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Bites and Family Bonds A RECIPE FOR LASTING MEMORIES
Agents For Life
With five children aged 2–15, a lot of our home life revolves around keeping everyone fed.
and following the recipes. With every dish they create, they develop confidence and strengthen their ability to handle measurements, fractions, general problem- solving, and other new challenges. When they’re older, they will feel comfortable grocery shopping and preparing and cooking their food, eliminating the shock some adult children feel when they first attempt these things independently. As parents, we love seeing where their minds take them. They often pick meals we wouldn’t have chosen, which adds to the excitement.
Like most families, we experience times when life’s busyness demands that we put something on the table quickly. Slowing down and genuinely appreciating the gift of sharing a meal can be challenging in these moments. We never want to get too busy to neglect why we work so hard in the first place, so we recently decided to try something new to bring everyone closer together. Over the past few months, we’ve been implementing a new family practice: involving all the kids in preparing our meals — and the results have been both delicious and heartwarming. We encourage the kids to choose recipes from our growing collection of cookbooks. They bookmark everything they’d like to try and write them down on pieces of paper that go in our “recipe basket.” We randomly pick one of those papers each week, and whoever selected the winning recipe takes the lead in planning and making it. Following this plan has done wonders for us. First, it helps the kids grow their culinary skills and be more comfortable in the kitchen. It also goes a long way in teaching them responsibility and independence, including making the grocery list, planning tasks,
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Kevin Bennett (502) 966-7810 kevin@seniorhealth.pro
Sierra Bennett (502) 966-7804 sierra@seniorhealth.pro
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March/April 2025
(502) 966-7810
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about food expenses. Gideon and Ash are also actively involved in our meal-making, and our toddler, Shalom, is in charge of dumping and mixing things in the bowls for us. Knowing someone is grating cheese or peeling carrots for us makes our days much easier. It also gives the kids a great sense of accomplishment, knowing they’re helping the family. We all look forward to our time together in the kitchen. Of course, not everything has gone perfectly, and we’ve had our share of mishaps. Baking soda has been mixed up with baking powder , and
plenty of underbaked cakes have gooey centers. These imperfections are never a big deal; we see them as excellent learning opportunities. We already homeschool our children, so we consider these cooking lessons another layer to their education. Deciding to make meal prep a true family activity has brought us tremendous joy. We suspect it won’t be long before we can sit back, relax, and let the kids pamper us with a homemade feast!
For example, one of the kids picked a roasted green bean potato salad. Initially, the rest of us weren’t sold on it, but it turned out to be super- delicious and has since become a staple at gatherings with friends. Our 6-year-old, Seth, requested an ice cream maker for his birthday. He’s made some delicious flavors so far, and he’s looking forward to adding fresh strawberries to the mix this summer. Our oldest, Kai, is currently taking finance classes at school and is constantly asking us questions
–Kevin and Sierra Bennett
YOU ARE HOW YOU SLEEP
NATURAL PATHS TO A RESTFUL NIGHT
Sleep is essential to a healthy lifestyle, yet too few people get enough of it.
If you’ve smoked cigarettes or drank coffee for years without experiencing sleep disruptions but are now struggling to stay focused throughout the day, these regular habits may be impacting your body in ways that weren’t common for you in years past. “As we get older, our ability to metabolize these substances changes, and we can’t handle or process them the way we did in our 30s or 40s,” Miner advises, adding that alcohol — often used as a sleep aid — can cause senior sleepers to awaken in the middle of the night. The Comfort of Community Although feeling tired throughout the day may tempt us to stay home and attempt to rest, increasing our activity during midday slumps is the best course of action. By getting up and staying active during the day, our bodies recalibrate, boosting our energy during these times and helping it decrease when night falls. If you’re looking for a way to spruce up your daily routine, consider joining community volunteer groups that will promote interaction with others while doing something positive and meaningful for folks in need.
Contrary to popular belief, seniors require as much slumber as anyone else. According to the National Council on Aging, people 65 and older need between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. Unfortunately, that goal can become increasingly unattainable as we age. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder among seniors, which could be the main reason you may be experiencing a bout of daytime drowsiness as you read this article. Here are a few ways to improve sleep quality to fuel your daytime activities. Healthy Habits for Energy In an article published by the Yale School of Medicine, Assistant Professor of Medicine (Geriatrics) Brienne Miner stresses that maintaining a consistent sleep schedule — rising and retiring at the same times every day — is “probably the single best thing you can do to improve your sleep.” Additionally, she recommends limiting naps to 30 minutes or less before the early afternoon, as anything longer may decrease your body’s desire for sleep in the evening.
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Age Gracefully With Movement You Enjoy: No Gym Required!
By now, you’re probably tired of hearing about healthy aging. Every article says you should eat specific things and exercise regularly, but what if you’ve never enjoyed going to the gym or jogging? You’re probably not going to start running marathons, lifting weights, or joining a sports club at this point. It can make you wonder if other options exist to add more physical activity to your daily routine. The answer is yes. Instead of going to the gym or running through your neighborhood, you can find creative activities to provide extra movement to your day. Even better?
You’ll improve your physical and mental agility. Here are two creative aging activities you can explore. Take the Stage Acting is an excellent activity for anyone to start, but it becomes even more beneficial to aging Americans. Through acting, you’ll notice improvements in your concentration and memorization. Depending on the play, you may be required to stay moving, which will benefit your physical health. Plus, you’ll get many opportunities to socialize with your castmates. Many local theaters actively look for aspiring actors to audition.
Bust a Move You may have fond memories of dancing in clubs, at weddings, or during special events, but the opportunities to boogie become rarer as we age. Thankfully, dance classes and studios love sharing the enjoyment of dance with people of all ages. Whether you like salsa, tap, waltz, swing, or some other type of dance, you can find a class or group ready to welcome you.
CREAMY TORTELLINI VEGETABLE SOUP
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INGREDIENTS
DIRECTIONS
whose empathy and understanding can help you avoid feelings of isolation, validate your emotions, and serve as a sounding board. Whether it’s through faith-based organizations, local social events, online peer groups, or counseling services, numerous opportunities exist to help you connect with new people who can offer support and friendship — and, most importantly, the chance to laugh — you need to brighten your days.
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil • 1 cup peeled and chopped carrots • 1 cup chopped yellow onion • 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic • 3 cups reduced-sodium vegetable broth • 1 (15-oz) can (no salt added) diced tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano • 2 tbsp fresh basil, chopped • 1/2 tsp ground pepper • 1/4 tsp plus 1/8 tsp salt • 1 (9-oz) package refrigerated cheese tortellini • 1 (5-oz) package baby spinach • 1 cup heavy cream
1. In a large Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add carrots and onions and cook for about 5 minutes or until onions are softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. 2. Add broth, tomatoes, fresh basil, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium, cover, and let simmer for about 5 minutes or until carrots are slightly tender. 3. Stir in tortellini. Cook until pasta is tender. Reduce heat to medium-low. 4. Add baby spinach and cream. Cook until spinach is wilted. Serve and garnish with additional basil if desired.
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Inspired by EatingWell.com
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Inside This Issue 1 The Charm of Kitchen Connections 2 Tips for a Soothing Slumber 3 How Creative Activities Promote Healthy Aging 3 Creamy Tortellini Vegetable Soup 4 Basics for Brighter Days
changes to their physical and mental capabilities to the loss of friends and loved ones. Since life inevitably brings plenty of ongoing and/or unexpected challenges, we must do all we can to resist the tide and maintain a positive outlook. Here are two tips to help keep your spirits high during difficult moments. Embracing the Basics In times of stress, we’re often tempted to reach for the richest, saltiest, or sweetest foods we can find to give us a quick burst of pleasure. Unfortunately, “comfort food” is often a misnomer, as baked goods and junk food often lack the nutrients we need to feel our best and can leave us feeling worse. If life’s ups and downs have negatively impacted your state of mind, start by looking at the
food in your fridge. Calcium, protein, and vitamin D can help improve everything from our bone health to our mental clarity. Leafy greens, fish, and dairy products — as well as plenty of time out in the sun — can help strengthen your mind and body when your mood is put to the test. Also, be sure to get enough vitamin B12, which plays a considerable role in maintaining mental focus and healthy bones and nerves. Strength in Socialization While diet plays a significant role in our outlook, nothing beats spending time with the right company. The American Psychological Association recommends building and sustaining a social network of individuals
Simple Strategies for Surviving Slumps Lift Your Life
Living your best life doesn’t mean always having the best days .
Everyone can feel low occasionally. Sadness and depression are common feelings among seniors, who often experience everything from
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