You might not be a celebrity chef like Maggie Beer, but a new scheme run by a Victorian council aims to make the chore of cooking enjoyable and economical for older Australians.
With all the controversy out there about some older people struggling to eat well, Maroondah City Council in Victoria has decided to do something about it for the second year running.
A three-week course called ‘Good Food For Me’ for the over 65s aims to teach people important yet simple, practical ways to live in better health through better nutrition.
Over the course of the program, participants will learn how to make simple recipes and healthy, economical snacks, taking on board the nutritional needs of seniors.
Funded by the Commonwealth Home Support Program, the idea sits well with celebrity chef, Maggie Beer’s mission to teach cooks at aged care facilities how to serve good food to residents.
Ms Beer set up a foundation five years ago aimed at lifting standards and says,
“A good quality meal doesn’t mean an expensive meal, but it needs a lot of thought and knowledge and care”.
On a recent Channel 7 program Maggie said, “If you feed people beautiful food, full of the smells of home cooking, and give them both nutrition and flavour, flavour first, goodness and nutrition absolutely and pleasure, together, it makes a huge difference to the wellbeing of a resident.”
And promptly whipped up two meals, mushrooms stuffed with lentils, walnuts and ricotta, and scrambled eggs with cream and parmesan.
Many aged care facilities already have great reputations for serving up amazing food.
One caller to 2GB, told talk back host, Steve Price the food her sister gets at Opal Palm Grove aged care facility in Narraweena on Sydney’s Northern Beaches is amazing!
Click here to hear what she says.
But if you’re not as lucky as Mary’s sister and you don’t live in Victoria to take advantage of their free cooking course, how about contacting your own local council and suggesting they put on a similar program.
I wouldn’t mind a leg-up with my own culinary skills!
