Taste the Good Life (Again!)

Challenge: Food doesn’t taste good to me anymore.
Solution: Spice it up. Use herbs, seasonings, different spices and creative blends (garlic and herbs). Salt-free seasonings are available if you’re on a low-sodium diet.

Challenge: I’m eating the same as I used to but gaining weight.
Solution: “Your metabolism slows by 10 percent each decade after age 30,” says clinical dietitian Bill Whipple of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “So you need to trim the number of calories you eat, or exercise more to burn excess calories.” If you have a medical condition like arthritis, try water aerobics to burn calories without stressing your joints.

Challenge: I live alone, but I don’t like to eat alone.
Solution: Invite your family to dinner regularly. Set up weekly potluck meals with friends. Launch a dining-out group. (Pick from the “heart-healthy” section of the menu.) Many senior centers and other organizations host dinners, too.

Challenge: I don’t know how to cook.
Solution: It’s not too late to learn—and you might discover you love it. Try a cooking class at a community college, restaurant or senior center.

Challenge: I’m physically unable to cook or dine out.
Solution: Community Exchange—a network of 400 area residents who give and receive services—could be a source of home-cooked meals. Services like Meals on Wheels provide nutritious home-delivery meals.

Challenge: My income limits how well I can eat.
Solution: Filling your shopping list with basic (not processed) foods can be affordable no matter your income. (See our shopping cart, right.)

Challenge: I know I need calcium for strong bones, but I don’t like milk.
Solution: There are lots of alternatives for non-dairy users or those who are lactose-intolerant. Try calcium-fortified orange juice or soy milk, or a calcium supplement. Over age 65, men need 1,000 milligrams of cal-cium daily, and women need 1,200-1,500 milligrams.

Challenge: My doctor says I need to eat more fiber to help my digestion, but I don’t like bran buds.
Solution: Raw fruits and vegetables and whole-grain breads have lots of fiber. So do other fiber-added cereals.

Challenge: My teeth aren’t strong enough to bite and chew many foods.
Solution: Adjust your choices. For example, instead of an apple eat applesauce—or a soft, tasty cantaloupe or honeydew melon.