After moving into a retirement community, there often comes a time in your life when cooking for yourself becomes an unnecessary chore. And with all the options available to Cincinnatians—you’ll find no dearth of excellent restaurants in the Queen City—it’s no surprise that many local seniors opt to forgo cooking. At least on most nights.
But when you don't cook for yourself anymore, eating healthy can be a challenge. You are at the mercy of someone else's menu, and must make choices based off of what is available to you. If you no longer cook for yourself, but want to eat healthy, here are some tips that work.
1. Don't Eat at All You Can Eat Buffets
These types of restaurants are perfect places to go overboard on calories and unhealthy foods of all kinds. They're right there in front of you, and the temptation to over-indulge is often very strong.
2. Avoid Theme Restaurants
If it has a mascot or featured entertainment, the food, with few exceptions, is almost guaranteed to be fried and/or fatty.
3. Choose a Place with a Large Menu
The bigger the menu, the more chances there are for healthy items to be on it.
4. Choose a Selection of Favorite Restaurants Where You Know the Menus Well
You will be able to plan your meals better when you know where you will be going each day and what they serve.
5. If You Go to a Restaurant with Friends, Order First
Studies have shown that when you eat out with friends, the group tends to follow the lead of the person who orders first. If you order first, you can make sure you order something healthy, and your friends will be prompted to do the same.
6. Don't Order Anything with "Red Flag" Words in the Title
Fried, crispy, breaded, and creamy are all words that indicate this is a dish you may want to avoid. Instead, opt for things that are boiled, steamed, broiled, or grilled.
7. Ask for Healthier Options
Most restaurants will accommodate special requests (not all, but most). Ask for a salad or steamed vegetables on the side of a main dish instead of French fries, for example. Get dressing on the side of a salad. Ask for any sauces to be on the side, as well, and substitute olive oil if the sauce is too creamy. Load up on extra veggies and lighter cheese on a pizza. Making these simple changes can turn an unhealthy meal into a healthier one.
8. Take Some Home with You
If you have any leftovers, get a box and bring them home with you. You can eat another meal without having to go out again. Alternately, you can order an entire second meal to be boxed up to take home and eat later. The more food you can have at home without having to cook it, the more convenient it will be for you to eat healthily. You won't have to rely on unhealthy snack foods like chips and cookies to curb your hunger at home.
9. Drink Water Most of the Time
Instead of a soda, sugar-laden tea or coffee, or mixed drink, opt for water. If you must have something else, get unsweetened tea or black coffee, fruit juice diluted with water, or an occasional alcoholic drink.
10. Bring Home Lots of Fruits and Veggies
You will get hungry at home, and often at times when it is inconvenient to go out to eat. Make sure you keep plenty of fruits and veggies around the house . to snack on. These should be things that can be eaten raw, with no cooking. A little olive oil, store-bought hummus or guacamole, or reduced fat salad dressing can be used to dip the fruits and veggies if you need a little something extra on them.
Whether you live in senior apartments or a house with a full kitchen, eating healthy is still important. Eating well and staying active will ensure you can fully enjoy your golden years by being at your best and feeling good. Follow these tips, and you can be sure your diet will be satisfying as well as good for you in every way.
