On October 25, the grand finale of the first “Taste of Happiness” Nutrition Meal Competition for Senior Dining Services was held in Shenyang, in celebration of Senior Citizen Month. The event was co-hosted by the Shenyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau, the Shenyang Aging Office, and the Shenyang Market Supervision Administration.
In an interview, Zhang Ge, deputy director of the Shenyang Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau and director of the Aging Office, shared the intent behind organizing this competition. “This event aims to implement the national strategy of proactively addressing population aging and to promote the high-quality development of elderly care services in Shenyang. We want to enhance the culinary skills and dietary management of senior dining services, ensuring that older adults enjoy nutritious and safe meals, ultimately bringing them happiness through food.”
The atmosphere at the competition was vibrant and lively, with contestants from 13 senior dining establishments in Shenyang donning professional chef uniforms. Under the guidance of the Shenyang Nutritionists Association, they carefully prepared diabetes-friendly and hypertension-friendly meals. The diabetes meal options featured low sugar levels while focusing on food pairing rich in dietary fiber and protein, satisfying both taste and blood sugar stability. Meanwhile, the hypertension meals strictly controlled salt intake and incorporated ingredients known for their blood pressure-lowering effects, resulting in delicious yet healthy dishes.
A local resident attending the event remarked, “These dishes look fantastic and are particularly suitable for seniors. The diabetes and hypertension meals have been thoughtfully prepared.”
Judges evaluated the dishes based on multiple criteria, including nutritional balance, flavor, appearance, and cost-effectiveness. The grand prize went to Chengzhen Elderly Canteen in the Baita Community, while the silver awards were granted to Pengzu’s Path Elderly Canteen in Xinhua Garden Community and Runde Elderly Canteen in the Future Community. Bronze awards were presented to the Chengzhen Elderly Canteen in the Hepan Community, Anlin Elderly Canteen in the Fumin Community, and Minghuifeng Elderly Canteen in the Tawanjia Community. These award-winning establishments will serve as excellent models for elderly dining services in Shenyang, promoting continuous improvement in service quality.
In addition to the nutrition meal competition, over 20 quality dining service providers, supply chain companies, and eldercare service organizations showcased their offerings on-site, recommending high-quality ingredients, promoting nutritional health, and offering psychological services and attractive giveaways. Representatives from some top dining service providers also delivered self-presentation speeches. This competition created a platform for cooperation and exchange among various regions and dining service providers.
Currently, Shenyang has established over 200 senior dining service points. Looking ahead, the city plans to increase guidance and support for elderly dining services, continually improving the service system to provide higher quality and more convenient meal options for seniors. Additionally, there are efforts to encourage more community engagement in elderly dining services, contributing to a fulfilling and happy retirement for the aging population.
