Aged care chefs ‘creating appetites for life’

Knowing that a meal cooked with care is one of the very best ways of nurturing wellbeing, the Maggie Beer Foundation was created to provide the pleasure of a good food life for all, regardless of age or health restrictions.

The pilot program education program ‘Creating An Appetite For Life’, hosted by the Maggie Beer Foundation, was limited to 30 cooks and chefs from Victoria with the intention of extending the invitation to other states in the near future.

It was an interactive three day event where ideas and challenges in aged care will be discussed by those on the frontline. 

The program was built around fresh-thinking; nutritious ingredients, food budgeting, supplier relationships, aged care specific recipes, menus and dining room management.

The three days included a great deal of hands-on cooking sessions along with a dinner at Ms Beer's cottage.

Victorian aged care provider, Lyndoch Living, had two chefs – Sue Hanson and Noel Middleton – selected to take part in the event.

“The exciting and innovative changes that are happening at Lyndoch Living for our residents’ dining experience echoes the vision of Maggie Beer Foundation to educate and facilitate the food we all deserve, no matter what age,” says Doreen Power, Lyndoch Living chief executive.

Ms Beer’s profile and passion for what she does will be the perfect catalyst for ongoing improvements across the industry, according to Ms Power.

Simon Corbett, Lyndoch Living hotel services, claims programs and workshops of this calibre will allow for better trained and more innovative catering staff, service and food.

Ms Hanson and Mr Middleton were selected to attend due to their extensive experience and passion for what they do.

“Between them, they would have almost 60 years’ experience in various food service industries. More importantly, they are incredibly keen to innovate and make change happen,” Mr Corbett says. 

While the workshop gave participants the opportunity to look at overcoming some of the challenges facing the industry, Ms Beer’s focus was strongly on flavour, nutrition and freshness in food, and how to get this to work within the industry.

“I liked Maggie’s ‘Super Porridge’, you can eat a smaller portion and still get more nutrition from the meal,” Ms Hanson says.

Merely working with Ms Beer was all this inspiration these eager chef’s needed.

“She is dynamic. Just awesome. Such a hard worker, and was all about food quality,” Mr Middleton says.

“When we got to her house, she greeted each of us individually and gave us a hug,” Ms Hanson adds.

What also struck the pair was that despite the magic she creates in the kitchen, she remains very humble, insisting that she is a cook and not chef.

According to Ms Beer, her aim was to inspire and challenge 30 chefs and cooks from Victorian aged care homes to create nutritious, memorable, low cost meals, every day in their kitchens.

Joining her for the demonstrations was Peter Morgan Jones, HammondCare’s chief executive, and Simon Bryant, who featured on ‘The Cook and the Chef’ with Ms Beer from 2006 to 2009.

“My passion is to change the food experience for older Australians. Working with aged care homes and facing the challenges of daily menus at a manageable cost, the vision of the Maggie Beer Foundation is to educate and facilitate the food we all deserve, no matter what age,” Ms Beer says.

Find out more information about the ‘Creating An Appetite For Life’ program or the Maggie Beer Foundation, or phone (08) 8562 4477.