Letters to the editor

A healthier Halloween

Halloween is right around the corner. With all the candy-centered festivities that Halloween brings, many people fear the effect sugary treats will have on their weight and overall health. This year, skip the worry by following these five steps to a healthier Halloween:

1. Prepare a substantial, healthy meal before trick-or-treating. If you’re a parent, trick-or-treating means huge amounts of sugar for your children. If kids leave in search of candy on an empty stomach, they are more likely to eat the candy before they get home. In order to prevent a candy overload, make sure your children eat a healthy meal that fills them up before they go trick-or-treating. This way, they will be less inclined to overeat their collected sweets.
2. Save the seeds from your Jack-O-Lantern. Pumpkin seeds are edible and high in nutritional value. In fact, the seeds are loaded with protein, Vitamin E and other important nutrients. Instead of tossing the seeds aside when carving pumpkins this fall, bake them for a tasty treat that is both healthy and festive.
3. Don’t eat sticky candy. If you’re going to eat candy this Halloween, make sure it’s not sticky. This type of candy is harder to get off your teeth, which can lead to enamel decay and increases your chance of getting cavities.
4. Do eat chocolate. When consumed in small amounts, chocolate can actually be good for you. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which boost energy, repel disease and promote overall good health. Some of the most popular chocolate candies are low in calories and sugar, so do your research to make sure you’re making the best choice.
5. Take advantage of the fall weather by exercising outside. Many Floridians look forward to the fall as a welcomed relief from the sweltering summer heat. Take advantage of the nicer weather and jog, run or walk outside. You can even make it a family occasion by walking around the neighborhood in search of the best Halloween decorations. Remember, the more you move, the more calories you burn — so get out and get moving!

—Dr. Rene Cruz

Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician

Greater Orlando Medical Weight Loss

Ending senior hunger

More than 50 years ago, John F. Kennedy said, “The war against hunger is truly mankind’s war of liberation.” Yet we still fight this battle today. And for seniors, it’s a persistent and increasingly disturbing problem.

Although Americans’ risk of hunger has fallen since 2009, the concern has actually grown among people 60 and older. According to the Senior Hunger Report Card, a national study performed by the Meals on Wheels Research Foundation, hunger is especially prominent among those just above the national poverty level. And in Florida, one of the top 10 states for food insecurities, senior hunger is even more severe. Throughout the state, the waiting list for home-delivered meals has more than doubled in the last nine years, from 2,976 in 2003 to 7,854 earlier this summer.

In response to the growing demand for healthy meals, Seniors First has pledged to help the Meals On Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) end senior hunger by 2020. As part of our mission to enhance Central Florida seniors’ quality of life and help them maintain independence, we’ve made nutrition programs a top priority. Here’s how our meal programs measured up in 2011:

Through the Meals on Wheels program, Seniors First served 223,362 meals. Another 30,669 meals were provided to elderly and med-waiver clients through our in-home services packages for community care.

Through the Neighborhood Lunch Program, Seniors First served 111,993 meals to 1,116 seniors at 16 sites in Orange County.

To help seniors prepare for hurricane season – and to prevent service interruption due to severe weather – our team provided “shelf-stable meals.”

Despite the economic challenges we face, the war on hunger must continue for the health and security of our community’s seniors. To meet their nutrition needs, we need the help of caring, faithful supporters like you. To find out more about how you can support our meal programs, visit seniorsfirstinc.org/donations

Thanks for helping Seniors First in the battle against senior hunger.

—Marsha Lorenz

President/CEO

Seniors First