Recipes from the Past

Our founder shares her memories and insights:

Packing up Mom’s kitchen to prepare her home for sale was an adventure into the depression era.

When Janet and I started sorting through the kitchen of Mom's home, we found spices still left over from the 60’s, stale crackers that Mom insisted were “still good” even though they were long ago expired.  Every plastic storage bag had to be washed and reused over and over again, and plastic sealed storage containers that were missing lids were still saved, even though they were not usable for keeping anything air tight.  Mom didn’t have the heart to throw anything away. 

By the time Jan and I packed up the family home, we as adult children had been long gone, and Mom had lived alone for many years. It often times concerned me as she was the one who always received great joy by being the cook for her family.  Cooking alone I’m sure, wasn’t as appealing, and as her health began to diminish, I could see that Mom was less and less interested in her own nutrition.  As her daughter, one of the most frustrating things for me was how could I make sure she was not eating stale, expired or tainted food. 

How many times my friends and I have shared stories about our elderly parents who reused the same plastic storage bags 5 times, or the tiny morsels of leftover food to go into the refrigerator, only to go bad, but she insisted it was “just fine!” How often have we laughed about our prospective mothers, and yet, on a serious note, we realize just what a different world they grew up in.   Their generation had more humble beginnings, whereas our generation had many luxuries that defined us as a generation.

I often wonder what it was like for her to adjust from being the stay at home mom, preparing meals for the entire family, to only having to cook for herself.  I sense that because as a wife and mom she was always living for others, I suspect she often didn’t cook for herself in her later years because she was alone or lonely?  I think about the many elderly loved ones who just simply don’t bother, and thus their health can be compromised. 

Now that Mom has been in Retirement Living, I have to say what a relief this is to me that the staff watches out for her dietary needs.  I have met with them on several occasions, and they have bent over backwards to prepare foods that Mom loves. 

If you are presently learning about retirement living for your parents, I have learned that many communities have different philosophies about what standards they keep when it comes to the meals they prepare.  Make sure you ask the communities you visit about their dietary standards. 

Additional points to consider?

• Do they serve organic foods?
• Are their menus planned by certified dieticians?
• If your parent is a diabetic, has high cholesterol, or has heart or blood pressure issues, what are the accommodations they make for them?  Have them share a sample menu
• How much of a variety do they have in the menu selections?

Finally, never underestimate how much it means to your Mom or Dad when you make an old standard family recipe especially for them.  I have tried to regularly prepare things for her that were her specialties.  The retirement community she lives in has bent over backwards to not only serve it to her, but store her leftovers so that she can have it for additional meals. 

I have combed through her recipe box, and actually have used it as a fun activity for my visits with Mom.  We share family memories of times past, as she shares with me when she prepared these special dishes for family gatherings.  Mealtime around the table holds fond memories for so many of us. They still can! 

What are the meals that you remember most with your family growing up?

What customs to you still hold dear?

How have you been able to help sustain your parent’s diet?