When we’re still working, raising our children, tending to a household, and focusing on our career choices, many of us struggle to find the time and energy to cook at home, or to eat the kinds of healthy, nutritious meals that we’d like, and that we know are best for us. When we retire, many of us are look forward to taking the time to do more cooking at home, to experiment with dishes that may have been too intimidating or time-consuming before, or to take up culinary interests that we may have neglected in the past.
Eating healthy is still a tricky balancing act to manage, though, even when you’re retired. Luckily, a basic knowledge of your body’s changing nutritional needs can help you make healthy, delicious meals easily at home, and help you choose wisely when you go out to eat at a fine dining establishment.
As you get older, you generally need fewer calories, which means that for many people they may eat less. That sounds like an easy way to diet, right? The problem is, even as your caloric needs decrease, your need for nutrients like Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and calcium remain constant. What that means is, if you’re eating less, you’ve got to take measures to ensure that you’re eating plenty of nutrient-dense foods, in order to make sure that you’re still getting all the vitamins and other nutrients that your body requires.
One sharp solution is to cook with colorful vegetables such as carrots, beets, green squash, red and green peppers, and zucchini. Each is packed with vitamins and anti-oxidants and can be used in many creative ways. Use a mandolin slicer or a peeler to shave off thin slivers and use them as garnishes or just toss them in with your favorite dishes to provide a dash of color and a dose of added nutrition. Plus, as anyone who’s ever been out to an upscale restaurant knows, food that looks festive and inviting also tastes better! Presentation can make all the difference on the plate, and an appealing dish will create a zest for eating and make the meal that much more enjoyable.
Even if you’re a dedicated household chef, though, you probably won’t want to cook all your meals at home. That’s why we offer a range of fine dining at Fox Hill – from breakfast and lunch overlooking our tree-filled atrium at the Rock Creek Grille to elegant candlelit dinners in The River Room. You can enjoy a cup of coffee at the Wintergarden Café, or watch our world-class chefs prepare your meal for you in our open demonstration kitchen at The Kitchen Table. And when your day is over, you can gather with your friends for drinks and conversation at the Kindred Spirits Bar. No matter what your dietary predilections, we’ve got something to tantalize every taste bud at the Fox Hill senior community in Bethesda, Maryland!