How to Fortify Food in Care Homes

Ensuring residents receive the nutrition they need is an important part of care home catering. However, reduced appetites, changes in taste and difficulty eating larger portions can make it challenging for some older adults to consume enough energy and protein.

Food fortification is one way to help. By enriching everyday meals and snacks with additional ingredients, care home chefs can increase their nutritional value without increasing portion sizes.

From creamy mashed potato to nourishing puddings, there are plenty of simple ways to make familiar favourites go further. Here are some practical food fortification tips for care home kitchens.

How to Make Soup More Nutritious for Care Home Residents

Soups offer an easy way to incorporate a variety of ingredients into a single dish. Blending cooked vegetables with lentils or beans can increase their protein and fibre content, while milk powder or other dairy ingredients can add extra energy and protein.

Vegetable soup, for example, can be made more nourishing by using milk instead of water where appropriate and enriching the finished recipe with cream.

Try it with: Carrot and coriander soup, vegetable soup or tomato soup.

High-Protein Breakfast Ideas for Older Adults

Breakfast is an opportunity to provide valuable nutrients at the start of the day. Porridge can be prepared with skimmed milk powder added where suitable. Eggs and cheese can also help boost the protein content of savoury breakfasts.

For residents who struggle with large portions, making breakfast more nutrient-dense can be particularly helpful in starting the day in a nutritious way.

Try it with: Creamy porridge, scrambled eggs or cheese omelettes.

Making Puddings More Nutritious in Care Homes

Desserts can contribute to residents’ overall nutritional intake, particularly when enriched ingredients are incorporated into familiar favourites.

Full-fat milk, cream and skimmed milk powder can be used in recipes for custard, rice pudding and other dairy-based desserts. These ingredients can increase energy and, depending on the recipe, protein content.

Try it with: Rice pudding, custard with stewed fruit or bread and butter pudding.

High-Protein Foods for Care Home Main Meals

Main meals provide an important opportunity to include protein-rich foods. Meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, lentils and beans can all contribute to residents’ protein intake.

For example, lentils can be incorporated into cottage pie filling, while fish pie can be enriched with a creamy and cheesy milk-based sauce. These additions can help increase the nutritional value of familiar dishes without requiring a completely different menu.

Try it with: Cottage pie, fish pie, shepherd’s pie, chicken casserole or lentil and vegetable bake.

Nutritious Snacks for Elderly Care Home Residents

For residents who find it difficult to finish three meals a day, smaller snacks between meals may help them consume more nutrition throughout the day.

Suitable options include full-fat yoghurt, cheese, egg-based snacks and nourishing milk-based drinks. Offering a variety of familiar options can also help cater to different tastes and preferences.

Try it with: Yoghurt, nuts and fruit, cheese and crackers or egg mayonnaise sandwiches.

Fortifying Sauces and Gravies to Boost Nutrition

Sauces can be an easy way to incorporate additional ingredients into meals without noticeably changing the overall dish. Milk-based sauces enriched with skimmed milk powder can provide extra energy and protein.

Cream and butter can also increase the energy content of many sauces, soups and gravies. This also makes the sauces tastier, which can help when feeding residents with a small appetite.

Try it with: Fish pie sauce, macaroni cheese sauce, creamy chicken casserole or gravy.

Making Porridge and Breakfast Cereals More Nutritious

A bowl of porridge can provide a good foundation for a nourishing breakfast. Preparing it with full-fat milk and adding skimmed milk powder, where appropriate, can increase its energy and protein content.

Other additions, such as smooth peanut butter or full-fat yoghurt, can also be great additions to sweet breakfasts.

Try it with: Creamy porridge, milk-based overnight oats or suitable breakfast cereal served with fortified milk.

Improving Nutrition Without Increasing Portion Sizes

Some residents may feel full quickly or have a reduced appetite. Simply increasing portion sizes may not be the best solution, so enriching smaller meals and offering suitable snacks between meals can be helpful.

Care home chefs can consider where fortification would work best across the day’s menu, from breakfast and snacks to main meals and desserts. Familiar dishes can often be adapted to provide additional nutrition while maintaining the flavours and textures residents enjoy.

Working alongside the care team and following individual nutrition plans can help ensure these changes meet residents’ needs.

Supporting Good Nutrition in Care Homes

Food fortification does not have to mean completely changing a menu. Simple adjustments to familiar dishes can help care home kitchens increase the nutritional value of everyday meals while continuing to offer variety and choice.

It is important to remember that nutritional needs differ between residents. Fortification should be guided by individual requirements and professional advice where appropriate. Allergies, prescribed diets and swallowing difficulties must also be considered, particularly where texture-modified meals are required.

At Trevors Foodservice, we understand the demands of care home catering. Our extensive range of frozen, chilled and ambient ingredients helps care home kitchens prepare a variety of meals to suit their menus and residents’ needs.

Looking for ingredients for your care home’s menu? Fill out the form below and we’ll be in touch.