We’ve created a batch of healthcare recipes meant for a home meal program, so you can get real food to those who need it the most.
Keeping people adequately nourished, especially patients recently discharged from hospitals or rehab and the elderly living alone, can be a challenge. It is about more than clinical assessments and nutrients. Making food accessible and convenient to eat are key to improving intake and preventing weight loss that impedes healing and their overall well-being.
Often, improving intake is as simple as getting meals in the hands of those who need them. Many elderly and/or ill patients donāt eat enough because they canāt source food as a result of physical limitations, or because they no longer have the desire or ability to cook. Delivering prepared meals is a crucial step toward adequate nourishment and healing.
The art of the meal
Step up to the plate with wholesome, ready-made dishes full of craveable flavour, pleasing mouthfeel and lifelong associations with comfort. Our lineup of casserole-style comfort-food recipes delivers on all fronts. Theyāre flavourful, portable, freezeable, reheatable and scalable, which means itās easy to adjust the quantities you produce in order to meet demand. Each recipe can be a major component around which a meal can be built.
āThese recipes can be part of a program that includes delivering food to people in need,ā says Gordon Food ServiceĀ® Healthcare Marketing Manager Dana Fillmore, RD.
Soft, soothing and solidly nutritious, these comfort foods have broad appeal. Weāve even included a tasty vegetarian option that offers a health halo and menu flexibility.
Prepare and package the recipes according to the needs of your client base. One good option, Fillmore suggests, is to package the food containers that hold two to four servings. For the sake of efficiency and economy, align production of recipes for takeout and delivery with your operationās regular menu. These items also can work with a grab-and-go program for employees and visitors looking to pick up food to take home for themselves.
The Joy of Comfort Food
Flavourful, familiar and easy to eat, comfort foods stimulate appetites and please palates.
āComfort food remains one of the top macrotrends influencing all segments of foodservice,ā says Gordon Food Service Corporate Consulting Chef Gerry Ludwig, CEC.
Typically, packed with calories, comfort foods such as casseroles are good for nourishing individuals not inclined to eat, notes Colorado-based foodservice/healthcare consultant Carmen Bowman, a principal at Edu-Catering. Macaroni and cheese, she points to as an example, is a high-calorie, top-pick comfort food that most people enjoy.
The elements of comfort-food style
- Rich and calorie-dense.
- Based on inexpensive proteinsāÆe.g., braised or ground meat.
- HomestyleāÆnot fussy.
- Soothing mouthfeelāÆsoft, tender, chewy.
Food Safety for Bulk Production
When preparing foods in bulk and repacking, itās important to think about these steps to ensure the food will be safe for the consumer.
Cooling
CCP: Product must be cooled within 2 hours to 20Ā°C (68Ā°F), and from 20Ā°C (68Ā°F) TO 4Ā°C (40Ā°F) or less within an additional 4 hours.
CCP: Cold foods held for later service must not exceed an internal temperature of 4Ā°C (40Ā°F).
Labeling and dating
Prepared foods are good for 3-4 days under proper storage conditions, but check with your local health unit for shelf life guidelines in your area. Your organization may consider a shorter time frame according to your policies and procedures. When labeling, include what the food is, storage information and instructions for reheating. Also include the date it was prepared and the date it needs to be discarded. Day one is the day it was produced and day four is the day it should be discarded if not consumed. Remember, if the consumer chooses to freeze the product that stops the date marking clock but does not reset it.
Reheating
CCP: Final internal cooking temperature must reach original cooking temperature within 2 hours.
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