Cookaholics Bulletin Board

My friend Susan is having a hard time keeping the residents happy at the Assisted living. It seems they don't like Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Aspargus, Spinach and Green Beans. That doesn't leave much to the imagination when it comes to planning a meal. What I don't understand is why they have a group consensus when it comes to certain foods and them being eliminated from the menu. What about the people who do like these vegetables. Anybody have any ideas? I can't think of anything except offering 2-3 different veges a day and that's not very cost effective.

It does seem odd. As a confirmed veggie-hater myself, I can't imagine expecting everyone around me to conform to my fussiness. If I were running the kitchen, I'd just keep the veggie sides in rotation and remind residents that they don't have to eat what they don't want. I'd also do a count at the end of each meal to make sure I know what percentage of which veggies were really coming back to the kitchen. Just because the broccoli-haters are noisy, doesn't mean they are the majority.

In my experience you have to cook the bejeesus out of the vegetables and then the old folk will think they're just fine.

A resident of assisted living may feel that complaining about menu choices is one of the few places where they have control over their lives. Most of the vegetables mentioned are Cruciferous Vegetables with distinctive and strong flavors. Maybe aging taste buds are an issue. Switch the choices to peas, corn, squash, and carrots and see what develops.