Nutrition Struggles – Is Anyone With Me?

 

Hey There!
Well here we are, already half way through National Nutrition Month. I guess we better get in motion and make the most of it! My two biggest nutrition struggles are vegetables and caffeine; too little of one and too much of another. Let’s face it; with all of your responsibilities it is hard to keep your diet in balance. This is especially true when you are caring for a loved one and are often grabbing a meal on the go and chugging down an extra coffee just to make it through the day because you only got four hours of sleep last night.

Vegetables- Did you know that according to the USDA a woman between the ages of 19 and 50 should consume 2 ½ cups of vegetables per day! (If you want to check out the recommend portions for all types of foods check out this website). I don’t know about you but I do not get anywhere near that number. My struggle with vegetables has many forms. I find the taste of vegetables boring, I don’t know how to prepare them more than a couple of ways, they’re expensive at the grocery store, and they go bad before I can use them all. So, I’m going to stop making excuses and start up-ing my vegetable intake!
Here is how I’m going to do it
• Visit a produce stand- I know that the extra stop is going to be an inconvenience but their prices are significantly lower than at the grocery store.
• Eat my vegetables first
• Search Pinterest for new ways to prepare vegetables

Caffeine-The Mayo Clinic states that consuming 200-300mg of caffeine in a day is not detrimental to your health in most cases. This recommended dose of caffeine can be reached in 2-4 cups of coffee (depending on how strong you like it). The thing about caffeine is that everyone reacts to it differently so, although it may help you get through the evening of caring for your loved one you may find yourself tossing and turning once you get to bed. I think the best way to address my caffeine issue is plain and simple, cut back. If you think you need to cut back on your caffeine intake because it is affecting your health but you aren’t sure how everything will get done while you’re exhausted, don’t worry. Bayshore Home Care is here for you. We can provide a skilled caregiver to watch out for your loved one while you adjust. Of course we can assist with any personal care your loved one needs but we can also throw in a load of laundry, and do the dishes. Having an extra set of hands around the house can give you the peace of mind you need in order to make changes for your own health. What are you waiting for? Give us a call. 800-335-2150