When it comes down to lunch choices, senior citizens tend to appreciate a good, hearty meal.
“We like the meat and potato meals,” said Doug Jones. “It’s what seniors like and we have good counts when we do that.”
Jones should know. He’s been preparing meals for Meals on Wheels and congregant meal sites throughout Vermont for more than three decades. He works for Lindley Food Services, a Rutland-based organization that cooks and delivers meals to senior citizens throughout the Green Mountain State, including in Springfield.
“It keeps seniors in their homes where they want to be, and that’s a great goal,” Jones said. “It’s our goal to keep on doing that.”
Throughout the decades, nutrition requirements for Meals on Wheels and congregant meals nutritional standards have changed with different iterations of the federal Older Americans Act. Individual dietary restrictions also have played a role individually.
“There’s more changes, there’s more diabetics, more of the gluten-free and lactose-free, which is expected,” Jones said, adding that meals alwaysare heart-healthy and contain low amounts of sodium.
“I think what we do is really serve a nice common need,” Jones said. “As people age, sometimes they need different dietary instructions.”
Jones’ favorite meal to make is the roast turkey dinners “with all the fixings: the pumpkin pie, the cranberry sauce, the whole nine yards.”
“They really appreciate that,” Jones said. “They feel like it’s something they would prepare themselves.”
There are some meals that the senior citizens have mixed feelings about, including lo mein and quiche.
“They’re used to a sort of meat-and-potatoes meal,” Jones said. “They may be reluctant to try different things.”
When possible, Jones said, he tries to incorporate seasonal produce, “especially in the summertime.” The menu typically is designed in three-month cycles.
Baked good desserts — served twice a week — have many fans.
“They love their homemade cookies and their cakes,” Jones said.
Jones estimates that Lindley produces 2,200 meals per day. He will often deliver them to the congregant meal sites or to homebound senior citizens.
“You get to know them, where they’re from, what they do, what they’ve done all their life,” Jones said. “And they’re extremely appreciative of what you do. That always makes you feel good when you hear that kind of stuff too.”
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
