Supporting care home residents to lose weight
Last edited: 16/12/2022
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- Involve the residents, carers and relatives, if appropriate and agreed, in their nutritional care plan.
- Encourage a low-calorie drink before or with meals.
- Encourage grilled, micro-waved, steamed, poached, boiled or baked food options, rather than fried or roasted.
- Provide healthy alternatives, such as low-calorie yoghurts and spreads, skimmed or semi-skimmed milk and low or no added sugar drinks.
- Use fresh fruit (or tinned fruit in juice), no added sugar jelly or low-calorie yoghurt as dessert rather than high-calorie puddings.
- Limit fruit juice to 120ml per day, as this is high in sugar.
- Offer salad or vegetables, with a low-calorie dressing or sauce.
- Make sure meals are balanced but provide smaller portions. For someone with a large appetite, increase the amount of vegetables or salad and decrease the portions of other items, including carbohydrate-based foods such as potatoes, rice, pasta and protein foods such as meat and fish.
- Remove fat and skin from meat, use lean meats such as chicken, turkey and fish or vegetarian protein sources as often as possible.
- Try to make sure healthier snacks are available.
- Encourage slower eating and proper chewing of food.
- Avoid distractions during mealtimes and let them concentrate on enjoying their food.
- Clear away all leftovers promptly after a meal.
- Encourage and help any form of exercise where possible and safe to do, even if this is chair-based. A GP or local physiotherapist can advise on suitable exercises.
- Encourage weight loss support, including sitting together and sharing positive tips.
Contact us
Please contact the service though our Central Appointments Team:
0300 123 0861
kcht.centralisedappointmentteam@nhs.net
Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm
This information should only be followed on the advice of a healthcare professional.
Do you have feedback about our health services?
0800 030 4550
Text 07899 903499
Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm
kentchft.PALS@nhs.net
kentcht.nhs.uk/PALS
Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS)
Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Trinity House, 110-120 Upper Pemberton
Ashford
Kent
TN25 4AZ
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