Natalie Groeger is approaching her 101st birthday with an appetite for favourite foods and time spent enjoying herself. The New Jersey resident, who turns 101 in October, enjoys bacon and dark chocolate alongside fruit, and plans to celebrate with mushroom pizza and a soft drink.
Asked about the reason for her long life in an interview with TODAY, she offered a refreshingly modest answer: “I have no idea.”
Natalie was born in Brooklyn in 1925, worked as a switchboard operator and was married for 68 years. She has two children, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
What’s on her breakfast table?
Blueberries start Natalie’s breakfast, which regularly includes eggs, bacon and an English muffin. Apples and avocados are also favourites, and she does not follow a particular diet or drink alcohol. “I eat a lot of blueberries. I love them,” she adds.
Her experience is a personal story, rather than evidence that any individual food explains her age. The National Institute on Aging explains that healthy ageing reflects several influences, including genetics, physical activity, nutrition and access to healthcare. Some can be changed, while others are outside our control.
© Bristal Assisted LivingIts guidance places healthy eating alongside adequate sleep, activity and regular medical care. The aim is to maintain physical and mental function, helping people preserve independence and quality of life as they grow older.
A lifelong love of dancing
Natalie taught her husband ballroom dancing, and they would dance at home on Sunday mornings and even participated in chair dancing. She recalled her time at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “I felt like a Rockette because that’s how high my legs went up. But I can’t do it anymore,” she admitted.
Finding an enjoyable way to move can make physical activity easier to incorporate into everyday life. Exercise need not revolve around a gym membership or demanding fitness programme.
The National Institute on Aging’s guidance for older adults explains that movement can help protect muscle strength and function, both of which become particularly important with age.
Maintaining physical function can also reduce the risk of falls and serious injuries. The emphasis is on preserving the abilities that support everyday tasks, rather than achieving a particular appearance.
© Getty ImagesMaking time for hobbies and friends
Natalie enjoys solitaire on her iPad and playing Canasta with friends. Knitting was another longstanding hobby, although problems with her hands eventually led her to stop.
She also values humour and describes herself as optimistic despite difficult periods in her life. Social connection is an important part of broader healthy-ageing guidance. The National Institute on Aging encourages families to help older relatives stay connected and find activities they can enjoy together.
Shared movement can serve two purposes: supporting physical activity while creating opportunities for company. A walk or another accessible activity can become time spent together, rather than simply another health task.
The same guidance highlights nutrition’s role in supporting muscles and bones, linking everyday eating habits with balance and independence.
© Getty ImagesWhat can a centenarian’s story tell us?
Reaching 100 is remarkable, but one person’s routine cannot establish which habits caused their longevity. Researchers studying exceptionally long lives look beyond a list of favourite foods. Boston University’s New England Centenarian Study has recruited almost 4,000 centenarians, alongside some siblings and children, and follows participants to track changes in health and physical and cognitive function.
For readers, healthy ageing is a broader goal than reaching a particular birthday. The CDC describes it in terms of physical, mental and social wellbeing throughout life, with habits that can begin at any age.
Natalie tries not to dwell on life’s difficulties, explaining that her approach to problems has helped her navigate challenging times. “I’m the type of person who doesn’t talk really about my problems, and that makes life easier for me,” she added.
Humour has also remained an important part of her personality. “I’m a happy person. I like to laugh. I like to joke around. I used to be a very good storyteller and a dirty joke teller.”
Natalie also described an outlook that has endured despite the setbacks she has experienced over more than a century. “I’m definitely an optimist,” she said. “I think everything is going to be good. Even though I’ve had some bad times in my life.”
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