Senior News December, 2002 Vol. 21. No.  12

 

Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.

Vegetarian? Try your senior center

Senior Friends 2002: Area Agency honors local seniors

California Senior Legislature sets top priorities for lawmakers

My experience in the Zone: Finding a balanced eating plan

Food: one of our favorite pasttimes

Ask the nurse: Calcium helps form your bones and teeth

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Vegetarian? Try your senior center
A meat-free choice goes on the menu at senior dining centers
by Joyce Hayes

Eunice Watkins is served her vegetarian meal at the Humboldt Senior Resource Center dining room by volunteer Bertha Moore. Available at all HSRC lunch sites, the meals need to be ordered at least one day in advance. Photo by Barbara Clark

Seniors attending the dining centers in Arcata, Eureka and Fortuna are now enjoying the choice of the regular meat entree or a vegetarian alternative. For the past 28 years, the Humboldt Senior Resource Center's Nutrition Program has promoted healthy nutritious noon-time meals. The cornerstones of the menu - meat and potatoes - have often been the favorites of the majority of seniors coming to the dining centers. However, trend watchers and vegetarian groups nationwide are reporting a growing shift in food preferences-older people are turning to vegetarian diets in ever-increasing numbers.

By the year 2005, people born between 1949 and 1963, the "Baby Boom" generation, will make up 38 percent of the American population. Statistics suggest that many of the baby boomers fit the traditional vegetarian profile, and aging baby boomers are taking a proactive approach to their health by eating more meatless meals. Studies show a positive link between vegetarian eating and good health. Add the fact that older people seek natural, pleasant ways to combat problems associated with aging - weight gain, higher cholesterol and blood pressure, increased cancer risk and impaired digestion - and you have a real motivation to go meatless.

This same trend has been seen at the dining centers by increasing numbers of seniors requesting alternative choices to the meat entree and other seniors indicating they do not eat at the dining center because they are vegetarian. Even though menus have offered one or two meatless entrees each month, a person who chooses to follow a vegetarian lifestyle would find the menu offerings limiting.

Food Service Coordinator Tara Sanders has closely worked with the kitchen staff to produce some wonderful recipes. "The true challenge has been incorporating the vegetarian option into our already tight production schedule. It is remarkable how well our staff has adapted to this change," Sanders said.

The response has been tremendous and far beyond expectations for the first weeks of this offering.

When asked why seniors are choosing the vegetarian alternative, they cite health and taste as the top two reasons they are eating more meat-free meals. One senior who has attended the senior dining center for years remembers growing up in a home where the entire family followed a vegetarian diet. She has consistently given away her entree while still eating remaining parts of the meal. Now she regularly orders the meatless entree and is able to enjoy the full compliment of nutrients and calories each day. Several seniors who don't regularly follow a vegetarian diet said they liked to order the vegetarian choice if they didn't like the meat item being offered.

Our program is not trying to convert seniors to a vegetarian lifestyle. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian eating styles can be healthful if good food choices are made. Regardless of dietary lifestyle, we want our centers to be open for all seniors to enjoy a nutritious meal, improve dietary intake and at the same time enjoy friends and activities.

Joyce Hayes, RD, is nutrition director for the Humboldt Senior Resource Center. Phone numbers to call to sign up for a vegetarian lunch are 442-1181 Eureka; 825-2027 Arcata; and 725-6245 Fortuna. Please call at least the day before you wish to come eat. Info: www.humsenior.org.