News

Review serves up tasty revamp

Mon, 08 Jun 2020 21:03:00

Nine varieties of soup, fresh fruit every day and homemade cakes for supper – these are all part of the tasty and nutritional changes being made to meals being served up by the Mallee Track Health and Community Service (MTHCS).

The changes are the result of a review MTHCS has undertaken, looking at the food enjoyment experience, taste, texture, and nutritional value of the meals it provides to aged care residents and Meals on Wheels recipients. And it was no small feat – the MTHCS kitchens in Ouyen and Sea Lake serve an average of 170 meals a day, seven days a week!
“The most rewarding thing to come from the changes we are starting to introduce is seeing the residents and clients happy with the new things we are trying which will improve their food enjoyment experience,” MTHCS Hotel Services Coordinator Louise Plozza said.
“We haven’t had a lot of change to the meals we provide for some time, so it has been great to see a positive response.”
Soup continues to be offered in the four-week rotating menu, with the addition of  offering iced-coffee and chocolate/strawberry milkshakes to residents; providing 100% fruit juice, where possible; serving up sweet potato chips or wedges; and swapping roast beef for a beef curry.
“We are also going to try offering other beef options such as meatballs in savoury gravy and chow mein,” Louise said.
As part of the meals review, a dietician assessed the menu options and provided advice on nutritional values and portion sizes. As a result, the amount of filling in sandwiches will be increased, soups will have added vegetables and protein, and there will be an increased focus on making sure portion sizes are correct.
A lot of consultation has been undertaken with residents at the aged care facilities, as well as the MTHCS cooks and other staff members. And there are no plans to stop this consultation. Louise has worked with MTHCS Delivered Meals Coordinator and Social Support Assessor Renae Lanigan to ensure Meals on Wheels recipients can also have their say.
Starting this week, people receiving Meals on Wheels will receive feedback forms with each meal so they can put forward their opinions and suggestions for improvement. Feedback gathered will then be used to adapt and improve the menu, where possible.
“Asking for people’s input help us to continue to improve and provide meals that people can look forward to and really enjoy,” Louise said.
“Hopefully, through this process, we will add some new options to the menu and people will have the chance to get some of their favourite meals on a regular basis.”

Pictured: MTHCS staff Judy Pengelly, Karen Ryan, Carmel Bonica, and Samantha Lanza serving up some of the new meals on offer.