Catering


textures. Taking pride in the way the meal is presented really does show on the plate and can improve the overall enjoyment of the meal.


The consequence?


Turning to the reason why it is so important to look beyond just serving a meal – it is because every mouthful counts. While typically older adults can have a reduced appetite, they can have higher needs for protein and some vitamins and minerals.2 The consequence of not eating enough is residents developing malnutrition, which is unfortunately all too common in care homes with up to 70 per cent of residents being associated with an increased risk of malnutrition.2


Malnutrition can have


many adverse consequences such as reduced mobility, increased falls, impaired wound healing, many of which will lead to increased care needs6


effect on a resident’s quality of life. Those who are malnourished often feel overly tired, lethargic and simply lacking energy to enjoy the everyday activities they once used to.


Mental health and wellbeing As well as the social aspect of mealtimes supporting resident’s nutritional intake and physical health, this regular social interaction creates opportunities for residents to exchange stories and build relationships, vital for their emotional wellbeing and mental health. Feeling more connected to those around reduces any feelings of loneliness and isolation – particularly for those who may have less frequent visits from loved ones. Here we also see improvements to residents’ quality of life, with a supportive environment bringing a sense of belonging and improving overall happiness in their surroundings.


Dining should be about more than just eating a meal. Making mealtimes more of an occasion brings about conversations, and


and have a significant


even fun games, to help stimulate the mind and keep residents mentally active. A great way for care homes to encourage this is by arranging group activities and themed cuisine occasions that act as a celebration, getting residents excited for mealtimes. This may be through marking national events throughout the year or introducing your own themed days for residents to enjoy – with activities and a menu to match. For special events, it is good to encourage visits from friends and family to enhance the sense of community within the care home. Having everyone come together to celebrate and share a meal, particularly involving loved ones, brings enjoyment to dining and improves quality of life.


Specialist diets


When thinking about the visual context of the meal and the dining environment, one group of residents useful to highlight are those living with swallowing difficulties, otherwise known as dysphagia. Swallowing difficulties are common, affecting up to 75 per cent of residents in care homes.7


The


cause can be varied, for some it can be a physical impairment, for others it can be due to dementia, particularly in the later stages.5


Understanding the negative impact this poor visual appeal has, it is not surprising to know that older adults consuming puréed meals often have lower energy and protein intakes.5


Fortunately, the more recent use of


shaped meals using food moulds, meaning the puréed food components appear as separate food shapes on the plate, has vastly improved the appeal of the meal. So much so, that a recent study found that moulded, texture modified meals significantly increased energy and protein intakes, when compared to more traditional, non-shaped meals.9


This may also be due to having the ability to choose what to eat on the plate as residents can recognise and anticipate what they are eating.


In addition to the visual improvements,


moulded texture modified meals have also changed the dining environment for those with swallowing difficulties, coined with the phrase ‘dining with dignity’.5


The moulded For many the solution is a texture


modified meal, ranging from an easy to chew meal to that of puréed meal. The texture of the meal helps slow down the progression of the food from the mouth down to the stomach, which in turns helps with a safer swallow.8 Texture modified foods can often be poorly presented when served to residents in care, particularly when blended on-site.


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meal enables the resident to enjoy a meal that looks and tastes like those being eaten by others they are dining with and allows them to take part in social dining without the feelings of embarrassment Appropriate texture modified meals can also improve independent feeding and reduce mealtime anxiety by ensuring the meal is the correct and safe consistency for each resident.10 A moulded texture modified meal is therefore much more than just what is on the plate, it enhances the enjoyment and safety of the whole dining experience. Fortunately, pre-prepared texture modified, moulded meals are available to support a care home’s catering team, particularly when needing to feed many residents with a wide range of texture needs.


www.thecarehomeenvironment.com September 2025


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