Five Tips to Help Make Stay-At-Home Meals Delicious and Healthy

1. Support your local restaurants with takeout and delivery orders. Dine-in meals aren’t an option in most places, but you can still get many of your favorite dishes delivered, and many restaurants and delivery services are discounting or waiving delivery fees. Check out popular apps like GrubHub or Uber Eats to place an order, or call restaurants directly to see if you can pick up a takeout order (just remember to stay safe, including by using hand sanitizer the moment you leave the restaurant, before you get in your car, and making sure to wash your hands as soon as you can). It’s a win-win; you get to enjoy a great meal, and your support can help local businesses weather the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. If you’re not sure what to order, check out these tips from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for how to choose smarter takeout options.
2. Order online, and get your groceries delivered. Many grocery stores have expanded delivery services during the pandemic to help customers stay safer at home and still get the supplies and groceries they need. Check with your local grocery store, and see if they offer an option to shop online and have your groceries delivered. You can also check to see if you can pick up your order, too (just remember to stay safe if you choose to do so). National services including Amazon and Shipt are also partnering with local suppliers to deliver groceries to your doorstep. And don’t forget to check out meal kit options, such as Blue Apron or Hello Fresh, for meals that come prepped and ready to cook.
3. Take it up a notch with a healthy grocery list. Taking care of your body with nutritious meals is an important tool to help you ward off stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Make the most of grocery shopping with choices such as whole grains, fresh or frozen fruit and veggies (canned vegetables can have a lot sodium) and lean proteins. Check out these suggestions from AARP for more examples of smarter grocery options. You can also add these five superfoods that support healthy aging to your list.
   
4. Don’t forget your local farmers. Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) lets you skip the grocery store and still get fresh produce to help support healthy, nutritious meals. CSAs offer subscriptions or memberships where you usually pay a fee and then receive a box of produce each week through the growing season. The options vary from producer to producer, but purchasing a subscription can be a great way to support local farmers and get fresh fruit and veggies. To find a CSA near you, check out this search tool, or contact your local agricultural center or farmer’s market.
   
5. Cook along with your favorite chefs. Great home cooks need a little inspiration from time to time, especially when most of us are staying home and cooking for ourselves or our families night after night. Add a fresh face into the mix with celebrity chef cook-alongs. The Food Network just launched a new app that lets you follow along with its chefs to prepare a meal from start to finish. Best of all, it’s interactive — you can chat with other participants and the chef. You can also visit YouTube and search for pre-recorded cooking shows and demonstrations. It’s a great way to sharpen your cooking skills for that fantasy dinner party you’ve been planning when social distancing restrictions are lifted.

To help the seniors in your life stay stocked up on the groceries and supplies they need, check out these suggestions.

With COVID-19 our new normal has changed, but we’re in this together, and meals are great way to connect with family in your home, or even with friends for a virtual dinner. With a little planning, you can practice social distancing and create great meals that are healthy and delicious.

_{Our hearts go out to the families and communities affected by COVID-19, and we continue to work to provide a happy, healthy environment for our residents, during these challenging times and always. For more information about Brookdale’s response to COVID-19, visit our FAQs page.}

_{Note: The above is shared for informational purposes only. We are not infectious disease experts and you should consult with trusted, independent, reputable sources and your doctor before acting on any content on this website, especially if you have a medical condition or are at increased risk for contracting COVID-19. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical or health advice, diagnosis or treatment. Never disregard professional medical or health advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on our site.}