In the heart of Red Deer, Alta, a vibrant senior is smashing her dietary goals while leveraging loyalty programs to save money on groceries. Nancy Bain, a 70-year-old active woman, balances her lifestyle between volunteering for her community and maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. This article will delve into how she manages her grocery shopping, her dietary habits, and her tips for staying healthy and active.
A Day in the Life of Nancy Bain
Nancy spends her summers cycling around her neighbourhood and swimming laps to stay active. During the cooler months, she gives back to her community by volunteering for the Salvation Army, ringing bells for donations at her local grocery store. Observing the diverse crowd that walks through the grocery store doors, from newcomers to business owners, gives her great joy.
She identifies with what she calls the ‘Subaru crowd’, health-conscious shoppers whose carts are filled with high-protein milks and kombucha. Her personal shopping list isn’t much different, featuring fresh vegetables, kombucha, high-protein milk, and an array of spices to flavour her meals.
Nancy’s Balanced Diet
Nancy has found a balance that works for her in her diet. She cooks meat on the weekends, such as beef stews, tacos, and barbecued burgers, and keeps her weekdays plant-based with meals like tacos, chilis, and a slow-cooked chana masala. This routine has been instrumental in helping her maintain her dietary goals.
She does her grocery shopping at Real Canadian Superstore, using a discounted $300 President’s Choice gift card she gets from a rewards program. This strategy, coupled with her familiarity with the store’s sales prices, helps her keep her monthly grocery bill under $400.
Focus on Protein and Plant-based Meals
Recently, Nancy has been paying closer attention to her protein intake. She believes adequate protein intake keeps her satisfied and assists in muscle repair. She sources her proteins from milk, legumes, and other nutritious foods.
Additionally, she has been experimenting with more plant-based meals, drawn to the health benefits of the fibre in pulses and the sustainability of producing them.
Grocery Shopping Habits
Like many, Nancy sometimes struggles with buying too much fresh produce, ending up with more than she can consume before it spoils. However, she has found that a Tupperware container helps keep most of her produce fresh for longer.
Among the staples in her cart are 2-per-cent Fairlife milk, President’s Choice hummus, Rise kombucha, No Name sourdough English muffins, and Taylor Farms chopped salad kits. These items help her stay on track with her dietary goals while also allowing her to enjoy her meals.
Despite the rising cost of beef, Nancy finds ways to afford it. She keeps an eye out for discounts and considers a marked-down flank steak as less of a splurge. She occasionally treats herself to artisan sourdough products from a local bakery, Rise Bakehouse.
In conclusion, Nancy Bain’s approach to grocery shopping and diet showcases a balance of physical activity, community involvement, mindful eating, and smart shopping. Her story serves as an inspiration for seniors and others looking to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle on a budget.
