Published: March 20, 2008 09:43 am         

Senior Center offers affordable, nutritional meals to satisfy appetites of older adults

Perhaps one of the most beneficial and outstanding features of the Mineral Wells Senior Center has always been that of the noon meal. The primary effort, if not the total goal, of the food service and Chef Frances is the tastiness, variety and nourishment provided the senior citizens who often make the meal at the center their most important meal of the day.

It is a well-known fact that as we grow older our taste buds become less acute and the intake of food is often lessened as a result. As we age, another phenomenon is responsible for our waning appetites. Most of the senior citizens of our community have lost their eating partners and no longer have the desire to make meals – neither the preparations thereof, nor the eating – a “social time” of their lives.

The Senior Center lunch has the solution all of those issues. Many years ago, it was decided by our local senior facility that we would not depend upon the usual “packaged” meals that were provided to most senior centers and that we would install an “in-house” meal preparation to take advantage of “sale” prices at the markets, use fresh garden produce from the area and have more variety in the meals.

This is not to say that everyone is pleased, every day, with the menu presented. But we publish a monthly menu that is available to all so that days of preference may be noted and reservations for choice meals made ahead of time.

No matter the menu listing, however, you can be sure that the meal will be nourishing, that there will be an ample supply so that appetites may be appeased and that the cost will be minimal. The $3 donation requested for each meal always provides an entire meal including drink and dessert. We invite the senior population of our community and surrounding area to consider meals at the Senior Center from time to time, if not more often. Make it an “eat out” affair.

Speaking of food, this coming Friday, March 28, will be Birthday Party Day. At 10 a.m., The Band will begin play for our enjoyment and, at 11:30 a.m., the party will really get it on. Healthline is the sponsor of this affair, providing the cake and door prizes, Braum’s doing the ice cream and flowers coming from Cole’s florist. All of this is topped off, as usual, by the great lunch, prepared by Chef Frances. It is a can’t-miss day!

With all the great food we will be offered throughout the week, it is a given that we are going to need some physical activity to counteract the overeating. Again, the regularly scheduled exercise activities are part of the fitness program for senior citizens which is so important for our well being.

Be sure to catch Brenda Lee’s series, which includes two sessions – on Monday and Wednesday afternoons – which she identifies as “Physical Fitness,” designed for the more able seniors, and her Tuesday/Thursday 11 a.m. “Stretch and Tone” program, which caters to the less active participants of the center. Choose the one that suits you best.

Texas Neighborhood Council is scheduled to return on Tuesdays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. to take applications for financial assistance for payment of certain utilities. This service is offered to both senior citizens and to disabled people in our county.

If you are suffering from the high utility bills you receive each month, they might be able to help. They will need proof of eligibility, names and numbers of residents of your home as well as evidence of charges for the utilities. If you have other questions, just contact the Senior Center office or the Texas Neighborhood Council for further details.