Healthy eating as you age can start with meals you enjoy and can prepare consistently. Take stock of the foods you already buy, what goes to waste, and when it is hardest to put a meal together.
Keep a few meals you can make on a busy day
Write down familiar options that include a protein source, vegetables or fruit, and other foods that fit your needs. Frozen or shelf-stable staples can make it easier to prepare a meal when shopping is difficult.
Adapt to appetite, budget, and access
If full meals are hard to finish, tell your clinician about persistent changes in appetite or weight. Think about whether shopping, cooking, or eating with others would make meals easier to manage.
Bring specific questions to your care team
Ask how any health condition or medication affects what you eat or drink. A registered dietitian can help you build a plan around your needs, preferences, and budget.
Read Anti Aging: Can You Defy The Odds for a related topic. For more detail, see the National Institute on Aging guide to healthy aging.