Eat your way to healthier years

It is important to eat a balanced diet for health and wellbeing, especially in one’s later years. Good nutrition and regular meals, combined with physical activity, can increase strength, help fight infection, improve energy levels and help with weight maintenance. Here are some useful eating tips to remember as you get older:

• Drink six to eight cups of fluid – preferably water – every day in both hot and cold weather. Tea, coffee, mineral water and soda water are also ok, but water is best.
• Eat three meals (and snacks) from the five main food groups each day. The five main food groups are: vegetables, fruit, lean meats and fish, dairy, grains and cereals.
• Avoid foods that have a lot of saturated fat (like biscuits, pastries, fast foods), salty foods and drinks, and foods high in sugar.
• You can drink up to two standard drinks of alcohol each day, but aim to have one alcohol-free day every week.
• Always prepare and store food safely.
• Eat protein (meat and fish) and dairy (yoghurt) instead of carbohydrates (bread and pasta) if you are having trouble eating.
• Consider how your food is presented, how it tastes and what you like. Great smells encourage an appetite, and food is more appealing if it looks good!

Tips provided by the Better Health Channel. For more information, visit betterhealth.vic.gov.au

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