Dear friends,
Now that the holidays are over and indulging in holidays treats are behind me, I am back to practicing good behavior with respect to my nutritional needs. No, it’s not a matter of being righteous about eating better. Frankly, it’s a matter of personal health (as in having more energy, fewer indigestion events and other topics best left unsaid.)
Eating well is not always easy for a widow living alone. After all, eating is as much a social event as it is a means of nourishing one’s body. I re-experienced all this when my oldest son and his family stayed with me during the holidays, and I got to cook again for a big group. I so enjoyed sharing a meal with them and the connections and memories that come with sharing a meal.
If you’re curious, I make it a point to share meals with friends and colleagues whenever possible. And when I do eat alone, I make it a happy event with foods I like to eat, good background music and candlelight (both the fake ones and the real ones.)
During the holidays, I was deeply conscious that the food my grandchildren enjoyed was just not as interesting to me. And they were not all that thrilled with all the green veggies that came with their meals! Naturally, they were not that concerned that seniors worry about bone and muscle mass loss, as they are deep in the throes of growing and building bones and muscles.
I found myself encouraging them to hydrate, eat frequently but smaller meals, eats lots of fruits and veggies. Good grief! This is the advice I get from my doctor, and not one that young teens are interested in. Thank goodness I stopped at the point of discussing vitamins and supplements!
The cycle of life will be experienced by my grandchildren someday, and my nutritional advice may come in handy then. In the meanwhile, I intend to eat healthily as much as I can. Here’s wishing you and yours a healthy and happy 2025!
Best,
Cora
