Since 1980, March has been designated “National Nutrition Month,” an opportunity to celebrate and become better educated about the importance of nutrition in our lives. National Nutrition Month® is a campaign created annually by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to highlight the importance of making informed food choices, being active and developing sound eating habits. The Academy’s theme for 2016 is “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” which encourages us to take time to enjoy brain healthy foods and appreciate the great flavors and social experiences food can bring to our lives.
How we can champion healthy eating habits
At SALMON Health and Retirement, we take this opportunity to engage our Residents and Clients in a variety of nutrition and food-related activities and events that share our excitement about nutrition while highlighting the Academy’s message. This year is no different.
Our campuses developed and displayed information boards highlighting “Savor the Flavor of Eating Right,” steps to being healthy and fun nutrition facts. Activities included word searches, “guess the grain,” and recipe sharing. Every week throughout March, a food demonstration was conducted by our Dining and Nutritional Services team at Whitney Place in Northborough, who introduced nutritional foods to Residents,
such as chia seed energy bars (their favorite), Greek yogurt bars, avocado deviled eggs, and hemp seed oatmeal no-bake cookies. Residents at our Natick campus experienced firsthand the social side of tasting flavors of dishes from different cultures, including participating in making pierogis, salmon rolls, and tomato tarts from scratch, using only fresh ingredients. They visited Samba Steak & Sushi in Framingham, where they experienced a fusion of two exciting culinary cultures – South American and Asian. Menu items include organic fresh-mixed spring vegetables with avocado and mango, organic ginger sauce, curry pot with coconut milk, and, of course, sushi.
Dining and Nutritional Services at SALMON Health and Retirement pushes the limits of the traditional healthcare menu. We aim for farm-to-plate menu items using the freshest ingredients in exciting ways: flavorful, nutrient-dense dishes not only satisfy the palate, but promote the health of our Residents. So, join us in “Savoring the Flavor of Eating Right!”
