Our Ask An Angel correspondent is Re Kielar, Life Care Navigation Specialist in the area of senior home care.
Q. I care for my elderly parents and often neglect taking care of myself. While I prepare healthy meals for them, I don’t often take the same interest in my own diet because I am on the go so often. I’d appreciate any motivation you can give me to better my current habits.
A. I know how a caregiver’s schedule can be stretched. There are many areas of life you juggle and preparing a healthy meal for yourself sometimes gets put on the back burner (no pun intended)! The way you fuel your body is very important because whether you realize it or not, it affects your mood and disposition, which affects how you interact with your loved ones. Consider it a gift to yourself to prepare a healthy meal to keep yourself properly energized. So, while it can be difficult or challenging to change your eating habits, it helps to focus on small changes. I suggest taking a step back to overview your eating habits. When you eat properly, take note of that. And yes, really make a note! Write down what you eat, if it helps! I’m visual and I like lists, so that tool helps me tremendously. Then, begin to ask questions to help you assess how you are doing. How do you feel when you eat a healthy meal? I know I feel mentally and physically better. Take small steps by introducing more fruits and vegetables every day. These make great snacks and are easy to pack in a small lunch bag. Keep it with you as you manage your schedule and you won’t be tempted to visit the drive-through of the local fast food restaurant. You probably already know what you need to cut out of your diet, so pay attention to fats and sweets. What else needs to be reduced so you can form healthier habits? If cooking is a challenge to you, consider investing in a slow cooker. Some people even use services that have all the ingredients ready to cook. The planning is eliminated and the only thing you need to do is cook the meal. The investment in either efforts will be worth your while, especially when coming home from a long day. Another important part of your diet and nutrition is to remember to stay hydrated. I don’t know why, but sometimes we forget to drink water! If staying motivated continues to be a challenge, speaking with a dietician can help greatly. Your local health food store may have a recommendation as well as area hospitals. We are fortunate to have so many resources available to learn from. Take advantage of technology as well. There is a wealth of information on the internet, including apps that help you with your nutrition goals. In the end, it is more than an investment in yourself, it is an investment in your loved ones as well. And, be sure to stay in touch with your doctor so they know how you are doing.
Have a question for our angel correspondent? You can send our angel an email to rkielar@visitingangels.com or send your question via mail to Ask An Angel, 65 Woodbury St., South Elgin, IL 60177.
