Annual event will show seniors how to eat right BY SANDY B0SCH Communications Manager, Home Helpers
We all know how important it is for children to eat their vegetables “The Eat For Your and limit their sugar. What we don’t always Health expo is a great way to help seniors realize is that these sort out nutritional inand other important dietary rules don’t go formation and to find away as we age. healthy food choices Nutrition is imporclose to home.” tant at every stage MARY DOEPKE, regisof life, but as people tered nurse and co-owner of grow older, many Home Helpers of Hinsdale things can get in the way of those healthy choices. Add in dietary restrictions due to health conditions or drug interactions, and eating right can simply seem like too much work. Aging Care Connections will make the chore of eating right easier by joining with area grocery stores, restaurants, food services and health experts to host the third annual Eat For Your Health expo from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20 at the Grand Avenue Community Center, 4211 Grand Ave., Western Springs. The free event will offer tips, information, demonstrations and resources to help incorporate healthy choices into one’s daily diet. Each of the more than 15 grocery stores, restaurants and food services at this year’s expo will offer food samples, coupons or tips for healthy eating. An annual participant in the Eat For Your Health event is Kate’s Comfort Foods, which prepares readyto-heat, single-serving meals that appeal especially to seniors. “Nourishment in older people is a problem,” said Mary Doepke, RN, co-owner of Home Helpers of Hinsdale. “The Eat For Your Health expo is a great way to help seniors sort out nutritional information and to find healthy food choices close to home.” The home care and home nursing agency has teamed up with Kate’s Comfort Foods to bring these home-cooked meals to the customer’s door. Home Helpers takes the food orders and delivers them each Tuesday and Friday.
FOUR DIET DOs FOR SENIORS Hydration Drink plenty of fluid to avoid constipation and to keep the body working right.
Fiber Plenty of fruits and vegetables help keep the bowels moving.
Protein Lean meats such as chicken and fish are important to the healing process.
Calcium Include dairy in the diet to retain bone density and strength. Source: Mary Doepke, RN, Home Helpers of Hinsdale
EAT FOR YOUR HEALTH EXPO AT A GLANCE The free expo will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 20 at the Grand Avenue Community Center, 4211 Grand Ave., Western Springs. Speakers will be featured at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., and a variety of exhibitors will be in attendance. Other exhibitors at this year’s event include Trader Joe’s of La Grange, Whole Foods, Mariano’s, Honey Bee Café, Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating, Weight Watchers, Meals on Wheels, Salerno’s and Sweet Ali’s Gluten-free Bakery of Hinsdale. The event also will include two speakers, at 10:30 and 11:30 a.m., each of whom will talk about eating right. Seniors also can get free pneumonia vaccinations by attending the Eat For Your Health expo. Eat For Your Health is sponsored by Aging Care Connections, the Hinsdale Department of Parks and Recreation, the Village of Western Springs and the Village of Indian Head Park. Celebrating Seniors | 7