Meals & Senior Dining

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Encinitas Senior Center

Senior Nutrition Lunch Program


Enjoy a nutritious and satisfying dining experience weekdays at the Encinitas Community and Senior Center Parks & Recreation Café, intended for baby boomers and seniors of the veteran era alike.


The City of Encinitas Senior Center is proud to work with Essenco, Inc. the senior nutrition program provider as of July 24, 2019. Essenco, Inc. works with the City of Encinitas to ensure that seniors’ nutritional needs are balanced with an overall dining experience focused on quality, taste, variety and presentation. Essenco, Inc. prepares its own soups and sauces from fresh, natural ingredients and tries to minimize utilizing processed foods.


Suggested daily meal donation is $4 for Seniors 60+ with a $6 cost per meal for ages under 60. Reservations are required and can be made up until 9:00 a.m. of the day before you would like to have lunch, by calling (760) 943-2258. Check-in for lunch between 10:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Lunch is served at 11:40 a.m. We look forward to serving you!


To speak with the Nutrition Coordinator please call 760-943-2258. Click here to find the current lunch menu.


The Encinitas Parks and Recreation Café is supported by the Older Americans Act Grant Funds, awarded through the County Aging and Independence Services and supported by the City of Encinitas and general meal donations. No eligible person shall be denied a meal because of failure or inability to contribute.

A member of Meals on Wheels America, Jewish Family Service offers home-delivered home-style meals to adults ages 60 and older through three programs: Senior Nutrition, Expanded Senior Nutrition, and Foodmobile (fee associated). Meal delivery service is also available to younger adults with disabilities that prevent them from leaving their homes.

Nutritious meals are prepared daily under the guidance of a registered dietician in our onsite Loonin Family Kitchen and delivered by a caring team of volunteers. Low-sodium, gluten-free, vegetarian, and medically supportive options are also available.

With every visit, we check in on your wellbeing and can connect you to additional JFS services, including home-safety improvements, transportation, and care management. More than a meal, we deliver peace of mind.


Meals on Wheels is the only agency providing meals for 7 days a week, including holidays. Additionally, we cover the entire county, including delivery into the over 3,049 square miles of rural and unincorporated areas. Meals on Wheels San Diego County subsidizes 60% of the costs for meals, delivery, and other services provided, regardless of a senior’s ability to pay.


Distributing home-delivered meals and safety checks could not be accomplished without the help of our very large and caring volunteer workforce who deliver meals with a hug and a smile and ensure our homebound seniors are OK. Frequently the volunteer may be the only person the senior sees all day, providing human contact and a safety net, particularly for those seniors living alone. Lives are saved nearly every week as a result of acquiring the proper emergency personnel for someone who has fallen, had a stroke, or is simply in need of additional resources.

The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank and our North County Food Bank chapter comprise the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 63 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank serves, on average, 500,000 people per month in San Diego County.


Through our North County Food Bank chapter and by partnering with more than 500 nonprofits with feeding programs, the Food Bank provides nutritious food to individuals and families in need in communities throughout San Diego County.


The Senior Food Program is a federal program that provides monthly supplemental food packages to income-eligible senior citizens aged 60 and over. The Food Bank administers the program and distributes USDA-provided food at 65 distribution sites every month in communities throughout San Diego County. Call the Food Bank 1-866-350-FOOD (3663) to speak with a staff member who can assess if you qualify for the program. If you qualify, you will be provided information about the location and hours of your nearest food distribution site based on your zip code.

A monthly luncheon is provided.

San Diego County's Aging and Independence Services agency offers assistance, information, and referrals to older adults, those with disabilities, and their family members. Our services and programs help people stay safe, healthy, and as independent as possible.