Put Some Colour In Your Life
Live Life in Colour, embracing our diversity, creativity, and energy in our golden years may not be as easy as one thinks. As we get older, we may become set in our ways, health conditions get in the way and we may have certain limiting beliefs stopping us from doing things. Perhaps we never were artistic, active as an adult or a good cook, but having an open mind, time, patience, persistence and seeking opportunity can often change our way of thinking and how we live our life.
With the Seniors Festival on I challenge you to try or practise something that challenges you, use your brain or body in a different way, both some great staregies to ward off dementia! I would love to hear from you about how you have moved outside your box to improve your physical and mental health so you can live your best life in your golden years, please share your story in our Bright Bods Facebook Group!
What's New
Seniors Festivals
Keep your body and mind active for healthy aging! Check out the Seniors Festival with plenty to see and do at various venues around the Central Coast.
There is FREE entry at the Central Coast Seniors Festival Expo on Thursday 5th March 10am-1pm at Wyong Race Club, and at the Central Coast Aged Care Expo at Mingara Recreation Club, so come and say hi at the Bright Diets table and have a chat about good nutrition to stay strong as you age. You might even be able to catch some Zumba Gold!
We Love Referrals!
If you were happy with your consultations and wondered how to say thank you, the best way is by sending a referral our way. We would be so grateful if you would mention us to your health care team, friends, family, teachers, support team or commuity group! We love helping everyone be clever about their eating to get the most out of life!
Free Zumba Classes for Seniors Week
What better way to embrace the theme of the Seniors Festival: Live Life in Colour, than to come along to Zumba class, dancing to a range of dance genres from all over the world. Get a free packet of edible plant seeds to grow and join us after the morning classes for a cuppa and a bite to eat at the cafes.
FREE Zumba Gold Classes will be:
- Monday 2nd March 9am Gosford 50+ Leisure and Learning Centre
- Monday 2nd March 5.30pm Narara Ecovillage
- Friday 6th March 11am at Narara Ecovillage.
- Online 30 minute on demand mini-class and Seniors week dance. Free code in the details.
Zumba Events
The Sydney Zumba Festival is on Saturday 7th March and I am taking to the stage with a few of the other ZINS (Zumba Instructor Network) to represent Zumba Gold on the Central Coast. I am excited! I have not danced on a big stage is a very long time. Wish me luck!
This year on International Dance Day, April 29th it will be Zumba's 25th Birthday. Keep posted in how we will be celebrating!
Zumba Gold is a low impact, super fun dance class for:
-those who may be new to dance, have not danced in a while or just getting back to fitness such as post pregnancy.
- perfect for older active adults as it is a bit of a falls prevention exercise class with stretch and balance dances.
- great for people with an injury who want to stay active as there is no twisting or jumping. - fabulous for neurodiverse individuals who need to keep their brain busy in a positive way and connect their mind with their body.
- anyone who finds the regular Zumba class too fast and may not be too keen on so much Latino music.
With a mix of salsa, swing, cha cha, rock n roll, belly dancing, disco, flamenco and more, you will sure to become a Zumba addict before you know it!
Leave all self-judgement at home, bring your friends and see you on the dancefloor!
Check out more class details and a free dance online or call Carin on 0413 774 411.
Grow It Know It
Cherry Tomatoes
My colourful cherry tomatoes seeds came from a store bought mixed punnet. I simply dried the seeds on a paper towel and planted in spring and summer in lots of places over my garden. Now I am enjoying being able to pick a few each day.
Cherry tomatoes are super easy to grow, often being a volunteer in the garden popping up from the compost with little effort. They are generally more disease-resistant and drought tolerant than larger tomato varieties.
As a warm-weather lover, they like full sun but I grow them well enough in my semi-shaded garden. They can be grown up a trellis if you have limited space. Fruiting for several months, you will get a steady supply with minimal effort.
If you cut off some of the excess leaves, the plant will put more energy into producing more and bigger fruit. Harvest just as they start changing colour before the other critters do and allow them to ripen on your window sill.
Bright Blogs
Learn how to stay strong when eating for one or two with Carin Clegg's latest Bright Blog.
Recipe of the Month
Brushetta Inspired Chickpea Pita
Cooking for one or two can be tricky. Here is a quick meal that packs a punch with protein, energy and all the colours of the rainbow!
Serves 1
Ingredients
- 1 mini pita bread or half a pita bread
- 1 small can of chickpeas
- 1/4 cup cherry tomatoes -quartered
- 1/4 avocado- diced
- 1/4 shallot, finely sliced
- 2 slices cooked/canned beetroot, diced
- 1/4 cucumber, diced
- 1/4 small spanish onion, diced
- 5 large leaves of fresh basil, finely sliced
- other herbs of choice like rosemary, parsley or sage, finely sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1tsp extra virgin olive oil
- A garlic clove
Method
- Put the pita bread in the oven or under the grill to get toasted
- Chop up all the salad ingredients and herbs add to a bowl with the oil, salt and pepper. Mix well.
- Cut he garlic in half.
- When the pita bread is golden and your desired crispiness, scrape the bread with the garlic using the cut edge to infuse some flavour.
- Top the pita bread with the salad mix and enjoy the fresh flavours.
For more healthy food ideas check out Bright Diets Facebook Albums.