{"id":9630,"date":"2016-06-17T07:00:26","date_gmt":"2016-06-17T12:00:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senioradvisor.com\/blog\/?p=9630"},"modified":"2017-09-19T18:39:48","modified_gmt":"2017-09-19T23:39:48","slug":"gourmet-dining-in-senior-living","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/d30braiqprupoq.cloudfront.net\/blog\/2016\/06\/gourmet-dining-in-senior-living\/","title":{"rendered":"Gourmet Dining in Senior Living"},"content":{"rendered":"

Gourmet Dining in Senior Living\u00a0\"Gourmet<\/strong><\/h1>\n

When you imagine meals in an assisted living facility, you probably don\u2019t picture something to get excited about \u2013 the standard image is cafeteria-grade gruel on par with what elementary school kids encounter in the lunchroom. But a growing number of senior living facilities are taking the food quality up a few notches by hiring well-respected chefs that deliver meals close to what you\u2019d receive in a fine dining establishment.<\/p>\n

Why Fine Dining in Senior Living is Taking Off<\/h2>\n

There are a few key reasons that gourmet dining is becoming a more frequent amenity in senior living facilities.<\/p>\n

Aging Boomers<\/h3>\n

The rise of gourmet meals in assisted living homes is just one of the senior living trends<\/a> <\/strong>coming about due to the aging of the baby boomer population. Many boomers have sophisticated taste buds and are willing to pay for an assisted living experience that delivers food of a quality they\u2019re accustomed to.<\/p>\n

As Mary von Goeben, the executive director of a retirement center in Chicago told the New York Times<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, <\/em>\u201cThe people entering nursing homes have traveled and they are used to eating at great restaurants.\u201d<\/p>\n

If retirement communities want to stay competitive, then providing grade-a meals is a smart way to do it.<\/p>\n

Meals Matter<\/h3>\n

And not just for the basic sustenance you get from them, but also for all that comes with a good meal. Meals are a chance to socialize. They provide you with an opportunity to try something new \u2013 assuming the food on your plate isn\u2019t the same thing you\u2019ve had 100 times before. And healthy food that\u2019s prepared well enough to taste great can help seniors stick to their recommended diets and enjoy themselves while doing so.<\/p>\n

Recognizing this, many senior living facilities are putting more attention and care into the experience that residents have at mealtimes. No one really gets excited about eating in a cafeteria-like environment, but coming into a stylish space with a well-set table in order to eat delicious and unique food creations \u2013 that sounds like something seniors can get into.<\/p>\n

Healthy Can Be Tasty<\/h3>\n

Part of the reason senior living facilities have developed a reputation for bland food is because they\u2019re so focused on dietary needs and restrictions. When you have to cook for dozens of seniors, all of whom have been urged by doctors to eat healthy and many of whom have very specific dietary needs, providing food that works for everyone is a struggle.<\/p>\n

Trained chefs know how to balance flavor and health \u2013 it\u2019s one of the skills they studied to become a chef. Many fine dining establishments provide healthy meals that emphasize vegetables and fruits already, so the transition to making food that\u2019s healthy for seniors isn\u2019t much of a stretch.<\/p>\n

Who Can Afford Gourmet Meals in Senior Living?<\/h2>\n

Right now, it\u2019s most often the more high-end senior living facilities that hire experienced chefs and aim to provide a fine dining-type experience, but if the trend continues to be popular and appreciated by senior communities, more affordable retirement communities may work to make strides in providing higher-quality food to residents as well.<\/p>\n

In the meantime, anyone looking for a good senior living facility can peruse the reviews<\/a><\/strong> of the homes in their community to see what current residents have to say about the food quality. Even if you can\u2019t afford an assisted living home that provides fine dining, you can at least avoid one that residents say provides disappointing meals.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Gourmet Dining in Senior Living\u00a0 When you imagine meals in an assisted living facility, you probably don\u2019t picture something to get excited about \u2013 the standard image is cafeteria-grade gruel on par with what elementary school kids encounter in the lunchroom. But a growing number of senior living facilities are taking the food quality up a few notches by hiring […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2199,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,200,4,2],"tags":[79,13],"class_list":{"0":"post-9630","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-assisted-living","7":"category-families-caregivers","8":"category-independent-living","9":"category-senior-living","10":"tag-healthy-eating","11":"tag-senior-living-2"},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nGourmet Dining in Senior Living - SeniorAdvisor.com Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How do you picture the meals provided in assisted living? 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