Let Food Be Thy Medicine

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Let Food Be Thy Medicine

by Dana Robinson

We have all heard the quote from Hippocrates “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Pair that with the Chinese proverb “He that takes medicine and neglects diet wastes the skills of the physician,” and you are bound to wonder if you’ll ever enjoy what you eat again.

When my husband, Jamie Robinson, and I founded Lighthouse Personal Care Homes, we knew that food would be a high priority in our boutique senior living communities. Our mission statement includes creating moments of joy in everything we do. How could we

promote health with the food we prepare and recognize our natural desire to truly enjoy food? After all, food is one of life’s simple pleasures, right?

Food is amazing! It nourishes our body, mind, and soul. Our brains are pretty amazing as well. According to Dr. Lorn Miller, a board-certified neurologist, over the years we develop emotional memories and many of these memories revolve around food. Have you ever smelled something or tasted something and it brought you right back to a special time or place, perhaps your grandmother’s kitchen or a holiday gathering?

I remember making pineapple upside-down cake with my grandmother as a small child. It wasn’t just the smells and tastes I remember. I can very vividly recall the brilliant colors of the fruit as I carefully arranged the vibrant red cherries inside yellow rings of golden pineapple. Just sharing this story brings a smile to my face and warmth in my heart. I am once again transported to my childhood sitting at the counter in my grandmother’s kitchen.

My friend Gene shared a similar story of pineapple upside-down cake being his mother’s favorite. I remember Gene serving pineapple upside-down cake with a similar nostalgic smile in his mother’s honor at several functions he hosted. Is there something unique and powerful to this specific dessert, I wonder. It is often requested as a resident favorite in our care homes. As small boutique care homes, we can create menus tailored to our residents’ tastebuds and impactful life experiences. It’s not surprising pineapple upside-down cake makes its way on our menus often. Yes, there are health benefits to eating pineapple. Pineapple is packed full of flavonoids and phenolic acid, as well as bromelain. These antioxidants and enzymes found in pineapple help protect against chronic diseases, cancer, and can reduce pain and swelling. To me, “Let food be thy medicine…” is not limited to just the nutritional benefits of food but also the power of the food to spark memories and promote emotional and cognitive support. We can always make healthier ingredient swaps in recipes but let’s not undervalue the connections we have with food on an emotional level, especially when it comes to unlocking hidden memories and making connections with our seniors and those living with dementia.

See Dana’s pineapple upside-down cake recipe on our Taste Buds page!

About The Author Dana Robinson is a registered nurse and dementia care educator & specialist. She and her husband founded Lighthouse Personal Care Homes with two locations in Dalton, GA—Walnut Creek and Southern Haven. For more information about Dana and her boutique senior living communities visit www.lighthousepch.com.