A long, healthy life to enjoy our passions, grandchildren, and retirement must certainly be greatly affected by our daily diet. As promised this is the second article in a series featuring my ninety-two year old Mom, Charlotte, who lives with us in Lake Stevens, Washington. In this article I will reveal the secrets of one of the most difficult struggles of daily routines, diet. What better way to consider its important contribution to our health and quality of life than to look at Charlotte’s culinary habits.

Charlotte moved in with us about five years ago. Her health had been declining alarmingly at the assisted living facility she had chosen. The deciding point came when she collapsed and the paramedics could not get a blood pressure or pulse reading. After adjusting her medication, it was an easy decision to move her into our first floor master suite. It had a walk-in shower and lots of room for a comfortable studio set up. This gave her privacy with easy access to our family areas. In moving upstairs we also had our private loft area with TV and an office.

Many adjustments had to be made but one of the most drastic was Charlotte’s diet. Gone were the heavily salt laden soups and highly processed foods of the facility she had left. In a matter of weeks she declared, "I have ankles again," quite surprised to see the changes taking place. All the weight she lost in the first weeks must have been lack of water retention. It didn’t take long until she was perky and feeling better reaping the benefits of a consistent and healthy diet.

Charlotte’s daily routine begins with a hot bowl of old fashioned oatmeal which includes a dash of salt, raisins, and skim milk. Did you notice, no sugar? Refined sugar is almost nonexistent in her diet. During the week oatmeal is easy for her to microwave by herself and keeps her satisfied until lunch. On weekends we have more time to fix pancakes and eggs. A few things to note about her diet so far are that cutting sugar is a quick and easy way to make extra calories disappear from your diet. Also the fiber in the oats helps regulate her metabolism and digestion and stabilizes blood glucose levels by moderating the rate of nutrient absorption.

Lunch for Charlotte is very simple. In order to stave off hunger before I can get dinner ready in the evening, her lunch must consist of a protein and complex carbohydrate. Examples would be chicken and dumpling Healthy Choice soup or Clam Chowder with a roll. Leftovers from dinner also make great, easy lunches to warm up. You might wonder, "What about a delicious chicken or shrimp salad?" The hidden dangers are the company they keep like dice-sized cubes of cheese (4=100 calories), creamy dressings, bacon bits, and croutons. That fat-free dressing is loaded with sodium and sugar. Charlotte opts for the olive oil, vinegar, or sugar-free dressings and a sprinkling of almonds or sunflower seeds.

In order to cover such an extensive topic as diet I will continue with Charlotte’s snacks, drinks, and dinners next month along with delicious, healthy recipes. Remember, to have a healthy future, you need to have a mindset like Charlotte’s, not "I live to eat," but rather, "I eat to live." Certainly looking at Charlotte’s eating habits gives us important clues into the secrets of her long life. Follow Charlotte’s secrets to longevity and fulfill the passions and dreams of your life.