By Doris Freeman

Waterman Village is Florida’s total retirement community campus located in the small town of Mount Dora, Florida. The campus features independent living, assisted living, a Medicare five-star rated nursing and rehabilitation center, a new memory support residence and more. Waterman Village houses six dining venues powered by Sodexo North America, which serves a large variety of options, ensuring there’s something for everyone. 

Sodexo chefs at Waterman Village develop new recipes to cater to every allergy and sensitivity, including the gluten-free community. Celiac disease is very common, not just in the young, but also in older adults. The only treatment for celiac disease is to follow a gluten-free diet. This means not eating anything that contains gluten, as it can trigger a flare-up that causes digestive symptoms. It can be difficult to eat completely gluten-free, as many common foods and beverages contain some form of gluten. It can also be a challenge to make sure you are eating a balanced diet while having to avoid a lot of food that adds nutritional value. 

The demand for gluten-free options has increased at Waterman Village. They recently added a new gluten-free, resident-favorite dish, Peruvian Vegan Ceviche. This dish features sweet potatoes, corn, fried plantains, tomatoes, avocado, shallots, aji amarillo sauce and fresh cilantro. The chef behind this recipe is Claudia Saldana-Rose, who won the 2022 Love of Food Innovation Challenge. This competition is open to full-time professional chefs and cooks working with Sodexo. The challenge pushes Sodexo chefs to create innovative, new dishes that celebrate authentic global flavors. 

It is extremely important for older adults to eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. The current recommendation is between five and 10 servings per day and should include an array of fresh fruits and vegetables of different colors. Eating a variety of fruits and vegetables of all colors in the rainbow helps to make sure you are getting a diverse range of nutrients. Waterman village serves vegetable-forward dishes daily like Swiss Chard with Garlic, Maple Glazed Butternut Squash, Asian Broccoli Salad and Zucchini and Yellow Squash Medley. Dishes like these ensure that residents eat the recommended servings of vegetables every day. 

Another way Waterman Village is catering to its residents is group dinners. Studies show that older adults who socialize during meals tend to have better nutrition habits and improved well-being compared to those who dine alone. Last year, Waterman Village opened the Savor dining room in the community’s waterfront section, Lakeside. This dining venue is the perfect space for mealtime get-togethers, where residents can socialize and share laughs. Savor is known for its exceptional service and world-class, fine dining. Residents can enjoy themed meal nights, holidays, celebrations and other events that give the Waterman Village chefs an opportunity to create unique experiences that bring residents together to enjoy a five-star meal. 

Recently, Sodexo chefs at Waterman Village developed a new menu, consisting of healthier options containing up to 550 calories. This new menu features well-balanced meals like a Caprese-Style Grilled Chicken Salad and a Golden Curry Harvest Salad. These meals may be lower in calories, but they are full of flavor. At Waterman Village, Sodexo chefs use locally sourced ingredients, including home-grown herbs and fresh-caught fish and seafood. Locally sourced ingredients are fresher and packed with more nutrients than foods that have to be imported.