This is a guest post by Skyla Wagner, dietetics student with Nicole Spencer, Population and Public Health lead for healthy eating with the prevention and health promotion team at the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC).

As we get older, it’s common to think more about how to stay healthy and keep enjoying the things we love. While moving our bodies is important for preventing falls, what we eat is just as vital for aging well.

As we age, we can experience changes in our vision, oral health, mobility, and social connections. These changes can make it harder to eat well, and over time, this can lead to muscle and bone loss, as well as feeling tired, dizzy, or sluggish. The good news is that eating well can help prevent some of these common health concerns.

At the BCCDC, when it comes to nutrition, we recognize the importance of culturally and personally meaningful foods, including those that connect us to our heritage, families, and communities. These foods nourish not only the body, but also the mind and spirit. Although accessing them can sometimes be difficult due to cost or availability, including our cultural foods whenever possible is a great way to enjoy more nutrient-rich meals.

Think about the last time you shared a traditional meal with others. Those moments of connection can boost mental health, help us stay active and engaged, and nurture our social connections. By embracing culturally significant foods, we’re also supporting those vital relationships.

It’s never too late to take small steps toward better health, including finding joy and connection through food. Choosing foods that are both nutritious and meaningful can build balance and support well-being for years to come.

November is Fall Prevention Month in Canada. Explore the resources below to learn more about ways to decrease risk of falls by incorporating nutritious, culturally significant foods into your diet. ‍

• BC Elders' Guide (PDF)
• Healthy eating for seniors – Canada's Food Guide
• Cultures, food traditions and healthy eating – Canada's Food Guide
• Sacred and Strong - Elderhood – First Nations Health Authority

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We respectfully acknowledge we wrote this article on the unceded, shared territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm, Skwxwú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ peoples, who have stewarded this land for millennia. As white settlers we recognize our systemic privilege and responsibility to ongoing learning, accountability, and action towards decolonization, including honouring and respecting the wisdom passed down from Indigenous elders.