Page 16 - Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens - September '22

Page 16, Lifestyles in Palm Beach Gardens
Book Review

The Secret History Of Food: “ ... vanilla is one of the few ice cream flavors to be like fruits generally, as
Strange But True Stories named after genitalia, thanks to Spanish conquistadors dessert.’”
Such other chapter
who ‘discovered’ it in the sixteenth century and called it
About The Origins Of vainilla, a Spanish derivative of the Latin vagina, because titles as “A History of
of its resemblance when spread open to harvest its seeds
Swallowing,” “Pie,
Everything We Eat (and probably because they hadn’t seen their wives in a Progress, and Plymouth
long time). They then brought the plants back home to Rock,” “Breakfast
By Nils A. Shapiro Europe and spent three hundred years trying in vain to of Champions” and
On Page 141 of this pollinate them because they couldn’t find the rostellum. “Honey Laundering”
month’s selection, author (Insert clitoris joke here.)” further attest to the
Matt Siegel connects One of the things we learn in the chapter, “Attack variety of topics and the
comments by two other of the Killer Tomatoes,” is that it took six years of author’s sense of humor.
writers to make an escalating court battles before the U.S. Supreme Court One doesn’t often
interesting point: took the case that led to a key decision in 1893: “Supreme find on a literary menu
“Average Americans Court justices read from various dictionaries and heard a tasty smorgasbord
and Europeans not only live testimony from expert witnesses before ultimately ruling of hearty information,
better than more than 99 that tomatoes were vegetables because they ‘are, like served with a generous helping of sweet wit. I strongly
percent of the human beings potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnips, beets, cauliflower, recommend that you place your order for The Secret
who have ever existed, they celery, and lettuce, usually served at dinner...and not, History of Food as soon as possible.
live better than most of the royalty of history...gas-station
minimarts now sell cabernets and chardonnays ‘far
of France.’ Today supermarkets offer at low cost dozens New Programming At La Posada
superior in quality to the wines once drunk by the kings
of items almost anyone who has ever lived considered
It is an interesting point most of us never even think Helps Residents Navigate The
unattainable delicacies and died without tasting.”

about. And by the time you reach that paragraph in
Index), you will already have learned many hundreds Ever-Changing World Of Technology
this 270-page book, (193 of text plus 77 of Notes and
of surprising, even shocking, facts about a subject that
consumes us every day of our lives. As tools and technologies continue to advance,
Even better, the whole is served up deliciously by a many seniors can feel left behind and overwhelmed
writer with a sense of humor that prompted one reviewer by the growing list of programs, apps and websites
to describe this as “a laugh-out-loud funny read.” now utilized in everyday life. This digital divide
Siegel has written about food and culture for such was exacerbated by the pandemic, which drove
publications as The Atlantic, Fast Company, and The a rapid acceleration in the use of telehealth and
Paris Review. He is a former English professor who other online services. While technology kept most
lives with his dog, Waffles. Having now read The Secret Americans connected to healthcare and loved ones,
History of Food, I would unhesitatingly place him at the countless seniors felt isolation and frustration as a
top of my list of ideal dinner companions. result of their lack of familiarity with technology.
It is clear that the author has done a great deal of La Posada, a Kisco Senior Living community
research in the development of this book. He covers an located in Palm Beach Gardens, wants to help
impressive range of topics related to this one subject, its residents fill the digital gap. Through a partnership with In addition to guided lessons, DiPanni frequently holds
taking us on a journey that extends from mankind’s local organization, Social Savvy Seniors, the community has one-on-one sessions with residents to further assist them
earliest days on this planet to the present day – and introduced programming to motivate participants to explore with their individual technology needs. One such individual,
includes both the ways in which humans have altered the the uses and benefits of technology and social media. Chuck Sawicki, is a passionate advocate for the Social Savvy
very nature of the foods we eat and the impact that foods Founded in 2017 by Tiffany DiPanni, Social Savvy Seniors Seniors program and has received one-on-one training from
have had on us, physically and psychologically. inspires seniors to enhance their quality of life by using DiPanni to help with his business. Through Social Savvy
As just one example of human intervention, here is an technology. Through presentations, guided lessons and one-on- Senior’s Business for Boomers program, Sawicki has
excerpt from the chapter on corn (originally called teosinte); one sessions, the organization is educating La Posada residents been able to perfect his presentations, get emails promptly
some of the text has been omitted for lack of space: and the greater Palm Beach senior community on how best to answered and master his personal devices to conduct
“We’re not even sure what the people who first ate use technology and social media to their advantage. business efficiently for his volunteer responsibilities in the
teosinte actually did with it; for starters, an ear of it Palm Beach County SCORE chapter.
contained only five to twelve kernels compared to the five “I see Tiffany as a mentor,” noted Sawicki. “Many of
to twelve hundred on an ear of corn today, and each of us are intimidated by the rapid pace at which technology is
them was only around one-tenth the weight of a modern growing, but she is patient and encourages us to work with
kernel. So an entire ear of teosinte would have been about technology rather than against it.”
the size of a cigarette, though probably shorter. And The partnership between La Posada and Social Savvy
there wasn’t a central cob, so you couldn’t eat the whole Seniors has also provided residents the ability to enjoy
thing ... You could eat only the tiny kernels, which were modern amenities provided at the community, such as
individually wrapped in an almost impenetrable outer voice-command devices and Touchtown, La Posada’s mobile
casing ... Yet for some reason our ancestors saw potential community-connection app. “Social Savvy Seniors has
in this lowly grass and kept replanting it, choosing only given our residents confidence when using technology and
the seeds with the most attractive traits – say, height, social media,” said Rick Minichino, wellness director at La
girth, tenderness, and disease resistance – until it grew “Growing up, I spent a lot of time around my grandmother Posada. “It makes daily responsibilities easier for them and
into a tall and dependable grain they could live on. So it and her friends, which led me to notice that many seniors allows residents to stay connected with their families and
was a lot like dating in high school.” lacked important personal connections to their families because fully engage in life at the community.”
Those of us of a certain age will remember the they either weren’t using social media platforms or had As a Kisco Senior Living community, La Posada is
ubiquitous chain of Howard Johnson restaurants, 1,000 difficulties trying to send texts or emails,” said DiPanni. “In a dedicated to offering enriching experiences that encourage
of which lined the nation’s highways and dotted big cities digital age, most of us take these conveniences for granted, but residents to pursue their passions. The Social Savvy
during and after the World War II era, a new location many older generations grew up without modern technology, Seniors program is just one of many engaging programs
opening every nine days. They were famous for their so they are missing out on the immense benefits technology and activities offered to residents daily. Along with tech-
giant outdoor signage advertising 28 flavors of ice cream. can provide.” focused programming, wellness at La Posada includes
This book’s chapter, “The Vanilla of Society,” points out Social Savvy Seniors is conducting an ongoing multi-part upwards of 50 different programs that target each facet
among its many tasty facts that Mr. Johnson himself once series at La Posada consisting of presentations and discussions of wellness including game and movie nights, exercise
admitted that most people simply preferred vanilla. about online security, social media, personal devices, fraud and classes, excursions to local areas of Palm Beach Gardens
Of course, while the author does not claim this as the more. Since beginning the program six months ago, residents and much more.
reason for the flavor’s overwhelming popularity, he does have vastly improved their tech-savvy skills, enabling them to “At La Posada, we consistently evaluate current events
point out the following: better manage prescriptions, use online banking, avoid scams, and issues that affect our senior residents,” said Minichino.
video-chat with family, and even shop online independently. “Our primary goal is to provide a high quality of life, so we
Residents Bill and Marilyn Quinn have gained a wealth continuously pursue new programs and activities that will
of knowledge from the program. Although both required not only better their lives but inspire them to take charge of
different levels of assistance with technology, each of their their well-being.”
unique needs were addressed through Dipanni’s instruction.
While Bill received solutions to better manage his cellphone If you’re interested in learning more about life
and email, Marilyn used Dipanni’s advice to help her identify at La Posada, call 561.475.3386 today to schedule
scams and shop online safely. “My wife is the social director your personal tour and experience the La Posada
of our family,” laughed Bill. “Since we started participating lifestyle yourself. Visit mylaposada.com for more
in the program, she is always on Facetime with family and information.
friends and loves to shop online.”
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