Meeting Nutrition Needs
Eating well is important at every age for good physical and mental health. We all need good nutrition throughout our lives to maintain a healthy weight, boost our immune system and protect against chronic disease. Healthy eating can also help people to manage certain types of disease or illness, such as heart disease and diabetes.
Variety is the cornerstone of good nutrition. To make sure we are getting all of the nutrients we need, it is important to eat a wide range of nutritious foods including:
- Cereals & grains (inc. breads, rice, pasta & noodles), preferably wholegrain varieties
- Fruits, vegetables and legumes
- Lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
- Milk, yoghurt and cheese
- Drink plenty of water
Most people also need to eat certain foods in moderation, including foods that are high in salt, sugar, saturated fat and alcohol.
Our age, gender, weight and level of physical activity will affect the amount of nutrients that our bodies need each day. Some of us will need to eat more of certain food groups than others. Some people may have specific nutrient requirements due to certain medical conditions.
Community Chef is committed to providing tasty, nutritious meals to assist members of the community and those in hospitals or residential aged care facilities access suitable foods.
Eating well as we age
Our nutrient needs change as we get older. Dietitians recommend less focus on restricting fat, sugar and salt consumption for older Australians due to the increased risk of malnutrition and unintentional weight loss. These health problems can lead to susceptibility to illness and infection and an increased risk of falling. To maintain our independence and quality of life as we age, the priority becomes getting enough energy and nutrients. Some foods with added fats and sugars can assist in meeting nutrition needs.
Community Chef take into consideration the nutrition needs of those nutritionally at risk when developing menu items.
How are Community Chef meals developed?
The recipe development process begins with natural, nutrient-rich ingredients selected by our research and development chef. Community Chef then consult with dietitians from Leading Nutrition Pty Ltd to determine if the menu item meets relevant nutrition standards. At this stage recommendations may be made to improve the nutritional balance of the recipe without compromising on taste.
The recipe is then test-produced in the Community Chef kitchen and presented a panel of taste-testers to ensure that the recipe produces a quality product that is appetising in taste, texture and appearance for meal recipients.
Community Chef collaborate with Leading Nutrition throughout the development phase of every menu item. The final recipe is approved and ingredient lists and nutrition information panels are developed for all recipes. Menu items are also classified for special diet suitability, for example low fat or diabetes friendly options.
Having a comprehensive recipe development process gives us confidence that the meals produced are not only nutritionally balanced but taste great too.
What can I expect from a Community Chef meal?
Community Chef meals are made with quality wholesome ingredients. Unprocessed foods such as lean meats, legumes, vegetables, fruits and full cream dairy products are the basis of our meals. Unnecessary food additives such as artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners are avoided.
Community Chef produces a range of nutritious soups, main courses and desserts. Depending on your local council, you may receive a two-course or three-course meal as part of the Meals on Wheels program.
Soups come in 250g portions and are made with real vegetables and meat or legumes.
Cooked main courses are 300-340g portions and contain the following foods:
- Lean red meat, poultry, fish, eggs or meat alternative (for example legumes)
- Potato or rice or pasta
- A wide variety of colourful vegetables
Main meals are served with a side of vegetables or salad. If you would prefer a lighter meal, a variety of tasty sandwiches and salads are also available.
Desserts are usually 120-170g portions and are based on fruit and full cream dairy products.
Bulk servings of meals are available for health care settings such as hospitals and aged care facilities.
To provide optimal variety for meal recipients, Community Chef’s product offering is a four-week menu cycle, which is seasonally rotated four times per year. We provide a diverse range of cuisines to cater for a variety of dietary or cultural preferences including:
- Traditional Australian meals such as meat loaf and Lamb & Vegetable Shepherd’s Pie.
- International meals such as risotto and lasagne
- Asian meals such as curries and stir-fry dishes
- Vegetarian meals
- Roasts
- Salads
Requests for Kosher and Halal meals can also be accommodated through Community Chef’s preferred suppliers, along with some special dietary requirements based on dietary or medical needs. See the ‘Special Diets’ section (coming soon) for more information.
Community Chef meals provide a great starting point for a healthy diet. These meals are intended as your main meal for the day, providing roughly one third of your daily nutrition and energy needs if all of the food is eaten. It is very important to continue to eat two additional main meals as well as regular snacks.
Each meal is to be enjoyed by one person. Sharing the meal with a relative or friend may mean that you are not getting enough of the nutrients your body needs. Although it may be tempting, splitting the meal in half by eating the main course for the midday meal and the soup and dessert for the evening meal is not recommended. This may also lead to poor nutritional intake.
Example meal plan
Here is an example of a how a Community Chef meal can fit into your day.
Breakfast
Bowl of cereal with full cream milk
Wholemeal or rye toast with vegemite, nut paste, jam or honey
Fruit or fruit juice
Glass of water or tea or coffee
Morning tea
Fruit yoghurt or biscuits and cheese
Glass of water or tea or coffee
Lunch
Community Chef soup
Community Chef main meal
Community Chef dessert
Glass of water or tea or coffee
Afternoon tea
Slice of fruit toast or an English muffin
Glass of milk
Evening meal
An omelette with vegetables
OR a sandwich with egg, tuna or cold meat and salad
OR a salad with chicken or egg and a slice of bread
Fruit with custard or yoghurt
Glass of water or tea or coffee
Supper
Hot chocolate or malt drink
A few sweet biscuits
Coming soon to the Community Chef website!
- Meals on Wheels Nutrition Criteria
- Nutrition Information for Residential Aged Care Facilities
- Nutrition Information for Hospitals
- Catering for Special Diets
- Diabetes Friendly Meals
- Frequently Asked Nutrition Questions