ready meals

Just as with the rest of the body, a balanced diet can help our eyes stay strong and healthy in later life. Here, we look at the vitamins and essential nutrients that can help combat macular degeneration. The macula is the central part of the retina, which is responsible for the type of sight we need for detailed tasks such as reading and recognising faces. In Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the cells in the macula gradually stop working, damaging central vision.

In later life, it’s not uncommon to have a smaller appetite than when you were younger. But it’s still important to make sure you eat enough to stay strong and healthy. This week, we share our five top tips for maintaining a healthy appetite. From less sensitive taste buds to badly fitting dentures and medication side effects, there’s a whole range of things that can affect our appetite as we get older. Most of us know how difficult it can be to eat when you don’t feel hungry. But with our simple tips, you can make sure you get the nutrients you need to stay healthy – and find your way back to truly enjoying meals again.

Wimbledon is here again, bringing with it the perfect excuse for tucking into some luscious strawberries and cream as you watch the tennis stars wow the crowds. It also marks the season when a fantastic variety of foods reach their peak of perfection. And long, warm summer days tempt you to enjoy your meals outside in the fresh air and sunshine. Eating fruit and vegetables that have been grown this season ensures they’re at their most delicious and colourful – and packed with essential vitamins and antioxidants.

With temperatures set to soar this week, we’re picturing sparkling blue seas, olive groves and a table set with delicious Mediterranean food. Renowned as one of the healthiest diets in the world, there couldn’t be a better time to give it a try. From juicy, sun ripened tomatoes and salad drizzled in olive oil to succulent seafood, traditional dishes enjoyed in southern France, Spain, Italy and Greece are full of the nutrients needed for healthy ageing. In fact, people who follow a Mediterranean diet tend to have a lower risk of developing age-related health problems including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and even Alzheimer’s. We take a look at the common ingredients in Mediterranean meals and some simple ways to include them in your day-to-day diet.

As we get older, our bones become weaker and if we fall we’re more likely to hurt ourselves. For Falls Awareness Week, we look at some simple tips for taking care of your bones and staying steady on your feet. Falling over is one of the biggest risks to independent living for older people. Because bones become more brittle as we age, it can lead to breaks or injuries that can really affect your quality of life, and knock your confidence about doing things on your own.  

Following Food Safety Week we’re helping spread the message about how to cut the chance of getting food poisoning. By following a few simple tips, you can make sure the food you prepare is always safe to eat. Foodborne illnesses aren’t pleasant for anyone. But they pose a bigger risk in later life, as our immune systems weaken with age meaning it can take longer to recover. To reduce your chances of getting ill, you should always follow these simple tips:

For those who follow a diet without gluten – whether because of Coeliac disease or a wheat intolerance – finding quick and easy dinners can be a challenge. But with Oakhouse, there’s no need to spend hours in the kitchen each day, thanks to our selection of delicious, gluten-free ready meals. Many people who have to avoid ingredients containing gluten – such as wheat, barley and rye – choose to prepare meals from scratch. However, for anyone who finds it difficult to cook each day, it isn’t always easy to find simple-to-make, gluten free dishes. That’s because gluten can crop up where you least expect it, in anything from soups and sauces to some supermarket ready meals.

Having a stock of easy-to-prepare, puréed ready meals can be a real help if you suffer with dysphagia. It means that you or the person preparing your meals can spend less time in the kitchen preparing food of the right consistency, and more time making sure you get the nutrients you need.

Along with a balanced diet, regular exercise is really important for staying happy and healthy as we age. Here we look at some popular ways to stay fit – ranging from outdoor hobbies to group classes. Getting older can sometimes make it difficult to exercise regularly. But staying active can have so many benefits. From simple things like getting out of your chair more easily, to staying steady on your feet and avoiding falls. This doesn’t mean we all need to take up jogging round the park. There are plenty of gentle forms of exercise that make a real difference to your health – and provide great reasons for leaving the house and meeting new people.

Having a food allergy can make it stressful to find safe, tasty meals – particularly if it’s difficult for you to prepare food from scratch. This Allergy Awareness Week, Oakhouse Foods makes it simple to enjoy delicious ready meals that suit your diet. Many people who have allergies choose to prepare their food themselves, so they can be absolutely sure they don’t contain allergens. But for older people living at home, cooking meals each day can become a challenge.