Let’s face it: assuming you’ve been able to maintain your health and financial resources, one of the few sources of pleasure you likely have these days is food. While eating at a restaurant continues to be a potential source of risk during COVID, deciding what to eat at home, either with take-out or cooking, is practically a full-time occupation for many of us. And while our moods and stress levels may direct us to “comfort” food (i.e, filled with fats and sugars), the reality is that the longer we continue our love-affair with unhealthy eating, the harder it will be for us, both individually and as a country, to get on a path of better eating (and thus better health). In fact, in a recent Op-Ed in STAT, food and health experts underscored that the poor health of our country (and in many ways the challenging response we’ve had to the coronavirus) is directly tied to our poor nutritional status. To quote the experts: The deaths we are experiencing from COVID, as well as chronic health conditions, are “demonstrably unnecessary” if only we were focused on better nutrition and more healthy eating patterns.

Previously in agebuzz we’ve linked to expert recommendations for healthy eating and the expert advice continues to mount that you are (in terms of health) what you eat. For example, in a new study from the American College of Cardiology, researchers reported yet more evidence that diets filled with red meat or sugary beverages (which cause more inflammation in your body) will increase your risk of heart disease and stroke. Among the recommended anti-inflammatory foods? Experts point to such fruits, veggies, and nuts as avocados and walnuts, and more generally to green leafy and yellow veggies, along with whole grains, coffee, and even a glass of wine. And over at Consumer Reports, there’s a range of advice on how to eat in order to minimize the impact of such aging-related illnesses as unsteady balance, hearing loss, and digestive annoyances.

If you’re looking for some fresh inspiration to perk-up your dinner plate, find some new (and healthy) recipes by checking out CNN’s latest list of just-published cookbooks. Finally, it’s okay to admit that the stress of recent weeks and political events have led you down the path of Pringles and buttered popcorn. To get back on track to healthier eating, peel an apple and take a peek here.