Meal Times

All homes set their meal times for the benefit of the residents. Because of this meal times vary from home to home. Generally speaking breakfast is usually served between 8 and 9am. Lunch between 12.30 and 1pm and ‘high tea’ or dinner between 5 and 6.30pm.

Coffee, tea or other drinks and a biscuit are served about 10.30-1 lam and afternoon tea about 3pm.

Night drinks such as hot chocolate, horlicks, tea, milk, etc are usually brought round by the night nurses about 8.30-9.30pm. If a resident wants a hot drink during the night hours they only have to ring the call bell and a member of staff will make one for them.

Menus

Part of the chefs job is to ensure meals are nutritious, well balanced, well cooked and served attractively.

Meals are not produced haphazardly but with thought and planning. A series of weekly menus are drawn up and numbered one to four or six by the chef to cover a period of four or six weeks At the end of that period it is repeated starting again at week one.

The menu sets out what is planned for breakfast, lunch and high tea or dinner each day, plus an alternative dish for each meal.

New menus are usually drawn up every season in order that residents may have the benefit of seasonal fruits and




vegetables. The expected seasonal weather is also taken into consideration. In winter you get more winter foods like stew and dumplings and steamed puddings on the menu. The summer menu will offer more salads and cold sweets.

Although the menus are set, alternatives can always be offered particularly on days that are not so seasonal. See sample menu Figure 9.

Alternative Choices

All homes should always be able to offer alternatives even if they are not listed on the menu due to lack of space.




When you’re looking at the various establishments ask the matron if you can see the current menu and if alternative choices are not listed, ask if a choice is provided if a meal is unsuitable in any way for your relative.

Likes And Dislikes

Most of us dislike certain foods or flavours. If there is anything on the menu which your relative dislikes they can ask the staff for an alternative dish.

Meals And Refreshments For Visitors

Most homes will offer visitors a cup of tea or coffee if they are with their relative at the appropriate time. This is usually free of charge but if you ask for a tray of tea or coffee a charge may be made.

If you wish to have a meal with your relative you would need to ask as soon as you arrive or preferably by phone the day before. In some homes they do not charge for the meal but others add a charge to the resident’s account.

It makes sense to keep a record of all meals and refreshments you are given in case a mistake is made and you are charged for something you have not had.

Sweets, Chocolate And Biscuits

Biscuits usually accompany morning and afternoon tea or coffee but you are generally allowed to take in extra biscuits as well as sweets, chocolate, fruit, squash, etc for the resident to keep in their room. Before you do, check with staff regarding your relative’s diet and if there are any restrictions on what you may take in for them.

It’s a good idea to take in a fruit bowl and suitable receptacles for sweets and biscuits marked with your relative’s name to keep their goodies in.

Special Diets

Special diets are ordered by doctors or consultants for people with certain medical complaints. These people need a diet that will do them no harm and will enable them, in most cases, to live a reasonably normal life. For instance, residents suffering from diabetes need a diet which maintains the balance of their blood sugar and insulin levels. This particular diet is one where the person can maintain the correct sugar intake by an exchange system rather than a set daily menu. Leaflets explaining this system are usually found at the diabetic clinic or the doctor’s surgery.

Other residents may need a low fat or low salt diet to prevent deterioration.