Twice a year, before the start of the two major holidays Passover and New Year, the municipality sends a box of food products to its senior citizens. Nice initiative but...I'm sometimes unhappy with some of the box's content.
I don't know how it works, and who's in charge of the project there, but it's done with minimum of thought and logic.
Elderly people try to keep away from the unofficial 'killers' : sugar, salt, oil. In the box, these are dominant items both as stand alone (1 kilo sugar, 1 kilo salt, 1 bottle of oil) and as part of the various products (coca cola bottles - not the diet or zero version - but the classic one with all the sugar and calories; several tins of tuna - in oil, not in water).
People like to drink coffee, but the only type in the box is always the strong, black, turkish coffee which might cause or increase insomnia at a certain age. Ketchup is a constant. I wish some of it be replaced by a few fresh tomatoes.
The good stuff in the box is the one that helps with observing the holiday tradition, and I feel grateful for that: for Passover - a big package of matzot (unleavened bread), eggs, potatoes, a jar of 'gefilte fish' (egg-shaped patties made of ground carp fish), a package of matza flour for making soup balls , a bottle of non-alcoholic wine.
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| soup balls |
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| 'gefiilte fish' with carrot topping |
For New Year, a small jar of honey, traditional honey cake , apples, eggs, a bottle of wine. (Dipping slices of apple in honey is symbolic of a sweet, abundant New Year).
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| honey and apples |
The box is brought in by one or two young volunteers, in their last year of high school, methink. They deserve a big hug for their heart-warming effort and caring.
* web pictures
What a lovely and thoughtful thing to do. But I wonder why the contents are not as healthy as possible. For example: is it easier to give the real coca cola than the one that's better for you?
ReplyDeleteI don't particularly care about coca cola. I myself drink sparkling water or soda water with my meals. But if they decide to include cola in their box, they should choose the least damaging version, the one with less sugar and caffeine.
DeleteI suppose most of the products are donations . Even though, I believe it's possible to manipulate things and get the right products for the elderly.
I don't drink sodas either, just water, tea and coffee. It's hard to be critical, they are doing a good thing, and I don't know how it all works, what can and cannot be done.
DeleteIndeed, Inger. The bottom line is that they're doing a good, positive thing. That's why I wouldn't ask questions (except in my blog). Whatever I get should be appreciated.
DeleteThat is really nice of them. Why do they do it?
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so good: "... the strong, black, turkish coffee."
I need some right about now. ☕️
Oh, yes. Black coffee sounds good, and is good. I used to drink lots of it when I was younger. About ten years ago, I switched to the weaker coffee - Nescafe, and I like it (with a drop of milk) quite a lot.
DeleteBlack coffee might interfere with your sleep, make you restless, and that's not so good at a certain age.
The idea is lovely and the ingredients sound good but you are spot on about considering some of the issues their target market might be dealing with! I suppose you could share the things that don't work with others who don't care quite so much. I hope so.
ReplyDeleteI tend to look on the full half. Nice gesture, helps with maintaining tradition.
DeleteNot everything is right as we live in a reality that sustains an unhealthy food industry, and there are interests and issues.
I do share things that I don't want with others, but it doesn't make me feel better that others eat products with high sugar/salt content.
It's a nice gesture even if you cannot use everything in the box! I haven't heard of the honey and apple tradition before, what a nice way to welcome in the new year! :)
ReplyDeleteHope you are having a lovely weekend :) We had a fun day at the playground yesterday.
Away From The Blue
Indeed, the honey-apple tradition is a lovely way to greet the New Year. Honey signifies the hope for a sweet year,the slices of apple signify the fruit's healing properties and also abundance.
DeleteIt is the thought that counts..but..you have to wonder who's in charge. During the pandemic an Italian place fed seniors..only it was meatballs for the most part. We do have a Senior center that is now back in full swing. Many go for a dollar lunch or its up to your gratitude. I went once a lady invited me. It was a really nice homecooked meal and it was good place to go for friendship. Afterwards, they had a table for bread to take home. It was packaged by a local bread place that it would be day old by tomorrow. It was a well missed place during the pandemic. A neighbor told me she went there every day when it was open..and for the evening meal too.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a great new year!
A pre-holiday parcel/box of products for the senior population is a long time tradition here.
DeleteWhen the pandemic started, during the first lockdown, the municipality even sent volunteers three times a week with a cooked meal.
That's so good to hear. I hope they were good meals. I hope you are having a good week.
DeleteNot bad. If you don't have to buy ingredients and work to prepare the meal yourself, then it should be good.
DeleteWishing you a good week too!
Good on the final year high-school students. In a tough year, they are still doing their bit for those doing it even tougher.
ReplyDeleteThey are the 'raisin on the cake': polite, caring, eager to be of help.
DeleteI live on the third floor (no elevator). Being young, they have no problem with carrying up the products.
Very nice of the government!
ReplyDeleteIn these matters there are several factors involved. Whoever is behind this,is certainly doing a nice thing. It shows both respect for tradition, and respect for the elderly.
ReplyDeleteJust a nice gesture from your government!
ReplyDeleteBut I guess I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth
Well put!
DeleteIt's a lovely thought of giving.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the items that the gift box contains is what has been donated to the organizers there they might have no say in what products are included.
That's probably what happens -they get donations from various sources and make up parcels and boxes with what they get.
DeleteStill, they could put some more thought into it, to avoid waste and make things more useful.
I would by far prefer the package with the content you suggest ! I don't like grease, too much sugar, the only thing I love is strong coffee. If you consume it like the Italians do strong coffee is more healthy then the colored water which is served here. Italian drink the coffee and water apart. You always get a little espresso cup and a glass of water. Otherwise it's milkcoffee or Cappucino. But now all uses are a little mixed when I was a child Popcorn was completely unknown in Europe. Today we all eat popcorn !
ReplyDeleteI used to be addicted to strong, black coffee, but these days are gone. I value my sleeping hours.
DeletePopcorn is a favorite of mine in winter. I make it in the electrical Proctor Silex device. Very good.
Nice to have a package but you're right, sugar/salt/oil are the last things to gift with the health implications. I like matzo - with lashings of butter on!
ReplyDeleteNowadays, there's much awareness of health-nutrition connection among people of all ages. Nothing wrong with that, on the contrary.
DeleteMazo, with the right ingredient can be turned into a real treat.
We have coffee in the morning, and that is it. It doesn't prevent us from sleeping! It's a lovely way to start the day.
ReplyDeleteIt's a nice gift for seniors. I sure feel it would be nice.
I agree with you about drinking coffee being " a lovely way to start the day".
DeleteI know that, as I start my day with a cup of Nescafe Red Mug. I drink at least 3 cups a day. It doesn't affect my sleep or my mood, and it gives me much pleasure.
I wouldn't go back, to drinking black,turkish coffee, the coffee of my younger days, as this is stronger,
That sounds nice, volunteers are the best.
ReplyDeleteCatchy title! Well, at least that. Being in Covid days, I couldn't give them a hug.
DeleteIndeed, beautiful action of both the municipality and the volunteers! Most of the products in the gift box were very useful in keeping up tradition.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a nice thing, and so sweet of the volunteers too. But, it would be nice if whoever is planning it, thought about the recipients a little more.
ReplyDeleteRight, Mari. As one of the recipients I totally agree with your words.
DeleteI always applaud volunteers ... and this is a nice gesture even if you cannot use everything in the box!
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
No doubt about that: nice gesture, nice volunteers. May it all repeat itself every year!
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I love the soup balls. Let's eat Matzo Ball Soup. Are it Matzah balls or meat balls? I don't know.
ReplyDeleteNext week I will make "Traditional Dutch Brown Bean Soup"
The balls in the picture are matza flour balls, not meat balls. We like to make and eat them during Passover.
DeleteGood Luck with your traditional Dutch bean soup! Sounds delicious!
Regardless of the unsuitability of some of the contents it does seem a nice gesture as you have said, Duta. And, it is nice that you were able to use some of the items in the box.
ReplyDeleteTrue. Since I consider it a nice gesture, I don't ask questions or complain (only in my blog I allow myself to criticize a few things; they hardly read blogs in hebrew, no chance they'll read my blog in english:).
DeleteWe have a group that provides daily meals for the elderly called Meals on Wheels, where they are delivered by car to the elderly persons home. My dad subscribed to the service before he passed for a few short weeks and he absolutely hated the food they brought him. Said it wasn't fit for human consumption. I think it was more that the food was too Americanized for him and he was used to Mexican food. I often feel like you as I now qualify for the senior menu at most restaurants and I see no option for steak and salad, mostly just grilled cheese & fries, foods that are cheaper for the restaurants to provide since they are give us seniors a "break" on pricing.
ReplyDeleteThe Canadians also have "meals on wheels".I saw it mentioned in one of the blogs.
DeleteEverything to help the elderly is nice, but there's always place for some slight improvement to make us all happy.