Discover summer’s bounty of local produce at our retirement home communities

Summertime is quite possibly the favorite season for nutritious, flavorful eating. While the best retirement communities serve tasty and healthful meals all year long, we look forward to the midyear months when we can offer our residents fresh local fruits and vegetables.

Just in time for this summer, we have revised the menus and introduced new foods at all our retirement home communities. This effort has been led by our newly hired Vice President of Dining and Culinary Services, who is also a Registered, Licensed Dietitian. We have done this to provide Country Meadows residents more meal options that are high in fiber, vitamins and minerals and lower in sodium, fats and cholesterol. As part of this change, we are integrating more fruit and vegetable options into our three daily meals. During the upcoming months, residents will be able to choose from colorful, summer-season fruits and vegetables.

Nutritional value of favorite summer fruits and vegetables

Many summertime fruits and vegetables have superb nutritional value. All of the following are low in cholesterol, sodium and fat and are significant sources of nutrients, with the main ones listed here:

Fruits (All are rich in Vitamin C.)

• Berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries) – Antioxidants, fiber
• Peaches, nectarines and cherries – Vitamin A, potassium, antioxidants, fiber
• Plums – Vitamin K, antioxidants
• Watermelon – Vitamin A, magnesium, potassium, lycopene
• Cantaloupe – Vitamin A, potassium, fiber

Vegetables (All are rich in Vitamin C.)

• Broccoli – Vitamin K, potassium, fiber
• Green beans and sugar snap peas – Vitamin K, fiber
• Red bell peppers – Vitamins A and B6, potassium, lycopene, fiber
• Tomatoes – Vitamins A and K, potassium, lycopene
• Summer squash and zucchini – Vitamins A and B6

Eating more fruits and vegetables may lessen the risk for heart disease, guard against some types of cancer and have additional preventative health effects. Learn more from the U.S. Department of Agriculture at ChooseMyPlate.gov.

Healthy eating at retirement home communities—like Country Meadows

Each day at Country Meadows Retirement Communities, we strive to make healthy eating convenient for our residents. We serve them nutritious meals, complete with healthy fruits and vegetables, shared in the company of friends and neighbors. Our goal is to make mealtime not just a healthy experience, but a pleasurable one as well for all our residents.

If you’re looking for a vibrant, caring retirement home community in Pennsylvania or Maryland, we hope you will schedule a visit and even join us for a meal. At Country Meadows, you will find residents enjoying active and fulfilling lives amid friendship and camaraderie. Please contact us for information on any of our 11 Pennsylvania retirement communities or our Maryland retirement community.