Regardless of age, everybody loves to eat.
Considering the generation you cater for is crucial, also taking into consideration the food preferences and ability to eat certain foods and how it will affect the digestive system etc.
Also looking at the different generations and how they move into the retirement age bracket – this will have a huge impact on catering and food offerings going forward.
Eating behaviours and food service have changed substantially for seniors today when compared to how their elders lived—especially when we consider retirement and assisted living facilities.
In the context of a changing food culture, elder care facility providers are increasingly looking at food service as a way to differentiate themselves in a competitive market and are branding themselves with health-conscious menus that reflect our overall culinary shift away from processed foods and toward menus consisting of vegetables, whole grains and lean meats.
The silent generation prefers meat and potatoes. Baby boomers also are predominantly traditional but have an adventurous streak. Meat and potatoes, yes, but they may prefer sweet-potato fries to a baked or mashed potato.
Residents want variety, but they want food that they know, food culture is currently undergoing a renaissance whereby views on cooking and eating are changing to include a newfound sense of curiosity and discovery, and these changes include aging consumers. The shift toward a deeper interest and participation in food culture is not just a youthful trait relegated to Millennials but a true cultural shift.
One big reason why baby boomers are more adventurous than the silent generation is travel.
Members of the silent generation often saved up to take one big trip after retirement, whereas baby boomers travelled frequently throughout their working lives. Exposure to different cultures and different foods broadened their diets, a factor that care communities need to consider.
The Baby Boomers have always been a large generation. Born just after the end of World War II, parents of the Baby Boomers ranged from young couples to older partners who had refrained from having children due to the Great Depression. This generation was born into a fruitful economy and, generally, are confident about their future.
Believe it or not, Baby Boomers are actually the group driving the clean-eating food trend, not Millennials. They are not likely to follow the same restrictive dieting programs as other generations — like structured calorie counting or a cruelty-free diet — but they are putting a purposeful focus on clean eating. Healthier food options, even as simple as a tasty variety of fruits and vegetables paired with many of their favourite staples or comfort foods, are ideal for their appetites.
