Follow these simple strategies to make sure you continue to enjoy preparing and eating tasty foods.

We don't have to be able to cook well to eat well. A sandwich can become a nutrition-packed meal with the right fillings. Try grilling tomatoes (a rich source of lycopene), or sardines (a great source of omega-3 oils and calcium if you eat the soft bones) and serving them on toast.

If you feel like a traditional meal, try one of the convenience dinners that can be heated in the oven or microwave cooker. These pre-prepared meals can be nutritious (if expensive). Watch out for meals that are high in fats, salt or sugar; there are often healthier options.

It's not just what you eat that matters - the social factors associated with the meal can make a huge difference to its enjoyment. Cooking for one is a challenge at any age and people who have a partner or friends to eat with have a better diet than those who live and eat alone. So, try to eat with your family and friends - at home, in a cafe or lunch club - whenever you can.

Looking after your teeth

Older people who don't have their own teeth are more likely to be malnourished than those who do. So it pays to hang on to our teeth for as long as we can. Dentists recommend we all avoid too much sugar (it rots teeth), brush regularly and get a regular check-up.

Gum disease is often the cause of lost teeth; so brush your gums gently and see the dentist if they bleed. If you wear dentures, make sure they fit properly. Our jaws will change as we get older so dentures need to be changed from time to time.