Food Services
As well as meeting care recipients' nutritional needs, it is important that food services also meet their cultural and spiritual needs.
Representing more than simple nourishment, food connects people to their homeland, culture, past and family. It is also central to many people’s religious observances and practices.
Respecting the dietary needs and preferences of your care recipients from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds will enable them to maintain significant practices, a meaningful connection to the past and a joyful relationship to food.
Key Considerations
- Identify and support your care recipients' religious and cultural requirements and preferences concerning diet and food preparation.
- Conduct assessments and reviews of dietary needs in the preferred language of your care recipients.
- Present menu choices in the preferred language of your care recipients.
- Involve care recipients in menu planning and food preparation (where appropriate).
- Regularly include your care recipients' favourite meals in menu plans - ask care recipients and/or family members for recipes and instructions on the correct way of preparing these dishes.
- Celebrate special occasions with a culturally appropriate dish, and invite families, friends and community members.
- Consult a dietician or nutritionist for assistance in modifying the menu to incorporate culturally appropriate and nutritionally sound meals.
- Obtain specific items and meals from external sources, where necessary.
- Ensure that staff responsible for food preparation are familiar with dietary preferences and culturally determined dietary restrictions of your care recipients, and provide training as required.
- Ensure that staff responsible for assessment of dietary requirements have been trained in cultural awareness and appropriate communication.
Additional Resources
Cultural & Religious Food Practices
Recipes
Contact us for more information on culturally appropriate food services.
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