Food Trends
Both foodies and picky eaters can benefit from the latest food trends. What’s healthy, and what’s not? Let’s look at food trends: Fact vs fiction.
Cheyanne Kinney, Registered Dietitian with Wesley Lea Hill, knows Wesley residents want to understand what’s best for them.
“As we all get older there is more concern about health and nutrition,” says Cheyanne. “People do eat less as they age. So for many seniors, getting a fully balanced nutritional diet should be in the forefront of our minds.”
Here are a few of the latest food trends and what you should understand.
Plant-Based Meats
If you love the taste of meat but eat more than you should, you might consider plant-based options. Plant-based meats provide the proteins, vitamins, and minerals your body needs. They also help reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Plant-based meats are made from soy, pea, wheat gluten, and lentils. They are high in protein. They are available as burgers, beef, chicken, and even fish. Fast-food chains like Chipotle and Panera have jumped on the bandwagon to offer plant-based food options.
Red meats contain saturated fats that increase blood pressure and plaque in the arteries. And meats that are highly processed, cured, smoked, and salted have been found to increase the risk of developing cancers. Eating less meat is a good idea, according to the American Heart Association. Switching to a plant-based diet can decrease the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancers, obesity, stroke, and Type 2 diabetes.
Keep in mind: Plant-based meats can be more heavily processed than animal meat and could contain a high content of sodium and added sugar.
Dairy Alternatives
For the lactose-intolerant among us, alternatives to cow milk are a gut-saver. Soy, rice, and almond milk products have been available for a long time and don’t cause stomach pain, gas, and nausea like dairy does. Newer options include oat milk, cashew, and macadamia nut as dairy alternatives.
Keep in mind: Almond milk, cashew and rice milk are all much lower in protein than cow milk. And cow milk can interfere with the absorption of other essential minerals. If you use a dairy alternative, make sure you look for a product that contains calcium, vitamin D and at least 8g of protein per serving size. Or you can take a supplement.
Artificial Sweeteners
Being at a healthy weight helps lower your risk for serious health conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Sugar and sweets are the biggest causes of weight gain, so it’s no surprise that artificial sweeteners are so popular.
Saccharine has been around a long time, but research suggests that saccharine and aspartame can cause cancer. However, according to the EPA, sweeteners are safe “at human levels of consumption.” Cheyanne elaborates, “If you drink less than 10 diet sodas a day, you’ll be OK.” She suggests Stevia as a good replacement if you are looking for a non-nutritive natural sweetener.
Keep in mind: Eating sugar and artificial sweeteners releases opioids and dopamine in our bodies, which means it’s addictive. If you have a sweet tooth, Cheyanne suggests a few options.
“For dessert, eat a half-portion to satisfy your craving. Yogurt and fruit are also great alternatives,” she says. “Freeze yogurt for a cold, sweet snack, or eat fruits instead. Sometimes making your own is better than buying store bought, since you can control what you are adding to your food.”
The Bottom Line for Seniors About Food Trends
Eating a well-rounded diet is important for seniors. According to Cheyanne, many people fall into habits and eat the same foods over and over. Variety is the key. “Try to eat the rainbow with colorful fruits and vegetables” she says. “You’ll get many more nutritional and health benefits, including antioxidants when you eat a variety of foods.”
The chefs at Wesley Lea Hill, Tehaleh, Bradley Park, and Des Moines are dedicated to residents’ health and nutrition. Daily menus always feature seasonal fruits and vegetables, with an array of delicious options to choose from. If you’re interested in the nutritional value of foods on our menu, talk to the director of dining services.