Making Christmas Lunch Easier for Your Care Home

Christmas is an important time of year and it is important to plan what you will be serving up to your care home residents (and their families) this Christmas. Just because your residents live in a care facility, that doesn’t mean that they should miss out on the celebrations, which is why ensuring that you serve them a memorable festive lunch is so important. Of course, the chances are that you have a variety of residents with a range of needs in your facility, and it is vital that you ensure that you are catering to the needs of each and every one of them when it comes to what you are serving on Christmas Day. There's no need to worry because this is easily doable, it's just a case of being prepared, that is all.

Below are some tips for making Christmas lunch easier for you and your care home team:

Ask your residents for ideas

If you want to ensure that Christmas lunch is special for your residents and their families, it is worth asking them for their ideas. What is more magical than implementing traditions that have meaning to your residents? Is there a Christmas dish that they loved growing up and always reminds them of happier times? Perhaps there is a unique dish that has a special meaning to them and is what makes it feel like Christmas. Take the time to ask your residents what kinds of Christmas foods are special to them so that you can serve a feast that is to everyone’s tastes.

Think about the residents who struggle to eat

For residents who struggle to eat, it is important to provide them with an easier to swallow Christmas dinner. Could a festive soup be the answer? Whether you choose to serve chestnut soup, turkey and cranberry soup, brussel sprout and bacon, or spiced parsnip soup, it doesn’t matter, just as long as there is an option that is suitable for every resident and their specific dietary needs.

Cook in advance

Care homes can house a large number of residents, and cooking a Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings for them and their families can be somewhat stressful to do. That is why it is worth cooking as much of the food in advance as possible, so that on the day itself, you only have to reheat it, making getting everything plated up much easier. From making the turkey and gammon ahead and reheating them to preparing the potatoes and gravy in advance, there are plenty of ways you can get ahead when it comes to your Christmas food preparation.

Add a new twist to tradition

For residents who can’t manage large meals, offer a range of alternative options. A smaller sized turkey dinner could be a great option, or if that is still too large for them, how about a roast turkey (and all the trimmings) sandwich? For a twist on Christmas sandwiches, how about swapping the bread for a giant Yorkshire pudding and creating a Yorkshire pudding Christmas wrap? This is a dish that is sure to be popular with any younger relatives eating with their loved ones.

Cater to all residents

If you have any residents in your care home who don’t celebrate Christmas for one reason or another, make sure to cater to their needs. Offer them the option of joining the celebrations like everyone else, provide a ‘normal’ meal for them, or offer them the option of eating away from all the celebrations. Christmas is not a holiday that everyone celebrates, which is why ensuring that you are catering to each resident and their beliefs is crucial.

There you have it, a guide to making Christmas lunch that little bit easier and less stressful for your care home.