At Moldaw, food is our love language. Our dining program ensures that every meal is more than just nourishment, but an experience to be savored and a crucial part of a healthy senior lifestyle. Moldaw’s Executive Chef Allain Bernabe provided insight on how he and his culinary team create a welcoming, tasty, and nutritious dining experience for residents. Continue reading to learn more about how we plan a healthy senior diet, our favorite menu items, and how dining at Moldaw in Palo Alto, CA, can be a delicious part of your daily routine.
What do residents love about dining at Moldaw?
At Moldaw, residents love not only our delicious menu, but our overall dining experience and the daily variety is provides.
Life at Moldaw is all about community connection, independence, and engagement. Our resident dining committee plays a strong role in gathering resident feedback on meals, portion sizes, variety, and communicating these preferences directly to our culinary team. We are always striving to make our dining experience more enjoyable, and prioritize resident preferences with every addition and update to our menu.
How does Moldaw plan meals to meet the nutritional needs of residents?
Eating well supports strength, independence, immunity, and overall quality of life. As we age, our bodies’ nutritional needs naturally evolve. This shift impacts metabolism, muscle mass retention, digestion, and overall long-term health. Older adults need fewer calories, so planning a healthy senior diet is all about getting the most nutrition out of every bite. This does not mean eating less, but rather eating smarter.
Older bodies tend to use protein less efficiently or need increased amounts of nutrients like vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and fiber. Healthy meals for seniors should aim for a colorful plate that hits all essential food groups like lean proteins, whole grains, leafy greens, fruit, and calcium. At Moldaw, we thoughtfully plan our senior living meals to ensure residents are able to reach their nutritional goals while enjoying food that is both nutritious and delicious.
We design our dining experience around fresh, chef-prepared menus that emphasize a balanced diet, seasonal ingredients, and resident choice. Ingredients are prepared to maximize flavor, while also avoiding excess sodium and saturated fats. Special accommodations are easily available for residents, including vegetarian, kosher, heart-healthy, and other senior-specific nutrient needs. With so much variety, it’s easy for residents to select meals that suit their unique preferences and nutritional goals.
What exciting dining upgrades can residents look forward to?
We are very excited about the upcoming upgrades to our dining room. These renovations are carefully designed to increase comfort, community connection, and align with Moldaw’s active, wellness-focused lifestyle. Our elegant, renovated dining room and new cafe-style seating make our dining areas exciting hubs for community life!
New dishes are also frequently incorporated into our menu for variety. Our current menu is full of healthy, Mediterranean-inspired dishes like grilled flat-iron steak with chimichurri, sumac-spiced chicken with tahini, roasted vegetables, and a hearty black bean soup. We are always coming up with new, flavorful, nutritious options that pair delightfully with our existing, delicious menu.
Live and Dine at Moldaw
At Moldaw, we strive to celebrate flavor, nutrition, and community with every meal. Our talented culinary team takes great care to provide delicious meals that prioritize resident preferences and nutritional needs.
Contact us today to learn more about Moldaw in Palo Alto, CA, explore our new Dining Room, and discover our active and welcoming community.