Home is where the heart is, yet as so many of us who love a good meal know, the quickest way to the heart can be through the stomach—or taste buds. Our culinary services team is dedicated to nourishing our residents, body and soul, with tasty, heart-healthy meals.
To celebrate, we’re hosting a special “Caring is a Work of Heart” culinary event, and invite you to join us for a delicious meal and to learn about the benefits our residents receive from our nutritional strategy. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 4th, from 10 - 11:30am, when Chef Mandy Thompson offers you the chance to experience the great flavor and warm feeling of a delicious meal with our culinary team.
Mandy Thompson has been pleasing residents with her hearty and heart-healthy meals for Bethesda Gardens Arlington residents for more than three years. And their love for her is obvious.
“I have truly enjoyed making a difference in meeting the residents’ day-to-day food preferences and health needs,” she says. “One resident comes to mind who never misses a meal. He enjoys meal times because he’s social and has grown to value eating a well-balanced meal. He has some health issues, so I prepare meals that helped him stay healthy.”
Because Bethesda Gardens Arlington is a small community, Mandy is able to prepare a single meal to order. “I make sure no extra salt is added and use many raw foods for him. This gives him the freedom to choose from the menu and stay in harmony with his heart condition,” she says.
Mandy grew to love cooking from being in the kitchen with her grandma and mom. She says she would watch how they prepared meals and loved helping them and sharing that time side by side. She received her degree in culinary arts is a certified dietary manager in Texas.
