Nutrition Drive to Get Elderly to Eat Healthily

By Melissa Sim, AsiaOne 
(Originally published in the Straits Times)

April 21, 2010

Singapore

The way to keeping the elderly healthy could well be through their stomachs.
The People's Association's (PA) Active Ageing Council has made healthy eating tips for seniors one of its focus points over the next five years.

During this period, the council hopes to set up 50 health and nutrition-related interest groups targeted at the elderly; there are only three healthy cooking interest groups at the moment.

The interest groups will operate out of the community clubs and wellness programme centres run by the PA.

Council chairman David Ong said healthy eating was important because it leads to healthy living. 'Some who have chronic diseases may know to cut down on their salt or sugar intake but we can also educate others and prevent them from having such problems in the future.'

Keeping seniors healthy and engaged is a priority as the population greys.

In 2003, one in 13 people here was 65 years and older; in 2030, this ratio will be one in five.

This points to a rapidly falling number of younger, economically active people having to bear the burden of supporting a growing grey brigade.

In particular, the council will see how it can encourage seniors to eat more fruit and vegetables.

It found through a recent survey that only 40 per cent of the elderly eat at least two servings of fruit daily and only 63 per cent eat that amount of vegetables daily.

The results were similar to those a year back when the same survey was conducted.

The council hopes that, through the cooking groups, seniors will realise the benefits of eating more vegetables and fruit as well as learn how to cook with less fat, salt and sugar.

Many seniors do not even know what healthy eating means, said Madam Ang Hui Lan, chairman of the Paya Lebar Kovan Community Club Senior Citizens executive committee.

The 66-year-old, who started a healthy cooking club last year in her CC, said: 'They eat mee dry or with soup and with no vegetables and think that is a good meal.'

She added: 'They also think that, with more oil, their food will taste nicer and look good but we teach them to use less, and to use olive oil.'

Interest groups also give the elderly a chance to interact. They get to share recipes with each other and are encouraged to take their friends along to the sessions.

After each session, there will also be a pot-luck party where seniors can mingle.

Mr Ong said he is also hoping to drive home the message of healthy eating by choosing event caterers which provide healthier options.

'We should look at the way they prepare food - some have reduced the amount of oil or salt in their menus,' he said.

The council also revealed more plans for the next five years besides encouraging healthy eating.

It will hold at least three annual events: a conference for grassroots leaders on ageing issues, a festival for physical games and another for intellectual games such as Suduko.

The festivals will start this year, while the conference will begin next year.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. 

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