Make Smart Food Choices
How Much Should I Eat?
How Many Calories Do People over Age 50 Need Each Day?
How Much Is on My Plate?
Common Problems Older Adults Have with Eating
Do Older Adults Need to Drink Water?
What about Fiber?
Should I Cut Back on Salt?
What about Fat?
Keep Food Safe
Can I Afford to Eat Right?
For More Information about Healthy Eating

Frequently Asked Questions

How should I eat for normal blood pressure?

Healthy food can help control blood pressure and lower the risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan:

Emphasizes vegetables, fruit, and fat-free or low-fat dairy products
Includes whole grains, fish, poultry, vegetable oils, and beans, seeds, and nuts
Limits sodium, sweets, sugary beverages, and red meats

Do women over 50 need a special diet plan?

It’s good for all women—and men—to choose healthy foods to enhance heart health and avoid hypertension, osteoporosis, and diabetes. In general, women need fewer calories and different amounts of vitamins and minerals than men. Some women take dietary supplements, but talk to your doctor before taking them.

Choosing healthy foods is a smart thing to do—no matter how old you are!

Here are some tips to get you started:

Eat many different colors and types of vegetables and fruits.
Make sure at least half of your grains are whole grains.
Eat only small amounts of solid fats and foods with added sugars. Limit saturated fat (found mostly in foods that come from animals) and trans fats (found in foods like store-bought baked goods and some margarines).
Eat “good” (poly- and monounsaturated) fats, like those found in seeds, nuts, avocados, and fatty fish like salmon. Any fats added in cooking should come from olive, canola, corn, or vegetable oil.
Eat seafood twice a week. Small fish, like sardines or trout, or farm-raised fish (check the label) contain less mercury than large fish, like tuna. Mercury can be harmful.