Nourish.

The Dining Services team at Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake serves over 200 individuals’ breakfast, lunch and dinner each day. With over 30 menu options in three cook-to-order restaurants and three neighborhood dining programs, that means thousands of pounds of food to prepare and hundreds of staff hours to ensure meals are served on time and taste delicious.

For Mary Ryan, the Director of Dining Services, it is all in a day’s work. 
Since opening in 2006 the Dining Services team at Saint Therese at Oxbow Lake has focused on the value of choice. Allowing individuals the opportunity to choose what they want to eat, when they want to eat and where they want to eat is part of our philosophy of care.

“The core of independence is choice,” said Mary. “Guests at Oxbow Lake should not have to adjust to the way we prepare or present food; our staff is trained to adjust to the individual’s needs and wants.”

Mary has given residents and tenants the option of choice by participating in community supported agriculture (CSA) and adding a variety of menu options with new recipes, as well as offering the opportunity eat where they feel comfortable whether in their suite, in the bistro or in a dining room.

Mary has also developed strategic partnerships within the community, to build further awareness of the importance of food in a senior care setting. Working with local schools and colleges, students studying food visit the campus to see a “real world” view of how food is prepared and delivered in long-term care.

“I show them the importance of knowing the value of food and the pleasurable experience it can provide,” Mary said. “I show the students that serving someone is honorable work, to nourish the body is honorable work.”

When asked why she chose to serve food in a senior care setting Mary becomes quiet.

“My grandparents taught me about sitting at a table; about the magic that happens at a table,” said Mary. “Food is a vehicle; the act of breaking bread together connects people.”