This guide offers insights, practical advice, and tips tailored to the needs of older people, with a special focus on creating balanced meal plans that are crucial for maintaining good health. We’ve also listed coffee mornings and luncheon clubs in the areas of Sale, Altrincham, and Wythenshawe, which you’ll find as you scroll down the page.

At Home Instead Altrincham, Sale, and Wythenshawe, we provide 1:1 care to ensure our clients receive balanced, nutritious meals at a time that suits their tastes and dietary needs. Our Care Professionals are mindful of individual preferences, and we believe that working together to plan, prepare (where possible), and sometimes eat together enhances the enjoyment of food.

Please read on for helpful tips and local places to visit.

If you’re helping a relative eat well, this meal plan is a great place to start! It’s all about making sure they get the right balance of food to stay healthy and feel good. For breakfast, there are simple options like Weetabix with milk or porridge with fruit, which give lots of energy to start the day. Eggs and toast are also a great choice for a bit of variety.

Lunch is these are easy to prepare but still nutritious. Think tinned salmon or tuna sandwiches on wholemeal bread, or baked potatoes with beans or cheese. These meals help give important nutrients like protein and fiber, which are great for keeping up energy levels.

Dinner is where you can really help them enjoy something hearty and filling. Meals like chicken with potatoes and vegetables, fish pie, or even wholemeal pasta with a simple tomato sauce are all included. There’s also room for comfort food, like light fruit sponge or rice pudding, which can feel like a nice treat without being unhealthy.

For snacks, it’s okay to include some treats like plain biscuits with tea, but healthier choices like fruit, nuts, or flapjacks can keep things balanced.

This plan is flexible too, so you can adjust it to their tastes or any dietary needs. It’s all about helping them eat well without making things complicated!

And don’t forget about drinks! Staying hydrated is just as important as eating well. Water is the best option, but lower fat milk, sugar-free drinks, and even tea and coffee all count too. Just try to limit fruit juice or smoothies to a total of 150ml a day, since they can be high in natural sugars. By keeping drinks in mind, you’re helping your relative stay healthy and feel their best throughout the day!

SALE

• Monday 11:00 The Village Café Sale Moor Methodist Church Sale Moor 976 8297
• Tues & Thurs 12:00 Strictly Lunch Club Sale West Community Centre Sale West 973 612
• 2nd Monday 13:00 Let’s Gather Life Centre Sale 850 0770
• 2nd Monday 13:00 Café (Run by Brentwood school) (Not 4th) St Martins Church Hall AOM 976 4086
• Wednesday 10:00 Community Coffee Morning Salvation Army AOM 976 4380
• 1st Wednesday 10:30 Chatterbox Jackalope Coffee House Sale 07930 405451
• 2nd Wednesday 13:30 Cuppa & Company Oakfield Croft Care Home Sale 820 6688
• Thursday 10:00 Community Café St John’s Church Brooklands 973 5220
• Thursday 10:00 The Welcome Café St Martins Church Hall AOM 07855 305565
• Thursday 10:30 A Brew and a Chat Coffee Morning Coppice Library and Wellbeing Centre Sale West 912 3650
• Thursday 10:30 Young at Heart Coffee & Chat Salvation Army AOM 976 4380
• Thursday 12:00 Lunch Club Salvation Army AOM 976 4380
• 4th Thursday 13:00 Cuppa & Company (Cyril Flint) Starbucks Café, Sainsbury’s Sale Centre 9492465
• Friday 12:00 Lunch Club Sale Moor Methodist Church Sale Moor  976 296

For the full guideWhat’s on Where (WOW visit https://www.homeinstead.co.uk/altrincham/blog/live-well-your-way-magazine/

How Dietary Needs Change with Age

As we get older, it is common to encounter practical issues that can make cooking and eating more challenging, such as difficulty lifting heavy pans, pouring away hot water even forgetting to turn the gas off. With issues regarding swallowing, look to mashing or dice certain foods, thickeners can be added to drinks.

To help people engage with food again, making small adjustments, such as cooking together might help, bring in a chair in so you can listen to instructions on how they like their meal cooked,  purchasing specialised cutlery as holding a conventional knife and fork can cause pain or frustration. Look at how you are serving the food does it look appetising ? Have they got a favourite plate, would a coloured plate help (sometimes this will help people living with dementia). Remember enhancing the eating experience, can significantly improve health and quality of life.

Making Meals Enjoyable

The social aspect of eating is crucial, regardless of age. For those who dine alone, setting a nicely laid table can make a meal more enjoyable. Establishing a routine with regular mealtimes can help create a sense of normalcy and enjoyment in eating. Inviting friends or neighbours to share a meal or joining a lunch club can also enhance the dining experience, we can help you with places to pop into using the wow guide to local clubs.

Supporting Your Loved Ones with Home Instead Altrincham, Sale, and Wythenshawe

Home Instead is here to make sure your relative gets the help they need, especially when it comes to meals. Our Care Professionals can assist with everything from planning meals, shopping for groceries, and even preparing and cooking their food. We make sure that meals are not just nutritious and suited to their dietary needs, but also something they can enjoy and look forward to every day.