With seniors becoming more health-conscious, more active, and more food-savvy than ever before, dining operators have begun shifting their food options and systems to cater to this new generation. Long gone are traditional diners with the same old boring menus. While they used to prioritize healthcare and food safety, food dining operators are increasingly shifting to focus on your wants instead.
With a focus on hospitality and customization, dining operators are now more sophisticated and full of amenities to cater to you and your loved ones. Read on to discover the top 5 senior living dining trends in Spring, TX.
A Variety of Dining Venues
In the past, the typical diner would have a single big dining room where everyone would gather. In contrast, newer facilities usually include no less than three main types of rooms: casual bistro, pub, and fine dining. If they’re unable to do that, they try to create different dining experiences for each meal period, by decorating their interiors differently and changing the menu. The main emphasis is on creativity and keeping things new and fresh. Some places even have coffee or snack bars reminiscent of those that you’re used to in the general food service industry.
Fresh and Cooked to Order Foods
Fixed menus are no longer the norm. Menus now change frequently to showcase seasonal ingredients, weekly and monthly specials, as well as local produce and freshly-caught seafood. There are also many opportunities for customization, with diners allowing residents to pick and choose ingredients and have their food cooked to order.
Culinary Kitchens
With a more diverse set of menus and ingredients, more focus is being placed on senior dining operators to think like restaurants instead of simple dining rooms. As a result, there’s an increased emphasis on the design and efficiency of kitchens.
Culinary kitchens, or commercial kitchens, have a central production area for preparing ingredients, with cooking to order done separately. By using this method, diners require more specialized equipment and skill sets.
Integrating With the Community
Dining operators are coming up with new and innovative ways to make senior living less isolated. With ideas such as food trucks and open-air restaurants, diners are hoping to encourage the public as a whole to become customers. In this way, seniors can be more integrated into the larger community and feel a sense of belonging.
Skilled Team Members
With these constantly changing menus and cooked-to-order foods, higher expectations of chefs are being set as a result. Instead of focusing on hiring employees trained in healthcare, recruiters are turning to those with hospitality experience instead. As a result, more and more chefs in the senior dining industry are coming from luxury restaurants or country clubs.
In our Personal Care Community, Sensations Dining is one of our exclusive programs designed to provide you and your loved ones with an unforgettable dining experience. Headed by Chef Matthew Griffiths, who has been Sous Chef at the Four Seasons Hotel and also led a kitchen at the Hotel Zaza in Houston, our professional food service team is experienced and dedicated. You and your loved ones can enjoy a variety of dishes with every meal, every single day. Contact us now to learn more!
