Health Expo for Seniors Will Feature Free Food and Education

“You put together seniors and free food, and it’s a winner!” Mic Cagney exclaimed. “You can’t help but win!”

Cagney, the director of the Western Springs Senior Center, was promoting the Eat For Your Health Expo, a first-time event that will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18 in the Grand Avenue Community Center first-floor gymnasium.

With a combination of free food, flue shots, coupons for local businesses, recipes and a variety of exhibitors, the event aims to educate older adults about healthy nutrition for better living.

“It’s striking how, based on the way people eat, they can be in less pain, they can have less need for medications,” Cagney said. “If you eat a lot of sugar, your arthritis is going to be worse, it can cause you to have some memory issues… [The event] is really about educating the older adult in how to eat healthy.”

The expo will feature exhibits from a number of Western Springs, La Grange and Hinsdale businesses such as Trader Joe’s, Casey’s Market and Whole Foods, as well as two guest speakers, dietetic technician Joe Miks’ “Why You Should Care About What You Eat” and AgeOptions’ Ellin Learned’s “Understanding Food Labels.”

Adventist La Grange Hospital, Meadowbrook Manor, Wellness House and Aging Care Connections will also all have exhibits.

Cagney said that she hopes to make the expo an annual Village staple event.

“It’s about making the senior lifestyle a better lifestyle,” she said.