Food should be nourishing, enjoyable and something to look forward to. At The Village Chef, we recognise the important role meals play in supporting health, independence and quality of life.
Our meals and menu items are prepared locally by our experienced kitchen team using quality ingredients and seasonal produce. Our menu is developed with nutrition, variety, and enjoyment in mind, drawing on the In-Home Meal Requirements Consensus Paper as a key evidence-based reference to guide our approach to providing balanced, nourishing meals that support the health, independence, and wellbeing of our clients.
Our approach to nutrition is centred on creating meals that are balanced, enjoyable and tailored to support the nutritional needs of older adults. We are committed to continuously improving our menu and food service to promote health, wellbeing and independence.
Our meals are thoughtfully developed to provide the key nutrients that support healthy ageing. Protein helps maintain muscle strength and supports recovery, energy fuels daily activities and helps maintain a healthy weight, healthy fats provide energy and aid vitamin absorption, fibre supports digestive health, and calcium contributes to strong bones and mobility.
As part of our Nutrition Standards Enhancement Project, we have partnered with Accredited Practising Dietitians to support the nutrition analysis of our menu. Using FoodWorks nutrition software, we are progressively analysing our recipes to better understand the nutritional profile of each meal, assess how recipes align with nutrition standards and provide clearer nutrition information for clients, families, carers and healthcare professionals.
Nutrition analysis also helps strengthen consistency across our menu and supports ongoing improvements to the nutritional quality of our meals. By reviewing key nutrients such as protein and energy, we can identify opportunities to enhance recipes while ensuring they continue to meet the nutritional needs of older adults.
We understand that clients have a range of dietary needs and preferences. Our menu includes a variety of meal options to support different dietary requirements, including vegetarian meals, gluten free options, dairy free options and pureed meals.
All meals are prepared in a shared production environment where allergens are present. While we follow strict food safety practices, we cannot guarantee that meals are free from traces of allergens. Clients with severe allergies or specific dietary requirements are encouraged to contact us to discuss suitable meal options.
We would like to acknowledge Community Bank Lindfield’s Great Big Community Grants for their generous funding of the Nutrition Standards Enhancement Project.
