Nutrition is a vital aspect of a person’s health, so having well-balanced and healthy meals throughout the day is important. People needing support are no different, and their meal needs may be even greater than those of a regular individual. It can be challenging to cook and plan for these needs, and that is why during Personal Support Worker training, you will receive valuable information and guidance on meal preparation.
If you want to learn about some of these tips for meal planning while working as a Personal Support Worker, continue reading.
1. Refresh the Meal Planning With New Dishes
It is good to have a routine and plan to keep things organized and ensure the patient receives the nutrition and calories they need, as taught in your training; however, most people don’t enjoy eating the same or similar meals repeatedly. Sometimes, preparing different meals and thinking outside the box can be very effective. Ensure you plan for it beforehand so you remain organized. This change can be done in a variety of ways. You can change how the meal is presented as one option or look for a meal providing similar nutritional values while offering a different taste.
During Personal Support Worker training, you will learn about several nutritious ingredients and meals you can utilize, so try mixing it up using this knowledge. For instance, instead of serving pasta with chicken every week, try swapping the chicken for minced meat or offer a chicken salad packed with nutrients and calories. It is good to serve different meals to keep the patient’s emotions, taste buds, and stomach happy.
2. Consider the Patient’s Health as Taught in Personal Support Worker Training
During Personal Support Worker courses, you will learn about meal planning and cooking for the patient’s needs. If the patient suffers from a medical or dental condition, it is important to take note of these and meal prep accordingly. If a patient has sensitive teeth, or damaged teeth, potentially even dentures, prepare liquid or soft food. This is good for them as it doesn’t require much effort to chew.Â
You must also monitor a patient’s allergies or other medical conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. With high blood pressure, you should avoid planning meals with red meat or saturated fats. In the case of someone with diabetes, it is important to avoid meals which contain white bread, pasta, or rice. During your training, you will learn about these important considerations, which will be further emphasized in your practicum.
3. Offer Healthy Snacks That Are Nutritious and Hydrating
Everybody enjoys a snack, and the patients you will help are likely no different. However, providing healthy, hydrating, and easy-to-chew snacks is important. The reason for keeping a patient’s hydration level high is that they are potentially unaware of when they are dehydrated. This is due to bodily functions no longer working as well as they once did. Offering healthy and hydrating snacks helps prevent this while being nutritious and easy to eat. For instance, fruits are healthy snacks that are easy to chew and keep the patient hydrated. Combine this with a glass of water where possible. Your training will also provide information about other healthy snacks you can offer patients when they want one and what options are good depending on their condition.
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