Dining & Nutrition
Here at Aveley Lodge, we are committed to helping our residents to eat well and stay hydrated. Our award-winning chefs are passionate about delivering a diverse range of meals, tailored to accommodate every preference and dietary need. We are dedicated to using fresh, seasonal ingredients where we are able to, including locally sourced produce as much as we can.
Our meticulously planned menus feature well-balanced, nutritious and wholesome meals, where traditional dishes are served alongside international cuisine, offering a new and varied selection every day from breakfast each morning, a two-course main meal at lunch and a tasty tea and lighter options available as alternatives. Many residents need to have a specialist diet either for medical, religious, or cultural reasons and our catering team have the culinary expertise to produce tempting, nutritious and delicious options, whatever a resident’s needs. Morning and afternoon tea and coffee is served fresh every day with homemade accompaniments. Residents can also help themselves to snacks of fruit and various drinks around the home 24 hours a day or just ask one of our friendly staff to assist.
Our menus regularly evolve to accommodate changing food preferences, seasonal availability and nutritional needs but there are always the classics available on the menu, such as fish and chips on a Friday and roast dinners on a Sunday. All our meals are prepared freshly each day onsite by our dedicated catering team. The fruit, vegetables and herbs we serve are either grown in our very own garden by the residents as part of their Gardening Club or are sourced from our local greengrocer. Our fresh meat also comes from our local butchers, helping us to support the local community too.
The experience of dining also plays a key part in helping us to maintain a quality of life. We know that being able to sit down together with friends and family to enjoy a nutritious home cooked meal is the foundation of a happy and vibrant home life. So that’s why our staff are committed to making every mealtime an enjoyable experience for all our residents. Friends and family are welcome to join in and dine with us for a small extra charge. There are always opportunities for the residents to be involved in the preparation of meals if they wish to do so and our home regularly holds speciality cuisine events and cookery masterclasses, which can be enjoyed by all.
Our dining rooms are designed to elevate the mealtime experience. These stunning spaces are large, light-filled, and airy, providing a tranquil and comfortable setting for residents to dine in. The tasteful decor and ample natural light create a welcoming atmosphere, perfectly complementing the delicious food options prepared by our chefs. Our dining rooms offer the ideal backdrop for delightful culinary experiences, conversations, and shared laughter, making each meal a truly memorable occasion. From residents’ birthdays, special anniversaries and family dining events to Christmas, Easter and Food theme days, there’s always an excuse for our catering team to produce fun or seasonally festive foods for our residents, relatives, and visitors to enjoy.
For those who require one-to-one support, a member of staff will sit with the resident to help them eat their meal in comfort or to help them to simply cut their food for them if necessary. We have also given a lot of thought to the dining experience of our residents who are living with dementia too. We use a range of assistance tools such as high-rimmed crockery, adapted cutlery and handled beakers. We offer a full range of soft food options for people who have difficulty in swallowing. Everything is made the same way with the same nutritional values but served in a soft, easy-to-eat form with the same visual appeal. We try to keep noise and bustle to a minimum during mealtimes, avoiding any distractions that may be off-putting. Mealtimes are kept as relaxing as possible so that residents can enjoy their meal and eat at their own pace.
If you used to enjoy cooking at home, then it doesn’t have to stop just because you’re in a care home. Aveley Lodge’s Cooking Club and Eats and Treats Club are two of the most popular clubs on offer here. It’s also a good chance to try out new foods and baking techniques if you are not so confident with cooking or are keen to start a new interest. Cooking Club works closely alongside our Gardening Club with residents having a say with which vegetables and herbs they’d like to grow, pick, and eat. We also encourage our residents to play a part in preparing for meals such as laying the table for lunch or dinner and wiping and clearing away afterwards if they so desire.
