I read that seniors need to change their diet because their metabolism slows down. Is this true? What is the best way to do this?

As a general rule, it is true that our metabolism slows down somewhat as we age. For this reason, it is also generally true that we need fewer calories. But the difference is not dramatic-it's about 10% fewer calories that we need. For a sedentary (low activity) woman who is 70 years old, the recommended energy intake level (REE) from the Institute of Medicine at the National Academy of Sciences is 1,600 calories. That amount is only 200 calories less than the 1,800-calorie recommendation for a 31-year-old sedentary woman. Calorie needs depend more upon activity level than age. One of the best ways to balance out your calorie needs is to become more physically active.

Nutrient-rich, low-calorie foods are the focus at The World's Healthiest Foods and these are the criteria we used to select our core foods! The lowest of the low in terms of calories and the highest of the high in terms of nutrients are fresh vegetables. That's why we emphasize these foods so heavily on our website including in our Healthiest Way of Eating Plan Look over the portion sizes and food group variety in this meal plan, and you'll get a very hands-on feel for the way we approach lower-calorie, higher-nutrient meals.

For more information on this topic, please see:

• Nutrient Needs for Later Life

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