Most would agree that a healthy appearance starts from the inside. Maintaining proper nutrition and a well-balanced diet is key for a long, healthy life, especially for seniors, which is why La Posada highlights their 5-star, nutritious dining options for National Nutrition Month.
Years of research have demonstrated that a senior’s diet quality has a huge effect on physical and cognitive condition, bone and eye health, vascular health and immune function. At La Posada, residents are provided with a varied, balanced, and nourishing diet, embellished by five-star service where each resident’s individual dietary and nutritional needs is top priority.
About National Nutrition Month
National Nutrition Month, celebrated in March, is an annual observance focused on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound dietary and physical activity habits. While La Posada instills these values through their Art of Living Well philosophy each day, the community observed National Nutrition Month throughout March with a variety of activities designed to acknowledge the importance of proper nutrition and encourage residents to exercise and maintain a balanced diet.
Exercising their options
An integral part of a healthy lifestyle is exercise and moving your body. For older adults, regular physical activity is one of the most important aspects of health.
According to the CDC, older adults need at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week and at least two days’ worth of muscle-strengthening activities.
In one week alone, La Posada provides residents with more than eight hours (480 minutes) of instructed exercise programming. From yoga, to Sittercise, to cardio drumming, residents are given a variety of options to choose how they want to activate their bodies. On top of activities, La Posada sports a newly renovated and enhanced fitness center that is equipped with cardio and strength training machines that target each area of the body.
“Our wellness team works each month to put together a calendar for our residents that is stacked with a range of activities that target every facet of wellness,” says Rick Minichino, wellness director at La Posada. “We want our residents to be happy and healthy, so we make sure to offer programming that encourage our residents to be active and keep them engaged.”
Delicious, nutritious fare
Another key aspect of nutrition is food itself.
At La Posada, it never gets stale in the kitchen. Executive Chef Clay and the dining staff at La Posada curate handcrafted meals each day for the community that touch on each of the four core food groups essential to nutrition: fruits, grains, vegetables and protein. In addition, food at La Posada is entirely fresh, free from artificial processing and made from scratch.
“Our aim is to take care of our main ingredient, which is our residents,” says Chef Clay. “We provide the full package and five-star services through our execution in the kitchen. We pay attention to detail and follow through with the ideas and feedback we receive from the residents.”
To further inspire residents of La Posada to make healthy choices during National Nutrition Month, Minichino and the wellness team crafted fruit smoothies as an easy, palatable option for residents to incorporate into their diets. These smoothies contain the recommended daily portions of many of the fruits, vegetables, and nutrients they need.
National Nutrition Month & other celebrations
Although La Posada emphasizes the importance of regular exercise and healthy eating, the community also encourages their residents to make their own choices and promotes balanced eating where “good for the soul” foods can be consumed in moderation and in a variety of ways. For example, various moments of life like birthdays and holidays are celebrated with specific foods and delicious treats as a vital part of the bonding experience.
In the La Posada community, residents are invited to enjoy those delicious holiday and birthday treats free of restriction but are also provided with a diverse array of foods that ensure they are still meeting their dietary needs each day.
“We encourage our residents to make their own choices by providing them with healthy options at each meal, but we also don’t want them to miss out on those precious life moments where sharing foods with others are a big part of the experience,” says Chef Clay.
Nutrition coaching
The final focus of National Nutrition Month promoted regular appointments with a dietician or dietary management professional who can counsel individuals and offer information about recommended nutritional and healthy eating habits. La Posada fulfills this opportunity by hosting special presentations from nutritional experts who can further educate residents on proper healthy eating habits and other aspects key to nutrition, as well as providing suggestions that can inspire residents to take charge of their wellbeing.
“We want the entire community fully involved in the process,” says Brad Cadiere, executive director at La Posada. “We want to ensure that we advocate for our residents’ health and well-being, but we also want them be self-advocates who are equipped with the knowledge and care that is needed to keep them happy and healthy.”
