June is National Fruit and Veggies Month

By Jamie Shapiro | May 28, 2015 | Comments Off on June is National Fruit and Veggies Month

Senior Care in Wilmette IL

The start of summer is the perfect time to focus on fruits and vegetables and June is National Fruit and Veggies Month. Your loved one in senior care can do more than just eat fruits and vegetables during this month, although the United States Department of Agriculture recommends that half of a person’s plate be fruits and veggies. Consuming more of these two food groups keeps your loved one healthy by reducing sodium intake, increasing fiber intake and supplying a variety of vitamins and minerals.

Farmer’s Market

Ask your caregiver, or share a date with your aging loved one and visit a local farmer’s market. You can purchase a variety of fresh vegetables, snack on scrumptious peaches and enjoy fresh air. The atmosphere in a farmer’s market is typically relaxed, so your loved one will not feel rushed. Most places are wheelchair and walker friendly too, so you get exercise as well as good treats!

At-Home

Making a delicious fruit salad for breakfast or a veggie salad for dinner will benefit the whole family, not just your loved one needing elderly care. While many grocery stores have fresh produce, growing your own fruits and vegetables is a very rewarding experience. Your loved one can also participate if you get raised garden boxes that are wheelchair accessible. Imagine the smile on her face when she reaches down and picks the lettuce for her dinner salad. Or, reaches up to pull a ripe strawberry off of a hanging basket. The gardens do not have to be extravagant. Your loved one will enjoy planting the seeds, caring for the soil and watching the plants grow. A loved one in home care flourishes when given small responsibilities, plus benefits from the healthy, home-grown food.

Expand The Menu

You and your loved ones are not limited by making a dinner salad out of the traditional vegetables such as lettuce, carrots and celery. Expand your horizons and make a cauliflower crust pizza or make veggie-burgers in the food processor. Use fresh fruits as a dessert treat when paired with a little whipped cream, or add fresh berries to a morning bowl of cereal for a meal that has grains, fruits and dairy.

Snacks

Fruits and veggies are easy snacks too and can be cut up and stored in baggies for quick access. Consider veggies such as carrot sticks, broccoli, snap peas, or green beans or fruits such as grapes, oranges, peaches and sliced apples for simple travel snacks. Try to include a variety of colors in your choices such a green, white, orange and red. Peppers are a nice crunchy snack!

Alternatives

Fresh produce is not always available or a financially ideal option. As an alternative, frozen fruits and vegetables are the second best choice. Plus, their shelf life is longer than fresh. Next best is canned fruits and veggies.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care services in Wilmette, IL, contact the caring staff at Companion Services of America today at (847) 943-3786. Our home care service area includes Northbrook, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glenview, Buffalo Grove, Evanston, Des Plaines, Skokie, Lake Forest, Wilmette and the surrounding areas.

Source
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/food-groups/downloads/TenTips/DGTipsheet1ChooseMyPlate.pdf

Jamie Shapiro
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