By Anna Hazard
Introduction
While the colder months of winter are not known for their abundance of produce & other natural foods as with the other milder seasons, there still remain certain herbs, fruits, vegetables, and types of meat that reach their peak taste or availability around this time of year. In addition, there are other edible plants that are hardy enough to retain their growth even through the frost & thus will also still be available locally fresh.
The following recipes focus on fresh natural ingredients easily available during the winter with an emphasis on those that provide nutrition particularly beneficial for seniors during this time of year. This includes fatty fish & other sources for the Vitamin D not absorbed through direct exposure to sunlight, citrus fruits for fighting off colds, flus, and other infections abundant during winter, as well as dark leafy greens, root vegetables, and winter squashes that are nutrient dense & reach their peak taste after the first frost. This is a phenomenon often known as frost-curing or frost-touched where certain crucifers, cabbages, roots, and tubers produce sucrose from their stockpiled starches in order to help protect the plant from the incoming cold.
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By Anna Hazard
Introduction
For many seniors, autumn is a good time of year to enjoy outdoor activities. Temperatures tend to be mild compared to the potential heat waves of summer and have yet to drop to the freezing temperatures that send most people sheltering indoors for the winter. In addition, the seasonal displays of fall foliage and produce harvests make outdoor ventures an additional treat for the eyes.
Here are a sampling of seasonal autumnal activities that are suitable for seniors or others with mobility issues. Additional links to sites within the Maryland area where these events can be enjoyed have also been included.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
As temperatures cool and leaves begin to turn to brilliant colors, a new source of inspiration and crafting supplies becomes available. Here are a selection of autumn themed easy-to-do crafts suitable for seniors that make good use of seasonally available materials. Many of these do-it-yourself items can pull double duty as general fall decor as well as being incorporated with upcoming Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations.
Crafts
By Anna Hazard
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Milkshakes
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By Anna Hazard
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Introduction
With the bountiful supply of in-season produce and the rising temperatures that make indoor cooking far less attractive, meal plans for this time of year tend to focus on inexpensive & easily obtained vegetables, fruits, and herbs that can be prepared without cooking and served while chilled. In season proteins include a bevy of seafood that provides senior-friendly nutrients & beneficial fats without the drawbacks of high calories & saturated fats that are present in other types of meat.
Remember that some recipes may need to be tweaked to best fit the needs of a certain senior (corn-on-the-cob is a well known summer treat, but those fresh kernels can still be enjoyed by those without strong teeth or jaw power) and that certain styles of food (such as raw seafood with its potential for food poisoning complications) should be avoided for overall senior health.
Remember that some recipes may need to be tweaked to best fit the needs of a certain senior (corn-on-the-cob is a well known summer treat, but those fresh kernels can still be enjoyed by those without strong teeth or jaw power) and that certain styles of food (such as raw seafood with its potential for food poisoning complications) should be avoided for overall senior health.
Meal Components
Cold Salads
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By Anna Hazard
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Introduction
Seniors tend to be more vulnerable to dangerous bouts of food poisoning due to more weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, and gastrointestinal disorders that become more common with age. Medications taken for such conditions also pose a greater risk of possible side effects. Further complications can arise from older adults producing less stomach acid with which to combat ingested bacteria or having weakened kidneys being unable to properly filter it from the blood. Seniors are also more likely to have degenerating eyesight and sense of smell that keeps them from noticing signs of spoilage.
By Anna Hazard
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Introduction
Summer is a particularly good time to begin focusing on maintaining a more balanced diet, especially as previous studies indicate that fewer than 15% of older adults consume the recommended amount of daily fruits & vegetables within the USA. This is a time of year where many produce can be found fresh, in-season, and available from a bevy of different local sources, many of which may not be available during colder months. Some examples include farmer's markets, corner fruit stands, open farms & orchards, as well picking produce from your own gardens & fruits trees. Local in-season produce also tends to be less expensive, without the additional costs of having to transport & store produce from faraway locations, while also being more flavorful & nutritious due its freshness.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Summer is a time of year where people of all ages tend to be on the go and spending much more time outside than during the chillier months and so these crafts focus on items suitable for outside decorations & activities. Tutorials focus on designs that use common household objects and which can be made with relative ease for beginners or for those with strength or hand dexterity issues.
Please always keep safety in mind when it comes to those crafts that require open flames or the melting of materials.
Please always keep safety in mind when it comes to those crafts that require open flames or the melting of materials.
Summer Windchimes
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By Anna Hazard
Introduction
With the coming of long, warm, and sunny days, it's a good opportunity for seniors, as well as their caregivers, to take some of their recreational activities outside to soak up some rays and take advantage of the good weather for the next couple of months. In particular, sun exposure helps to generate Vitamin D within the body, a vitamin that tends to be inefficiently produced as one grows older and which many seniors are deficient in during the colder months.
However, remember to keep senior loved ones properly hydrated as temperatures rise and activities increase, especially as the perception of thirst can diminish with age. This, as well as the decline in a body's ability to regulate and adjust to temperature, and the presence of other health problems & further complications arising from other medicines being taken, makes seniors particularly susceptible to temperature related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
However, remember to keep senior loved ones properly hydrated as temperatures rise and activities increase, especially as the perception of thirst can diminish with age. This, as well as the decline in a body's ability to regulate and adjust to temperature, and the presence of other health problems & further complications arising from other medicines being taken, makes seniors particularly susceptible to temperature related illnesses such as heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
By Anna Hazard
Introduction
Spring, known as a season of rebirth and new beginnings, is often considered a good time to ring in the new with freshly awakened motivations for starting a healthier lifestyle & diet. The same is true for seniors, who can enjoy the opportunities (not to mention the fresh bounties) brought forth by the warming weather.
After the winter months have passed, many types of produce will be more plentiful and much less expensive to acquire due to the added costs of out-of-season fruits & vegetables needing to be transported from further away (California or Florida for those still USA grown with other popular exporters being Mexico and Central America). Locally grown produce also tends to be more flavorful and nutrient-rich as importing from out-of-state or out-of-country often requires that produce be harvested before they have fully ripened, requires chemicals to preserve or induce ripening, or leaves the fruit or vegetables past their peak time of freshness once they've hit the store shelves.
After the winter months have passed, many types of produce will be more plentiful and much less expensive to acquire due to the added costs of out-of-season fruits & vegetables needing to be transported from further away (California or Florida for those still USA grown with other popular exporters being Mexico and Central America). Locally grown produce also tends to be more flavorful and nutrient-rich as importing from out-of-state or out-of-country often requires that produce be harvested before they have fully ripened, requires chemicals to preserve or induce ripening, or leaves the fruit or vegetables past their peak time of freshness once they've hit the store shelves.
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News updates, tips, and guides on senior care, senior health, stress relief and a host of other caregiving related topics from the professionals at Ella Stewart Care.