Sports and Nutrition: Are You Eating Your Vegetables?

 

All the exercise in the world isn’t going to do a lot of good if you aren’t conscious about what you put into your body.  Somehow, the whole idea of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables has always been a bit mind boggling to me, and I opt out by figuring that I couldn’t possibly eat that much anyway.  Well, I could but I don’t think a couple of handfuls of potato chips quite make the grade.

 

Dr. Fraunfelder, M.D. in his book “Retirement Rx,” says it all when it comes to taking care of your body. He maintains that good health requires that you participate fully in the process. You (and you alone) are responsible for your well-being.

 

What does that have to do with eating your vegetables?  A balanced diet, regular exercise and mental stimulation are all important considerations when it comes to promoting a healthy lifestyle.  You will notice that a balanced diet is at the front of that list.  Excessive weight and poor eating habits are detrimental to your health and well being.

 

 We all know that kids hate to eat their vegetables and would live on fries and hot dogs if we let them, but somehow we expect more of older adults.  The old adage of older and wiser seems to fly right out the window for a good many mature individuals when it comes to a healthy diet.  When I worked as a hospital Discharge Planner I learned that seniors with health issues had a lot in common.  Poor nutrition was often at the heart of their problems.  Still, when I offered to set them up with Meals on Wheels or similar programs they would scoff and say that the meals were not fit to eat, although we all know that they are nutritionally balanced and perfectly acceptable. On further scrutiny these same seniors would admit to living on instant oatmeal and soups prepared by adding boiling water because they just didn’t have the desire to cook for themselves.  A good many people do not buy into nutrition as being a priority for maintaining for healthy lifestyle. 

 

The reason I harp so often on eating vegetables is that I have watched seniors in care facilities go to great length to hide their vegetables under a lettuce leaf or carefully spoon up the broth from their soup bowls and leave the vegetables. No matter how we beg, plead or cajole our seniors do not like their vegetables any more now than they did when they were kids.

 

Okay, I get it!  You don’t like vegetables!  Remember all of the sneaky ploys you used to get their kids to eat them?  Maybe it is time to get back into the kitchen and use some of these ploys again.  It is time to be responsible for your own health and well-being. Think of good nutrition as you would a medication.  A healthy diet really can provide you with the health base that you need to maintain an independent lifestyle.

Arthritis Today (January/February 2008) had an article by N.G. and Jess Thomson that discussed some sneaky ways to add vegetables to your diet.  I thought they were worth considering:

·        Spike sauces with vegetables of the same hue and blend well.

·        Mash cauliflower instead of potatoes.

·        Chop up vegetables and add to chili, soup, lasagna, meatloaf or hamburger patties.

·        For a change, try making a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, nuts and cheese instead of traditional lettuce.

·        Add grated carrots, zucchini or apple to pancakes, bread or muffin mixes.

·        Thicken soups, spreads, and dips with blended beans or lentils.

 

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