Greater Pittsburgh area residents are enlightened about making smart dining choices at home and eating out
To raise awareness of February being Heart Health month, Longwood at Oakmont, a Presbyterian SeniorCare Continuing Care Retirement Community in Plum, recently hosted Cura Hospitality dietician Christy Reposky to educate Pittsburgh area seniors about selecting healthy menu options while dining in and out. During the educational seminar, Reposky’s presentation, “Good, Better and Best Bites”, demonstrated how healthy eating for the heart does not have to be a chore.
“According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Services (ERS), American’s average daily calorie intake has increased 24.5 percent in the last ten years and fat consumption has increased by 9.5 percent,” states Lindsay Coulter, Senior Sales Coordinator at Longwood at Oakmont. “In order to counteract this dramatic increase of caloric intake, we believe it is important to provide our community with information about the facts and alternative options that are healthy, but still tasty.”
During the event, Reposky informed attendees that introducing fruits and vegetables into their diets can reduce their total daily caloric intake. “Fresh fruits and vegetables will help add volume to dishes without adding calories, which is key in dining at home and in restaurants as it reduces the amount of carbohydrates and sugars in a meal,” states Reposky. She also provided unique ways to enjoy different types of fruits and vegetables for the seniors and caregivers, including:
- Try crunchy vegetables instead of chips
- Add a variety of vegetables as pizza toppings
- Place colorful fruit in a bowl on the table where it is easy to grab
- Make fruit a dessert by trying a banana with frozen yogurt
“Building a healthy plate is easy when you make half your plate fruits and vegetables,” says Christy Reposky. “It is a great way to add color, flavor and texture plus vitamins, minerals and fiber. Everyone should try to incorporate 2 cups of fruit and 2 and half cups of vegetables daily.”
Reposky also illustrated that snacking on fruits and vegetables can keep you fuller longer. She instructed attendees to think of healthy snacks as mini-meals that create opportunities for more nutrient-rich foods. At the end of the seminar, she provided attendees with an informative handout filled of healthy meal and snack options and recipe cards that included: 100 calorie cupcakes, balsamic strawberries with ricotta cream and unfried chicken.
Longwood at Oakmont, an affiliate of Presbyterian SeniorCare, is an established senior residential Life Care community dedicated to enriching the lives of its residents by providing a full range of qualityservices and health care which promote individual dignity, security, wellness and independence. For more information, please visit www.longwoodatoakmont.com/info.
