Good food is main ingredient to healthy lifestyle

Living a healthy lifestyle is the goal of most everyone these days and Heritage of Peachtree Retirement & Assisted Living residents are no exception.

Health and wellness can have many facets, but food is always at the center and, it seems, sometimes good food gets lost along the way. As people age their nutritional needs become more important. Since elders eat less, it is even more important that they choose foods wisely and eat foods that are nutrient-dense. In addition, poor eating patterns often are a result of living and social situations, such as eating alone due to loss of a spouse.

It has been reported that having too much fat in the diet can lead to a higher risk of heart disease, some types of cancer and high blood pressure. Research shows that the most common nutritional problems among the elderly are high-fat and saturated-fat diets and low-calorie meals. A lack of variety in food choices results in a lack of nutrients essential to good health.

Studies show that people who have a limited variety of foods die younger than those who regularly eat foods from the five major food groups: grains, vegetables, fruits, meat and dairy. Physical changes can also occur as you age. Lean body mass is lost, total water in the body decreases, body fat increases and bones may weaken.

Eating well is a passion for residents at Heritage of Peachtree. The tantalizing aroma of homemade bread baking in the ovens and delicious soups simmering on the stove greet visitors and residents as they wander through the dining room. The phrase, "Gee, that smells good," is constantly heard, and residents who before moving into Heritage had very poor eating habits, find themselves with greatly improved appetites.

Anna Reid, Heritage of Peachtree dining services manager, brings to her kitchen a love of good food and the deep desire to please residents and guests with exceptional meals. Anna's philosophy is, "Cooking is something done from the heart not from a recipe."

Having over 25 years experience in food service, Anna has gained an impressive array of credentials. Most recently she ran an upscale catering business in the heart of Atlanta, where quality and presentation were crucial to her success. With over 300 cookbooks in her private collection, Anna has a recipe for any and every conceivable dish, but she always adds her "personal signature" to the dish to tweak it just a little.

The variety and selection that is presented to Heritage diners each day ensures that there will always be something that everyone will like. Using the very best quality ingredients available, each day Anna and the Heritage kitchen staff prepare three full meals for residents. Heart-healthy olive oil is a frequent ingredients in items like the broiled tilapia or shrimp fettuccine in creamy wine sauce. Fresh vegetables are prepared each meal with grilled or baked tomatoes appearing often (cooked tomatoes are a known cancer fighter), while fresh herbs, as both a garnish and ingredient, enhance the texture and flavor. Outside in the Heritage kitchen garden, herbs such as basil, parsley, rosemary, oregano and chives share space with fresh strawberries and several varieties of peppers and tomatoes.

What would a meal be without dessert? Everyone looks forward to the delicious desserts that the kitchen prepares each day. Homemade cherry turnovers and New Orleans bread pudding with Anna's special sauce are often requested as are peach cobbler, Dublin cheesecake and pineapple upside-down cake. It’s the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

High-quality food in pleasant surroundings help Heritage of Peachtree residents stay healthy, active and happy. For more information on Heritage of Peachtree programs, call 770-631-3461.