You may as well admit it. Like so many others, chances are your diet during the pandemic was anything but healthy. As a new survey reports from the meetings of the American Society For Nutrition, attention to healthy eating took a nosedive during the pandemic, especially when it comes to vegetables and whole grains. Certainly, over the last year, we all endured enough mental health and financial stressors to keep us eating junk food for the foreseeable future. As another new opinion poll reports (this time examining the stealth snack habits of Americans), snacking on junk food can provide a certain amount of pleasure and stress relief, even if you have to do so surreptitiously. But now that things are opening up and you’re likely heading back outside, it’s time to jettison the excuses and return to a healthier diet for healthy aging. For a review of what experts recommend for your healthy aging menu, grab some grains and watch here.

While you’re rearranging your plate, take a look at some new advice when it comes to food and eating. AARP recently released a list of superfoods after age 50, most of which you can probably guess, but did you know that cottage cheese also makes the list (for its calcium, Vitamin D, and whey protein)? Nuts and dark leafy greens are also on the list, and this new Q & A from Consumer Reports suggests how to consume them. And if you’re looking to up your intake of foods that fight memory loss, take a look at this recent list from Inverse that includes such items as garlic, beets, and sweet potatoes (though be prepared for the dizzying graphics of the post). And other research presented at the latest American Society for Nutrition meetings reveals some useful science revelations to keep you on the path of healthier aging. For example, it turns out mango consumption can help lower your risk of chronic disease and raw honey contains newly discovered anti-inflammatory benefits.  

If you’re having trouble returning to healthy eating habits, take note of some guidance on how to get yourself back on track. For instance, forget about your coronavirus days of grazing or the meals you skipped and restart a regular pattern of meals through the day and if needed, scheduled snacks (and ask yourself why you’re reaching for the chips or dips late into the evening– are you really hungry or is something else driving you to the fridge?). And are you trying to avoid foods you think are no longer considered “healthy?” Chances are, some of those choices (think eggs or whole milk dairy) are now being looked at in a new light when it comes to nutrition. And lastly, several sources dispensing dietary advice include the reminder that good old plain water is an essential superfood for your body and brain. For a list of foods that have a high water content, cool yourself down with some summer culinary recommendations from agebuzz blogger and nutrition coach Daryl Moss.