As I sat and pondered what to blog about, I nibbled a piece of chocolate hoping for some divine inspiration (after all chocolate is heavenly, right)? It made me wonder if anyone has done a study on chocolate and seniors.
We all know that to stage a house for sale, you bake something wonderful, or at least burn a candle that smells like it. At trade shows and senior fairs, the chocolate is always the first thing to go. So???
A quick Google search turned up the feel good book Hot Chocolate for Seniors, and a 2010 study on senior women & chocolate. The study concluded that Moderate Chocolate Consumption Linked to Lower Risks of Heart Failure for Senior Women – chocolate eating older women have less heart failure but experts warn of excess calories, fat. Basically, some lucky Swedish women who ate 2-3 servings of dark chocolate every day were found to have lower risk of developing heart failure.
Probably not too surprising since we’ve all heard that a glass of red wine/day and a piece of dark chocolate is “good” for the heart, but it sure gives me the green light to eat another piece of dark chocolate : )
How can you use this information? Do you have chocoalte available for vistors? How about printing the study results & sending all of your clients/residents/prospects a piece (or 3) of dark chocolate, or asking them to come by to pick up a sweet treat that is good for them? Consider celebrating national chocolate week (American Chocolate Week–March 14-20, National Chocolate Day (October 28 or Dec. 28 or 29), National Dark Chocolate Day (Feb. 1) or another of the many obscure chocolate food holidays.
Bon appetit, Here’s to your health, and Happy Marketing!
I found this information quite complimentary to many studies I have done here in the Miami, Florida area. We have since worked with local communities to select the best grades of chocolate for both their residents and perspectve clients. For the senior 80+ years in age, we recommend a dark chocolate at 72%. For enticing touring families, we would tell you to roll with dark chocolate M&Ms or the upscale Hershey’s miniatures, preferably almond.