Eating well in retirement is essential to a happy one. The benefits of eating well are well researched and wide reaching. Eating well promotes energy and helps reduce the risk of heart disease. It also helps with weight control, which is important as we age. Being more sedentary and gaining weight at an older age can lead to higher chances of heart-related diseases such as strokes and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, nutrient deficiencies can affect mobility, weaken bones and muscles and can contribute to cognitive issues. Retirement communities such as those operated by award-winning LifeCare Residences fully understand the importance of healthy eating for their residents, and not only provide delicious meals in their chef-led restaurants, they do everything possible to cater to their residents’ special dietary needs. All the LifeCare Residences communities in the UK go the extra mile to ensure that their residents benefit from delicious and nutritionally optimal meals. At Somerleigh Court in Dorchester, the team has set up a home delivery service for residents with an emphasis on locally sourced and local farm produced products. This also includes providing fresh fish – high in essential oils and fatty acids – caught from the local coast, just ten minutes away. The team at Somerleigh Court has also put together ‘food passports’ which helps to ensure that all staff are familiar with the likes and dislikes of each resident, and most importantly to accommodate special dietary requirements. For those residents craving a satisfying ‘cooked’ meal, the in-house chef at Somerleigh Court is able to create delicious meals such as hearty roast dinners and fresh fish and chips. Residents at Grove Place also benefit from enjoying the seasonal fruit and vegetables grown in the dedicated kitchen garden. Home-grown leeks, onions, herbs, red chard and even rhubarb are regularly found on the menu. The main health benefit of this home-grown food is that it’s fresher. Fruit and vegetables begin to lose their nutrients within 24 hours of being picked. In addition, home-grown or locally grown food is picked at its peak ripeness, when it’s most dense with nutrients.