Desserts that are Healthy as well as Satisfy a Sweet Tooth

The U.S. News and World Report recently published an article on tasty treats designed to satisfy your sweet tooth and provide a healthier alternative to more sugar laden desserts. One suggestion from board-certified oncology dietitian, Kailey Proctor, of the Leonard Cancer Institute at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, California, is to grill pineapple, banana, apple or pear slices. Grilling concentrates flavors by reducing the water content, and further sweetens the fruit as natural sugars are caramelized by the heat.  

Dark chocolate is a known powerful source of antioxidants as research shows it can help improve blood flow, lower blood pressure, and raise HDLs, reducing your risk for heart disease. One healthy, easy-to-make dessert is to melt dark chocolate and spread it over parchment paper. Then sprinkle dried cherries, chopped nuts or sunflower seeds over it; refrigerate for five minutes and cut into small pieces. Another variation is to dip fresh strawberries or other fruit into melted dark chocolate. 

Yogurt parfaits are fun to put-together and can be customized to your taste. Using a parfait dish or small bowl, add granola, strawberries, blueberries, nuts, peanut butter or seeds, layering with yogurt. To cut down on fat, use nonfat or low-fat yogurt as it still provides a good source of protein without the calories. 

How about banana ice cream made from frozen pureed bananas mixed with almond milk? If you like, add in peanut butter and nuts. Sprinkle some cinnamon on top, which is “thought to have anti-inflammatory effects and may help diabetics manage their blood sugar levels.” 

MorningStar of Happy Valley has 61 private suites for assisted living and another 27 secure memory care suites. Part of our many services includes Executive-chef inspired meals served restaurant-style. Meals are made largely from scratched with the freshest of ingredients. We also use “BrainWise Foods” known to support brain health with their high concentrations of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Please visit our website to learn more about our community as well as to inquire about availability. 

Source: health.usnews.com/wellness/fitness/articles/healthy-dessertsand-theyre-tasty-too?slide=10&src=usn_nl_yourhealth&utm_campaign=Your%20Health-Sun%20Sep%2005%2007%3A49%3A00%20EDT%202021&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_term=Your%20Health

Avoiding Too Much Sugar in Your Diet

We all may be eating and drinking foods we consider to be healthy but they may contain far more sugar than we think they do.  It can even happen with foods we do not necessarily think of as sweet such as ketchup or barbeque sauce.  Also making what we assume is the healthier choice like “low fat” or “light” yogurt may actually contain more sugar than the regular variety.  Some low-fat yogurt has over 30 grams of sugar; and the American Heart Association (AHA) recommends men consume no more than 9 teaspoons (36 grams or 150 calories) of added sugar per day. For women, the amount is just 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories) per day.

Another food we think of as healthy is granola.  While it is true that the main ingredient is rolled oats, which provides protein, healthy fats and fiber, it also can be loaded with lots of sugar and calories.  This is where label reading can help as the Washington Post did a story on granolas and found a single serving can range from one gram of sugar to 14 grams.  Another thing to look for are the words “added sugar” as the sugar from dried fruit is not bad for us (more calories for those watching) as is corn syrup or cane sugar.  However, do keep in mind that while honey, maple syrup, and coconut sugar may be healthier, they still add empty calories.   

Drinks such as sugared ice teas and flavored coffees also add a lot of sugar to our diets as do some sport drinks and vitamin waters so be sure to read the label.  If you want to avoid empty sugary drinks altogether, make flavored waters by adding fruit or vegetable slices.  Toss in some lime and cucumber slices to your water or a handful of berries, orange slices, or mint leaves; use your imagination.

If you are looking at senior living communities in the Fountain Hills, AZ area, we encourage you to consider MorningStar of Fountain Hills.  Our community has 63 graciously-appointed assisted living suites along with 28 memory care suites devoted to caring for those with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.  Our delicious meals take into account seniors’ dietary restrictions with choices that include low sodium, sugar free, no sugar added, vegetarian and low fat for our residents to self-manage.    Please see our website for more information.

MorningStar of Fountain Hills’ mission statement of “to honor, to serve, to invest” sets us apart from other senior living communities. We have built a foundation on honoring God, valuing our seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve. Set in a warm, loving atmosphere with beautiful surroundings and resort-style amenities, we provide outstanding assisted living and memory care. 

MorningStar of Happy Valley Offers a Variety of Stylish Floor Plans

MorningStar of Happy Valley is the area’s newest senior living community and will offer stylish, smartly-designed suites for assisted living and memory care.  Our community is being meticulously built from the ground up to address the needs of our residents and to provide a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  

To ensure our suites fit the needs of all of our in-coming residents, we offer an array of floors plans that include spacious studio; one-bedroom, one-bath; and two-bedroom, two-bath configurations. Each suite has lighting, high ceilings, large windows, wall-to-wall carpeting and mini blinds.  Furthermore, if you are looking for a spacious unit, some of our two-bedroom suites are as large as 928 square feet.   

Your suite will be equipped with a handicap-accessible bathroom, 24-hour emergency call system, and private heating and air conditioning controls.  Cable TV and utilities are included in the monthly fee. We also offer weekly housekeeping, laundry and linen services. Spot cleaning and trash removal are done daily.  In addition, suites have a kitchenette with a full apt. fridge. As you can see, your suite has everything you need – all that’s missing are your furnishings and personal items.  MorningStar of Happy Valley is also pet friendly.  

We will have a professional chef on staff that will expertly prepare meals made largely from scratch and incorporate lots of healthy ingredients.  Residents are served three daily meals restaurant-style in our comfortable dining room. Other on-site services include a full salon, bistro, general store, fitness room, spa bath, and much more.  Please visit our website and contact the MorningStar of Happy Valley’s team through our convenient online form.   

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.”  With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents.  Contact us to learn more about our new assisted living community.

Resort-style Amenities at MorningStar of Happy Valley

Designed from the ground up to meet the needs of the most discerning senior, MorningStar Assisted Living & Memory Care of Happy Valley is a community built on the premise that assisted living can be both purposeful and beautiful.  We have lots of warm, inviting common areas both inside and out and the amenities and services to ensure residents feel right at home.   Our community is scheduled to open to residents by the end of the year.  

If you are someone who finds that preparing meals has become too difficult due to your health or just not something you enjoy any more, you will be delighted to know we offer three daily meals prepared by our Executive Chef.  All of our delicious meals are served in our charming dining room, restaurant-style, and created largely from scratch using the freshest ingredients to tempt the most particular taste buds. We even offer a private dining room for intimate dinners.     

Also, our Bistro with a full bar will offer a relaxing place for residents as well as their guests to gather for a beverage or a light snack.  Other beautifully-appointed, comfy gathering places allow you to enjoy time with family or friends. Our expansive outdoor amenities include courtyards featuring artwork and trellises as well as a barbecue and fire pit.  We also offer strolling paths and raised garden beds.  

Other onsite amenities include our own chapel/theatre with Wii, a library with a computer, a convenient salon offering hairstyling, manicures and pedicures, and much more.  In addition, a monthly calendar filled with meaningful wellness programs and activities will allow you to stay as busy as you like.  

While our array of amenities and services are vast, we haven’t even mentioned our devoted and loving team who are the type of individuals who feel privileged to serve seniors.  Please visit our website or our Information Center located near the intersection of SE Sunnyside Rd. and SE 145th Ave.  

MorningStar of Happy Valley represents the finest in senior living with our distinct mission statement: “to honor, to serve, to invest.” With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us to learn more about exceptional assisted living in the Happy Valley – Clackamas area.

MorningStar of Happy Valley Opens in Late 2019

The entire MorningStar of Happy Valley team looks forward to welcoming residents to our new assisted living and memory care community, which is expected to open sometime before the end of 2019.  Designed from the ground up to serve the needs of seniors who require assistance with day-to-day personal care activities, our assisted living community will offer a true home for our residents.  

Our beautiful community has 61 bright suites for assisted living offered in a variety of configurations that include spacious studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom floor plans (some as large as 865 square feet) to accommodate differing preferences and needs.  For seniors suffering from Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, our Reflections Neighborhood’s 27 secure suites provide individualized, compassionate care for those in the onset of the disease to the most advanced stages. 

While MorningStar of Happy Valley may be new to the area, MorningStar Senior Living is not.  We have senior living communities throughout the Western U.S. including MorningStar of Beaverton, which opened last fall west of Portland.  We also want you to know our team is experienced in all facets of senior living and dedicated to providing residents a lifestyle of comfort, wellness and community.  So along with the beautiful, welcoming design of our new community, we will be gathering a team of caregivers who have a felt calling to serve and consider seniors to be heroes. 

Located near the intersection of SE Sunnyside Rd and SE 145th Ave., our community enjoys a picturesque setting in an affluent residential neighborhood as well as the convenience of nearby shopping, banks, restaurants and medical facilities.  Please see our website, give us a call or drop by our Onsite Information Center.

The unique mission statement of MorningStar of Happy Valley, “to honor, to serve, to invest,” sets us apart from other senior living communities. With a foundation built on honoring God, valuing all seniors and selecting staff with a felt calling to serve, we are honored to create a true “home” for residents. Contact us to learn more about our exceptional assisted living and memory care community.