The Citymeals Blog

Here at Citymeals, we know that food is more than just meals on the table, it’s a way for people to connect — with one another and their culture. In a city as diverse as New York, that means working to provide meals for older people from various backgrounds, including the 20 percent of our meal recipients who identity as Hispanic or Latino.

One of those recipients is 71-year-old Anita. For Anita, certain dishes remind her of Ecuador, where she was born and lived until she was seven years old. “When my parents came to New York, everything they did was like what we cooked in South America,” she says. Though, they had trouble finding certain specialty ingredients in the grocery store. They had to modify some of their recipes, working with what they had. “But now, you can find them everywhere.”

Anita still makes these dishes for her children and grandchildren on holidays and birthdays. One of her favorites is caldo de bola, plantain dumplings filled with meat, vegetables and — how Anita likes it — raisins. “It’s delicious!” she says.

But, day to day, Anita struggles to prepare meals for herself. Which is why she appreciates the home-delivered meals she receives. Our provider partners, like Encore Community Services, offer recipients like Anita the choice of Latin-style meals. The menu includes things like chicken adobo, habichuelas guisadas — stewed beans — and beef fajitas. She looks forward to every delivery. “When the meal is hot,” says Anita, “you want to eat it right then.”

“When food reflects an older adult’s traditions, dietary needs and preferences, it’s far more likely to be enjoyed and meaningfully improve their nutrition and well-being,” says Katie Barth, Director of Program Initiatives and Evaluation at Citymeals. “We’ve been experimenting with meal choice through our new Breakfast Box and Mobile Grocery programs. We’re continuously learning and adapting to best meet our clients’ diverse needs.”

According to a recent study, 18 percent of older New Yorkers live in poverty. The number is higher for immigrants, with 22 percent reporting that they struggle to make ends meet. Born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rubem moved to New York in 1984. While he considers himself a true New Yorker — can’t imagine living anywhere else — he sometimes misses the food. “Beans are a very popular food in my country,” Rubem says. “I cook black beans every week to compliment the food Citymeals delivers,” he says.

Since he can’t stay standing at the stove long, he cooks them in a large batch to eat with his meals throughout the week. He prepares them the Brazilian way, starting with dry beans — never canned — and cooking them slowly with lots of garlic. It’s a way to bring the taste of home into his Midtown apartment.

 “Culturally relevant meals do more than feed people,” says Barth. “They affirm identity, dignity and trust.”