Eating an early dinner is good for health. Sleeping early is considered beneficial
If you are fortunate enough to retire with a pension, this means you are on a fixed income. Unless you pick up another little gig, that pension is all the money you are going to have for the rest of your life.
I do have a personal care-giver /house-keeper even now. For most of us (I’m actually not there yet, but soon will be), this means spending your money wisely. And one wise use of your funds is the Early Bird special.
A good number of very nice eateries offer early dining specials—sometimes to seniors only, and sometimes to anyone who wanders in then. The times are typically about 4:30pm to 6pm, roughly.
The menu is the same, mostly. Sometimes they reduce the portions, but a lot of times, all they’ve done is discounted the price. So eating early can save anywhere from 15–45% in my experience.
And as others have pointed out, a lot of us seniors like to hit the rack around 9pm anyways. I might get a little peckish at 8pm…nothing a PBJ (peanut butter jelly) or some cheese sticks can’t handle. Then off to bed!
Often your eating habits change as you get older.
Part of it stems from the fact that you’re not working anymore and are free to eat whenever it suits you.
Also older people often go to bed earlier.
My Daddy is in his 80s. He has dinner between 4:30–5:00 and later will have a light dessert. Maybe a piece of fruit or ice cream . Then he goes to bed around 9:30–10:00.
But I’ve also known people that age who have dinner at 8:00 PM and go to bed at midnight. Different strokes.
You are assuming that everyone’s schedule is similar to yours. Many older folks rise early and turn in early. Also, many elderly do not require as much food.
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Thank you … If they are educated about the proper way to eat, that could also be the reason. I myself try to eat once/day because it prolongs the life. Most people don’t wish to have self-control.
Eating from 11:00 am to 1:00pm is good because the fire element in the body is active and able to burn up the food, and from 5:00pm to 7: pm the water element is active which also aids in proper digestion.
People with diabetes can find eating the heaviest meal at noon (highest energy for digestion of the day) will aid in preventing issues with hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and obese people will find a better way to lose weight if they don’t want to give up their favorite foods (assuming one has enough control).
Routine: Many older adults have established routines that involve eating meals at specific times throughout the day. They may have been following this routine for many years, and it can be difficult to change.
Health: Older adults may have health conditions that require them to eat earlier in the day. For example, some people with acid reflux find that eating earlier in the evening can help reduce their symptoms.
Sleep: Eating a large meal late in the evening can interfere with sleep. Older adults may be more sensitive to sleep disturbances and therefore choose to eat dinner earlier to ensure a better night’s rest.
Social activities: Older adults may have social activities, such as attending a play or a concert, that start early in the evening. Eating dinner earlier in the day allows them to enjoy these activities without feeling hungry or uncomfortable.
It’s also worth noting that everyone has different eating habits and preferences. Some older adults may indeed get hungry later in the evening and have a small snack to tide them over until morning, while others may not experience hunger until breakfast time.
Do you want to add a word or two?….
It’s funny that eating early is considered an old person thing. I’ve always been hungry at 5pm, but my work schedule doesn’t allow me to eat that early regularly. When I was younger, I’d snack then. Now I’m better disciplined at just waiting for mealtime.
On the weekends, though, I’ve been having regular “senior dinners” with friends since my early 30s. On the weekends I do whatever I want.
That may mean sleeping in, having a big breakfast, not necessarily having lunch. We like to get outside as early as we can, which for me is usually the afternoon, and we hang out until its late enough to have dinner.
We usually try to make it to 4:30pm at least, but if we’re itching to go to one particularly popular place, we have to be there at 4pm to not be rushed without a reservation.
Metabolism and sleep patterns change when you get old. A lot of people go to bed earlier and wake up earlier than they used to. And they eat less. This is actually good for you; there’s evidence that reducing food intake (making sure that what you do eat is very nutritious) contributes to longevity.
Your comments ….
I’m eating a lot more of what I want, and less of what is good for me to eat. I’ve always maintained a healthy weight, and I get plenty of exercise doing garden work.
Why?
Because I spent the last fifty years forgoing stuff like cheesecake, pecan pie, Ben and Jerry’s, etc., in the interest of my health and figure, and I’m sick of it.
How many more pieces of warm apple pie from Woodruff’s topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream are in my future?
Not enough. So that’s what I had for dinner last night.
And damn good it was. Life is a series of compromises, and I’ll trade a few month….years, even, for the satisfaction of some of the foods I’ve denied myself throughout adulthood.
It is never necessary to eat three meals a day. Some people do fine with one meal a day, some eat many meals a day. What matters is getting enough calories and other nutrients, but not too much.
Some people find skipping dinner a good method. However, for many, this will be socially impossible – some jobs require eating dinner with the boss or clients or whatever.
Some people find that eating a large meal too soon before bed leads to gastric distress. People with acid reflux are advised not to lie down after eating a big meal.
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