Light supper help please?

[MissCommando]

Hiya, I need some ideas for light supper meals for OAPs please.

I work in a care home and all the staff have agreed that the suppers are not great. The cook wants us to think of some ideas. Don't want anything with toast as they have that a lot.

Thanks

[ojread2]

for their main meal they get something on toast or a frankfurter? Yuck!
What is wrong with meat and veg? That is certainly what I would expect for my money
And a decent tea of sandwiches, omlettes, and all the other things listed above
If it were me think I'd be going over cooks head

[vodkancoke]

No probs, happens to me all the time! :)

[pastafreak]

That cook of yours sounds like one I worked with a few years ago. Anything to save-so it was things like frankfurters,tinned meatballs,frozen omelettes,'value' bread....anything super processed. And those were for main meals!
What they have is dependent on their appetites,and of course physical condition. Some may not manage a lot of food,or certain types of food-some elderly can eat a horse given the chance. Good,chunky homemade soups,quiche, a selection of cheeses and crackers,cold roast meats...

and as for toast- here's 2 great sites I found a while back with fantastic ideas for light meals based on toast. Not the usual cheese on toast-some really creative stuff there.

http://www.foodnetwor...st-toppers/index.html

http://www.mrbreakfas...icle.asp?articleid=20

[bednobs]

ask the residents!

[MissCommando]

bednobs - the majority have dementia so not always possible.

Thanks pasta! I know, the quality of the food is terrible. It's a council home and it's up to the cooks to decide what they make and of course, the top bosses love our cook because she's under budget. They don't care about the food she makes. Makes me frustrated as the other council homes make so much more of an effort with their food.

I like the cheese and crackers idea. Will have a look through the toast list.

[bednobs]

i dont agree that it's hard to ask dementia pts what food they would like to eat - it just takes patience

[DaisyNonna]

6.15 ? Just before bed-time? How many of them will have lost the will to eat?

[grasscarp]

I am just eating a lovely lentil and vegetable soup recipe I got off the internet. Low cost but delicious www.allrecipes.com/recipe/lentil-soup/

[DaisyNonna]

What time is breakfast?

[boxtops]

oj, it's not the main meal, that's at lunchtime, it's the tea/supper which is frankfurters etc.

The meal needs to be easily cut up and digestive, bear in mind false teeth (or no teeth) - scrambled egg on toast is cheap and nourishing, fishcakes, that sort of thing.

There is no point the so-called cook being under budget if the residents are undernourished and not receiving the meals they need.

[pastafreak]

bednobs-yes it would take patience,but it would also take time,which is most likely in very short supply. It would mean having at least one support worker to go to each resident.Can they really spare the hour it might take to question up to 30 residents?
I don't agree with that at all-but it's the way it is in many residential homes.

[boxtops]

PS - if the other homes are good, go and ask their cooks what they serve up - that'll show up the poor state of affairs in your home.

[MissCommando]

bednobs - A few of them could answer yes, but not the majority. I am actually a very patient person. We actually have a few patients who are unable to speak at all!! I don't know why you always think you know better. You just come onto threads, picking things apart and not giving any help at all.

Breakfast is at 9am - cereal followed by toast.
12.15pm is main meal
3.20pm is cake and a cup of tea
6.15pm is light meal
9pm onwards, hot choc or horlicks and sandwich or biscuit.

[owdhamer]

Tripe, with plenty of black pepper and vinegar

[grasscarp]

My suggestion can easily be eaten without teeth and with the goodness of lentils, garlic, vegetables etc is matching what they need. Plus in a care home what can be prepared in one pot is easier than individual things.

[pastafreak]

boxy-in the home I worked in as a second cook-there would frequently be insufficient-or even NO food-for me to make the required meal with. I remember once taking a photo on my mobile of the shrivelled vegetables the senior cook had left for me.

[DTCwordfan]

I love a macaroni cheese ,home made and easy to make. throw in some leeks (or onions), some nice bacon or panacetta, finish off with some good fresh parmesan and loads of toms, a green salad and yum -and a robust wine for those who can..... easy, cheap and fun....and yes, I use my trademark in it, a little chili or chipotle pepper to give it a little zing.....

[sherrardk]

I found this if it any help (the last page has a suggested menu for a full week).

http://www.food.gov.u.../residentialcarea.pdf

[bednobs]

yikes i'm sorry miss c i didn't realise i did that - it just seemed to me if you wanted to make meals for people, the best people to ask what would be best is the people who are eating them. In the dementia home i used to work in there used to be some sessions that were done with most of the residents (along the lines of nostalgia; singing, taking about the past etc). talking about foods they used to eat and enjoy might be a good topic for a session like that (if your home does them). if people need help with washing and dressing, that also might be a good time to talk to people

[pastafreak]

DT...sounds great...but remember this is for folks who may already have easily unsettled tums...and a dislike of any thing 'different'.

Send it here instead...;-))