When I started my work as a Nutrition Health Coach back in 2022, I never imagined that I would have a chance to sit in front of nearly 100 elderly men in a week and give them advice regarding their eating habits.
I was blown away by their interest in healthy eating and starting to use food for nourishing their bodies and less for convenience. Let me tell you what I have learned from his experience in the last two weeks.
1. About the men in the sheds. I was blown away by their interest in the topic of eating healthy. For a category of people who traditionally of people who traditionally wouldn’t have an interest in a topic like this, every visit it was like a breath of fresh air for me as a practitioner.
2. Beyond feeling impressed, I felt responsible and extremely empowered to give them accurate information in a topic that can really impact their health and well-being.
3. I learned also that there is a lot of contradictory information that we are exposed to when it comes to nutrition and healthy foods, and it is essential to deliver clear and accurate information that is backed up with scientific evidence and research.
4. The next thing wasn’t a shock, but still surprised me to learn that sugar addiction is a real thing, and it impacts all of us without caring of our age or social conditions. But, with the right kind of information and an adjusted nutritional apport, we can tackle that in a successful manner. And free our bodies from the sugar imprisonment what we are currently experiencing as a human species as it has devasted effects on our body’s health and well-being.
5. I also learned how confused we are when it comes making the right food choices and that is because we become victims of marketing campaigns and big chains of supermarkets. So, finding a way to access correct information and understanding food labelling it is vital. That is one big topic in our sessions.
6. Men can cook a meal from scratch! And elderly gentlemen love guacamole! And if you want to be part of this community you are more than welcome to become part of it. They are always looking for new members and it is very empowering for a group age that is usually susceptible to feel lonely and isolated.
7. There are seen Men’s Sheds in county Clare: Ennis, Sixmilebridge, Clarecastle, Shannon, Doonbeg, Parteen, and Caherdavin. If you are not part of one yet, please get in touch and I would be very happy to point you in the right direction. The groups are a great way to stay active and connected as we age, and we feel lonelier and more isolated. And they have a lot of great activities that keep your mind and body going and help you to stay healthy mentally and physically.
