How simple steps today can change your health tomorrow

This might seem like an unwinnable battle but there are some easy steps you can take to ensure you’re getting the right mix of foods. Alongside staying active and eating plenty of the right foods, learning to read labels, understanding food safety, and understanding your body’s needs are also key.

Part of understanding your body’s needs is ensuring that you’re at a healthy weight. Like everyone, the best way to stay at the right weight as you get older is to eat well and be active. If you’re unsure about what your ideal weight is or how you might reach it, you should seek advice from your doctor.

But if you want a quick indication of whether you’re at a healthy weight, there’s a simple indicator – take your waist measurement. For women, a waist circumference of 80cm or more indicates an increased risk of obesity-related health conditions. For men, it’s 94cm or more.

Another important way to keep your body happy is to watch your food safety. Science has shown that as we age our stomach produces less acid and our digestive systems are more sensitive to bacteria, making food poisoning more likely.

Perishable food should be refrigerated within two hours if you don’t intend to eat it immediately. Frozen food should be thawed completely in the refrigerator before use, while raw and ready-to-eat food should be kept separate if not being eaten immediately.

Wash your hands before and after handling raw meat, and prepare meat only on non-porous cutting boards.

Learning how to read food labels is another handy way to make sure you are getting everything you need out of food, while limiting the things you don’t need to the occasional treat.