Dietary team brings fiesta to Afton Park residents

Food and fun marks Cinco de Mayo
5/13/2022  - Deron Hamel
 

The creative food services department brought a taste of Mexico to Afton Park Place residents on May 5 when the Sarnia long-term care community celebrated Cinco de Mayo.

Pauline Charlton, Afton Park Place's food services manager, says the dietary team knows how much residents enjoy special food days, and celebrating the famed Mexican holiday was the perfect way to incorporate different menu items.

The menu that day featured tortilla soup, chicken soft tacos and chili cheese fries for lunch. For dinner, Tex-Mex-style perogies were served, followed by churros dusted with cinnamon sugar and whipped cinnamon cream for dipping. There was also fresh fruit, including papaya and blueberries, as well as rice pudding with brown sugar.

Cold root beer was served with the meals, “although there were lots of requests for Corona and margaritas,” Pauline notes.

In keeping with the festive spirit of the day, the dining rooms were decorated with a variety of cutouts, such as sombreros and cactus plants.

As much as the residents enjoy being served new meals, team members enjoy preparing them, Pauline says.

“Celebrating with residents during the different holidays in the calendar year allows the department to introduce different dishes, food that would typically be associated with that holiday,” she tells S&R Today.

Cinco de Mayo – which translates to “fifth of May” – honours the Mexican army's defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, during the French occupation of Mexico.

Pauline says the food services team “received such great feedback from the residents” on the meals served for Cinco de Mayo.

“They enjoy it when the department introduces something different that is not on their daily menu,” she says.

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