The recipe to remember — 70 years of Meals on Wheels

Key points:

• Meals on Wheels celebrated its 70th anniversary in Australia with an ‘Unforgettable Cake’ that was delivered to select Meals on Wheels New South Wales clients on November 22

• Meals on Wheels is estimated to deliver 4.5 million meals in NSW alone, each year

• Meals on Wheels has used the ‘Unforgettable Cake’ campaign to draw attention to cognitive decline

Every 70th birthday deserves a birthday cake — however, for some, their 70th birthday won’t be one to remember. For select Meals on Wheels NSW clients, November 22 had a cake that did just that.

Community care provider, Meals on Wheels, teamed up with the University of New South Wales Professor Johannes le Coutre, a food and health expert, along with the Director of UNSW’s Ageing Futures Institute and Senior Principal Research Scientist at NeuRA Professor Kaarin Anstey.

The ‘Unforgettable Cake’ was made with ingredients that have proven benefits for brain health while highlighting the widespread issue of cognitive decline among senior Australians.

According to Professor le Coutre, using his background in food and nutrition science to help conceptualise a cake was new territory for him.

“When I was first approached about this project, I was intrigued by the challenge of creating a cake which may be beneficial to cognition, using ingredients from different food groups, while also providing an experience for Meals on Wheels customers,” he said.

“Along with Meals on Wheels and a team of specialists, we had to consider both ingredients and texture — including how to minimise sugar and how to ensure the cake’s texture was suitable for individuals who suffer from dysphagia or difficulty swallowing, which is a concern for some older Australians.

“Using the currently available scientific evidence, we came up with a list of foods that are understood to provide quality nutrition — which is really important as we age — while still allowing for the nostalgic enjoyment of eating a slice of cake.”

For taste, the master pastry chef Christopher Thé, renowned founder of the famous ‘strawberry watermelon cake’ from Black Star Pastry, developed the ‘Unforgettable Cake’ with advice from a group of experts.

The cake includes only natural ingredients that are widely believed to be beneficial to the brain, such as beetroot, spinach, turmeric, olive oil and blueberries.

Why each ingredient is important

Beetroot has special neuro-protective properties which can improve blood flow through the brain.

Olive oil is commonly associated with the Mediterranean diet. Research suggests that adhering to this diet can decrease the likelihood of developing dementia by 23 percent, regardless of genetic predisposition.

The cake also includes natural sweeteners, such as honey, which has anti-inflammatory qualities and vanilla ermine frosting which is a universally loved cake flavour.

To finish, the cake was topped off with fresh blueberries which are loaded with essential nutrients such as polyphenols, vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese and phytonutrients which facilitate the flow of blood and oxygen in the brain.

“This is a great example of how you can take something as fun and joyous as a birthday celebration to shine a light on some of the issues faced by our ageing population today,” Professor le Coutre said.

Meals on Wheels NSW Chief Executive Officer Les MacDonald said the Unforgettable Cake was representative of a pervasive issue that affected many older Aussies.

“As we mark our 70th anniversary, we thought it would be timely to have a meaningful conversation about the serious issue of cognitive decline, which includes dementia and Alzheimer’s and impacts many Meals on Wheels clients and families within our community,” Mr MacDonald said.

“A healthy diet — incorporating ingredients such as those in the Unforgettable Cake — is vital for cognitive health, because the brain is responsible for so many functions within our body and if it isn’t working properly it impacts on our ability to engage in life and perform daily activities.

“Added to this, social engagement is known to improve brain function and for many of our clients, a visit from a Meals on Wheels volunteer is the highlight of their week, so if we can elicit more happy memories and moments for them just by sharing a slice of cake, it adds another layer to the important role we play in the community.”

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