March is National Nutrition Month, in the words of Hippocrates “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Canton seniors can dine Monday-Friday at 11:30AM at the Summit on the Park's Oak Room.  Free if you are 60 years or older.

If you are homebound, age 60 and older you can receive a hot meal delivered to your home Monday-Friday. For more information contact: Wayne County Office of Nutrition Services734-727-7357 or 800-851-1454.

Or prepare healthy meals at home:

The big book of health and fitness: a practical guide to diet, exercise, healthy aging, illness prevention, and sexual well-being by Philip Maffetone

The DASH diet action plan: proven to lower blood pressure and cholesterol without medication by Marla Heller

Everything begins and ends at the Kentucky Club by stories by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Salt, sugar, fat: how the food giants hooked us by Michael Moss

The sisters brothers [sound recording] by Patrick Dewitt

A curious man: the strange & brilliant life of Robert "Believe it or not" Ripley by Neal Thompson

The Confessions of Al Capone by Loren D. Estleman

National Institute on Aging Go4Life programs are now available on YouTube. Find informational videos on aging issues, inspirational exercise success stories, and exercises that you can do while you watch. Visit or subscribe their site to stay up-to-date with the latest videos from the National Institute on Aging.

There are multiple benefits to good nutrition. Good nutrition is essential for the maintenance and health of you and your body. It is known that good nutrition can provide mental health relief, promote sleep, and increases energy. Good nutrition also provides the body with the nutrients it needs to fight of disease and germs. Great books to help you enjoy a healthy lifestyle are:

The low GI diet revolution: the definitive science-based weight loss plan by Jennie Brand-Miller, Kaye Foster-Powell

The complete idiot's guide glycemic index cookbook by Lucy Beale and Joan Clark-Warner

Did you know that there are many really easy to grow veggies that are super-nutritious? Some of them are even extremely tasty, like the sweet peas (from my garden) pictured here. You may find yourself eating them right off the vine! Check out this Top Ten list and start planning your garden for this summer.

Homegrown vegetables, fruits, and herbs: a bountiful, healthful garden for lean times by Jim Wilson; photography by Walter Chandoha

The complete book of vegetables: the ultimate guide of growing, cooking and eating vegetables by Matthew Biggs

Perennial vegetables: from artichoke to zuiki taro, a gardener's guide to over 100 delicious, easy-to-grow edibles by Eric Toensmeir

As Canton Township's 100 Days of Health initiative continues, consider the needs of older family members. Research has discovered that as we age, our diets and our need for dietary supplements become greater. Doctors are increasingly concerned about boosting the levels of vitamins and minerals that we need as we grow older. Loss of appetite may account for a vitamin/mineral deficiency in older adults.