The folks in charge of meals at Oak Tree Villa, a senior-living home in Scotts Valley with about 200 residents, have found that a customized, ever-changing menu is the best way to feed the seniors who visit the home’s open dining room.
“You can support local business, be very seasonal and, literally, the menu changes every day,” said Jeff Huff, dining coordinator.
Oak Tree Villa’s dining staff meets with residents to go over the menu each week to make sure it meets their needs and wants. Sometimes, cooks will take family recipes and prepare them for the whole dining room.
Feeding such a large group has its challenges, but it’s nothing the kitchen staff can’t handle.
Some seniors have special diets, Huff said. A diabetic might need foods combined in a certain way, while another diner might need all foods pureed.
“This is their home,” Huff said. “(Many) of them will eat three meals a day here. It’s like a private restaurant devoted to them.”
One way to make meals fun is to prepare themed meals on holidays. At Oak Tree Villa, they’ve found that offering Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo and Chinese food on the Chinese New Year can brighten diners’ spirits.
The home’s dining room serves balanced meals with many options throughout the day. But choosing to eat correctly is up to each individual.
The National Institute on Aging offers several tips about eating healthfully as one grows older:
- Choose a mix of nutrient-dense foods every day. Eat fruits and vegetables, grains (especially whole grains), low-fat or fat-free milk, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs and nuts.
- Eat limited amounts of fats, cholesterol, salt and added sugar. Saturated and trans fats should be as low as possible.
- Fruits, vegetables and grains offer important vitamins and minerals, and most have little fat. They also have no cholesterol and are a good source of fiber, so eating more could help with digestion, ease constipation and lower one’s cholesterol and blood sugar levels.
