Does your assisted living facility offer seasonal menus for seniors?
Making meals and snacks with locally-grown fruits and vegetables picked at the peak of ripeness provides many advantages, especially as compared to consuming pre-packaged processed produce. Fresh, seasonal foods have more nutrients than those shipped in from afar or processed and packaged. They’re also fresher and have more flavor.
What’s in season in August? These are some of our favorite produce picks this month, for use in your seasonal menus for seniors.
Melons
August is the month for melons! Cantaloupe, honeydew, and watermelon are all at their peak of freshness and flavor right now. Serve chunks on their own for a delicious snack or mix them into a summer fruit salad.
Melons also make for great frozen desserts, smoothies, and slushy drinks.
Blackberries
Plump, sweet blackberries are delicious when served with a dollop of whipped cream. They can also be featured in a variety of baked goods like muffins, cakes, and cobblers. Try tossing a few in hot or cold cereal for a bit of freshness at breakfast time.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are at their best in August, and many seniors enjoy them with just a touch of salt. Roasted tomatoes are delectable with garlic and basil, served on crostini or tossed with freshly-made pasta. Jazz up your seasonal menus by featuring fresh tomatoes in summertime salads and sandwiches.
Sweet Corn
Roasted sweet corn is especially tasty this time of year, as is slightly charred corn that’s grilled in the husk. For seniors who can’t enjoy sweet corn on the cob, try slicing it off and serving it in a fresh salsa or salad.
You can also use this popular veggie for creamed corn, a seasonal menu favorite among older adults.
Cucumber
August is prime time for cucumbers, and crisp slices are a great addition to the raw salads on your seasonal menus. Cucumber is also easy to juice, which makes it ideal for refreshing drink recipes and cold soups. If your food service staff is so inclined, you can even make your own pickles to serve as a part of your seasonal menus.
Eggplant
Eggplant is incredibly versatile, healthy and popular with many seniors. Cubed, roasted eggplant is wonderful in pasta. Grilled slices with a bit of basil and feta cheese make for a satisfying senior meal. You can also try serving baba ghanoush – a creamy spread similar to hummus – with pita bread.
Could your assisted living facility benefit from an easy source of dietitian-approved recipes to feature in seasonal menus for seniors? The Grove Menus software system is designed to make it simple to use fresh, locally-grown produce in creating meals and snacks for older adults.
Along with hundreds of dietitian-approved recipes that can be modified to incorporate in-season produce, the Grove Menus system includes an integrated suite of user-friendly meal planning tools designed to facilitate food service operations. Our food menu program helps improve senior nutrition while reducing waste and cutting food costs at assisted living facilities.
Adopting the Grove Menus system is a cost-effective way to plan delicious and nutritious seasonal menus for seniors. To schedule a free, no-pressure demonstration of how our food menu program can benefit your assisted living facility, contact us today.