An update from Dana Pierce, Nutrition Administrator
Vitamins are essential nutrients that your body needs to work properly, and people of all ages need vitamins and minerals to stay healthy. As you age, it’s especially important to make sure you are getting the right kinds. The best way to get the necessary vitamins and minerals you need are through the foods that you eat! Here are some essential vitamins and minerals your body needs, along with the foods they are found in.
Vitamin B12 – fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and fortified cereals
• Helps make red blood cells
• Helps keep nerves healthy
• Essential for proper functioning of the brain
Vitamin E – almonds, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds, spinach, and fortified cereals
• Acts as an antioxidant for healthy skin
• May help ward off age-related vision problems
There are plenty of delicious ways you can add the essential vitamins and minerals you need into your diet every day!
(800) 589-1121 | lifestreaminc.org |
Upcoming Events
Community Meal Site Celebrations
March • East Central IN
Celebrate National Nutrition Month and LifeStream’s 50th anniversary with us! This March, join us at a meal site near you for various celebrations. LifeStream’s community meal sites provide more than just a meal — it is an opportunity to be active and engaged in the community. Stay on the look out for more details and a list of meal sites that will be participating in the celebrations! Visit lifestreaminc. org/nutrition to find a site near you.
What’s Cooking?
Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes
Sweet potatoes are a powerhouse of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. They can also improve your immune system with high levels of vitamin A.
Ingredients:
2 large sweet potatoes, washed and dried
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (12 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained*
1 (10 ounce) can diced tomato pepper mix, drained
1 cup shredded cheddar or pepper jack
*For a soft food substitute, use refried black beans.
Directions:
Senior Safety Net
Third Thursday of the Month • New Castle
LifeStream Services partners with Second Harvest Food Bank to offer monthly food distributions for those who are 60 and over. Proof of residence and ID are not required. Join us at Salvation Army located at 2500 S. Washington St. New Castle from 1 to 2 p.m. every third Thursday of the month. Visit lifestreaminc.org/nutrition for more Senior Safety Net site locations.
Preheat oven to 425 F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or nonstick aluminum foil. Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, then brush with olive oil and salt. Bake potatoes (cut side down) for 30 minutes or until cooked through. Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, and mash up potato flesh with a fork. Sprinkle potatoes with beans, tomato pepper mix, and cheese so the toppings are evenly divided. Return to the oven for 5 minutes until cheese is melted.
Please visit lifestreaminc.org/nutrition for more resources and information about our programs and services.
Your donation counts!
LifeStream coordinates the meals at 21 senior café sites throughout 12 counties. We rely on donations from generous people like you to help us continue to reach and help us serve more people in need. You can find donation boxes at the meal sites that will help us continue the sites and feed more people. You can make your donation by sending a check to 1701 Pilgrim Blvd. Yorktown, IN 47396 or visit lifestreaminc.org/nutrition to make a donation online
Wheat Dinner Roll Mandarin Oranges Cup Apple Cobbler Broccoli Whole Grain Hamburger Bun
Nutty Buddy Bar Milk Milk Whole Wheat Tortilla Fudge Crème Cookie Milk Cranberry Juice Hot Pineapple Tidbits Milk
Margarine Tossed Salad w/Dressing Milk
New! Smothered Garden Meatballs Smoked Sausage w/Onions and Peppers
Penne Pasta Potato Wedges
Jamaican Pork Parslied Rice
Capri Vegetable Blend
Mixed Vegetable Blend Broccoli Hot Apple Raisin Compote
Cauliflower Whole Grain Hot Dog Bun Milk
Cranberry Juice Graham Crackers Tossed Salad w/Dressing
Milk Milk
Mustard | Ketchup
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Menus subject to change
Springing into Wellness
An update from Gina Harvey, Wellness Educator
Winter is losing its hold and the days are gradually getting warmer. Ah, spring is here! This is a great time to make a fresh start and focus on healthy habits.
Tired of being cooped up indoors? Soak up the sunshine with some outdoor activities. Take a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood or spring clean your porch or patio. Sit outdoors and watch the birds preparing their nests. Refresh your flower beds by removing winter debris and adding fresh mulch.
The scent of newly budded flowers and fresh cut grass will soon fill the air. Now is a great time to schedule your yearly wellness exam with you doctor to prepare for allergy season. Seasonal allergies can wreak havoc on your sinuses, but they don’t have to ruin your outdoor time. Stay prepared and take steps to manage your symptoms.
Spring clean your indoor spaces. Declutter closets, wash windows, and deep clean rugs. Start this spring fresh and new! Getting rid of winter dust can reduce your allergies, too. Once you’ve finished, be sure to sit back and enjoy all that you’ve accomplished.
Visit the produce section of your local grocery store to stock up on seasonal fruits and veggies. Enjoy various types of bright colored fruits and veggies to ensure that you are receiving the nutrition that your body needs to stay healthy. Look up new recipes for ways to incorporate your seasonal favorites into your daily meals. Enjoy the changing of the seasons!
Are you interested in joining an exercise group this spring? LifeStream’s wellness programs are here to help! For more information about wellness classes, visit lifestreaminc.org/wellness, or contact Gina Harvey, Wellness Educator, at gharvey@lifestreaminc.org.
Outreach Corner
An update from Angie Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator
Happy spring, everyone! We are preparing for a busy few months of holding events and participating in community activities to help bring awareness and education about the services that are most essential to you.
As LifeStream celebrates its 50th anniversary throughout this year, we invite you to attend our Annual Healthy Aging Expo on Thursday, May 8. The event will be held at the First Bank Kuhlman Center on the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Richmond. The Expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will include live music from KICKS 96, health screenings, and a variety of community partners ready to share their services with the community. This event is free, and the first 200 participants will enjoy a complementary lunch as well as a chance to win a door prize. So come on out and join us for the day!
Save the date for our other upcoming events:
• June 3, 2025 – Aging Well Conference (Delaware County)
• June 25, 2025 – Senior Day at Wayne County Fair
• Week of July 14 – JOY Games (Delaware County)
• July 31, 2025 – Senior Day at Fayette County Fair
• Week of August 25 – JOY Games (Wayne County)
• September 25, 2025 – Fall Festival (Union County)
To learn more about upcoming LifeStream events, visit lifestreaminc.org/calendar, or contact Angie Jenkins, Outreach Coordinator, at ajenkins@lifestreaminc.org.
Volunteer 2024 Highlights
An update from Laura Bray, Volunteer Services Administrator
Volunteering is a growing field that is a fantastic place to be! A lot of committed individuals give their time to help our community and LifeStream Services. Volunteers make a lot of homebound meal deliveries in our Southern counties. Did you know that the lovely folks you encounter at senior cafés are volunteers, too? If you picked up the commodities at a Senior Safety Net location, those individuals are all volunteers. They also help us with a variety of other activities, such as committees, one-time events, wellness programs, office tasks, AngelWish, Concierge Program, crafting gifts, leaf raking, and so much more.
We couldn’t reach as many individuals if it weren’t for our volunteers’ enthusiasm for helping others.
605 individuals shared 22,680 hours of their time in 2024 to help their communities — that’s amazing commitment!
If you would like to experience volunteering and all of the positive effects it can add to your life, please contact Laura Bray, Volunteer Services Administrator, at (765) 808-8827 or lbray@lifestreaminc.org.
Volunteer Concierge Program
What is the Volunteer Concierge Program?
Who can volunteer?
How to sign up to volunteer
A volunteering initiative in which individuals are matched with older adults in need of a friendly visit or task assistance such as housekeeping, meal prep, light yard work, or companionship.
Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older with a desire to impact an older adult’s life through support and companionship.
Those interested in being part of the Volunteer Concierge Program can fill out an application at lifestreaminc.org/support/volunteer or contact Laura Bray, Volunteer Services Administrator, at (765) 808-8827 or lbray@lifestreaminc.org.
Learn more about LifeStream and the Volunteer Concierge Program at (800) 589-1121 or visit lifestreaminc.org.
