Team Leisure and Fun: October Brunch!

Case Study 21

Nutritional and Intellectual Wellness Fun and Function Model

by Judy Potter

A large part of my wellness philosophy is "try it—you might like it!". When I was young, my Mom always insisted that we girls eat at least some of everything that was served. Being very practical, she allowed each of us to have a food item that we didn't have to eat, if we didn't' like it after we had tried it at least once. My sister Susy's "NO THANKS" choice was liver, but I liked the way liver tasted & especially the way Mom fixed it. My sisters Linda & Nancy both disliked the same food-lima beans, but I liked everything that Mom made. We all loved boysenberries on her homemade rice pudding. And she had us all enjoying cooked spinach because she added mashed potatoes to lightly-cooked spinach to make a nice, non-soupy consistency. I guess that this started my "food adventures," trying many (but not all) different & unique foods. Our daughters enjoyed homegrown & homemade baby foods when they were young. Our younger daughter is a professional photographer & has photographed food dishes for 2 Disney cookbooks. Our older daughter has (finally!) started her own food explorations, especially with the latino foods abundant in southern California.

Our Assisted Living ladies & gentlemen have also had some "taste trials" during their Socials. With their cheese tasting, they all sampled, liked, & were surprised with the yummy flavor of soy cheese.

I enjoy, & I'm always glad to share my latest "discoveries": roasted red pepper hummus, kiwi fruit, horseradish cheddar cheese, dried green beans, quinoa, edamame, & chocolate-covered pomegranate seeds.

I try to apply this idea of "try it—you might like it!" to other areas of my life: home, family, prayer, work, gardening, exercise, fiber art, living green, & snorkeling. Learning something new keeps me young & helps me remember what it's like to be a novice & in unfamiliar territory—helping me keep my patience.