The way we eat throughout our lives influences the way we age. Science has demonstrated a well-balanced and varied diet full of nutritious foods like fruits and veggies, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and lean proteins; and limited in sugar, salt, saturated or solid fats, and alcoholic beverages; is critical to sound health. This information suggests we all can maximize and improve our health, add vitality to our years, lower the risk of disease, and expand our healthspans—the number of years we live in good health. Furthermore, research indicates that it’s never too late to make improvements. This short educational film shares the nutritional needs that change with age, the role of nutrition in maintaining us healthy, nutrition-related diseases, suggestions from the recent US Department of Agriculture Dietary Guidelines, and the impact of food insecurity on healthy nutrition.

Food for Thought The Role of Nutrition in Healthy Aging