Residents get their say about spring, summer menus at Streamway
Tuesday April 1, 2008 -- Natalie Miller
Residents at Streamway Villa will have the opportunity to review the long-term care home's spring/summer menu during an upcoming residents' council meeting.

Margaret Houston, the Cobourg long-term care home's nutritional care manager, says it's important residents have their say about meals being served at Streamway Villa.

“This is their home,” says Houston.

“They have a right to voice their opinions about what they want to eat.”

Mealtime can be one of the highlights for residents living in long-term care for both nutritional and social purposes. Houston says whenever OMNI home office introduces new menus, Streamway presents the menu to residents for feedback. “It gives us an idea of whether something is going to go over or not,” she says.

For instance, when residents reviewed last year's spring/summer 2008 menu, they voiced they preferred macaroni and potato salads as opposed to leafy greens which were more difficult to chew. As well, an item was removed from the menu because it wasn't a food familiar to residents. Houston says resident preference can vary from home to home. When a change is made, it is referred to OMNI's dietitian to ensure the replacement meets nutritional requirements.

Houston is planning to present the menu before residents' council in mid-May. The summer/spring 2008 menu will be rolled out at the end of May. The nutritional care manager says this year's menu is the same as last year's spring/summer menu and she expects residents will again be pleased with the variety of salads being served.

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