Elevating Our Culinary Care: A Collaborative Day with Brakes

At Boutique Care Homes, we believe food is about far more than nourishment – it’s about joy, dignity, and connection. Every meal is a chance to support the health, comfort, and independence of our residents. To strengthen this commitment, we recently partnered with our long-standing food supplier, Brakes, to host a special Culinary Development Day for our talented Head Chefs and Home Managers from across our homes for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

Cooking With Purpose

The theme of the day was simple but powerful: how can we elevate everyday dining for our residents, while meeting their unique health needs?

Working alongside Brakes’ Development Chef, James Cotton, our chefs explored the art of balancing flavour with nutrition. James shared his expertise on good nutrition and hydration, commenting: “This was our first day with Boutique Care Homes and it was a pleasure to work with the chefs. Their high standards and dedication to creating delicious, nutritious meals for all residents was truly impressive. The Food Forum provided a great opportunity to explore a variety of meals within the care sector, working together with the chefs from the homes, we created innovative vegetarian, meat, and texture-modified meals following the IDDSI framework.”

The chefs then rolled up their sleeves for a hands-on challenge: to prepare a three-course menu – starter, main, and dessert – with at least one dish adapted for residents who require texture-modified meals (IDDSI Level 4).

• The Burlington – Butternut Squash & Sage Risotto, Passion Fruit Cheesecake, and Prawn Cocktail (IDDSI Level 4).
• Brampton Manor – Hunters Chicken with baby potatoes, glazed carrots & green beans, Trio of Melon, and Apple Pie & Custard (IDDSI Level 4).
• Chartwell House – Mozzarella & Basil Stuffed Mushroom, Strawberry Pavlova, and Lentil & Vegetable Bolognese (IDDSI Level 4).

What is IDDSI Food Framework Level 4?

The IDDSI Food Framework Level 4 provides clear guidelines for texture-modified foods, helping ensure meals are safe, consistent, and enjoyable for those with swallowing difficulties. Level 4 – Pureed Foods are completely smooth and lump-free, requiring no chewing. They:

• Can be eaten with a spoon
• Hold their shape on a spoon but fall off easily in one smooth motion when tilted
• Have a completely smooth texture, with no lumps, bits, or grit
• Are not sticky, runny, or prone to separating into liquid and solid

Examples include pureed pasta dishes, smooth desserts like yoghurt or custard, pureed vegetables with sauce, and blended proteins such as fish or eggs. This level of consistency supports both safety and dignity, ensuring residents who need texture-modified diets still enjoy familiar, appetising, and nourishing meals

Image: The International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative 2019

Exploring Nutritional Priorities

While the day celebrated recipes, it also tackled some of the most important nutritional considerations for older adults, including:

• Supporting residents with dysphagia through safe, texture-modified diets using the IDDSI Framework.
• Understanding the role of food in dementia care, helping to spark comfort and memory.
• Managing diabetes with balanced, thoughtful menus.
• Preventing malnutrition through nutrient-dense meal planning.

A major focus was food fortification. By enhancing meals with extra nutrition without increasing portion size. This is important for residents with higher needs but smaller appetites. Ingredients such as skimmed milk powder, eggs, Greek yoghurt, or nuts and nut butters can easily add up to 500 additional calories per day, along with valuable protein, vitamins, and minerals. However, fortifiers such as nuts and nut butters are excellent for boosting nutrition, but they must always be carefully adapted to meet IDDSI safety guidelines.

The Role of Protein

Protein is particularly vital for older adults, helping to preserve mobility, independence, and recovery. Recommendations suggest 1.0–1.2g of protein per kilogram of body weight daily, with requirements rising to 1.5g during illness or recovery.

Menus should consistently include two portions of non-dairy protein each day – from lean meats and poultry to fish, eggs, pulses, and cheese. With variety at the heart, residents can enjoy the benefits of both animal and plant-based proteins.

Dairy & Bone Health

Milk and dairy foods play a central role in bone and muscle strength, reducing the risk of frailty and maintaining quality of life. Residents are encouraged to enjoy three portions daily, often through comforting additions such as milkshakes at snack times.

Rich in calcium and vitamin D, dairy supports bone density and helps guard against osteoporosis. When paired with regular movement and sunshine (or seasonal vitamin D supplements), this balance keeps residents stronger for longer.

Little Tips That Make a Big Difference

Alongside nutrition, our chefs and care teams also shared some of the small but powerful ways we can make mealtimes more meaningful:

• Condiments with Every Meal – Offering a range of condiments not only adds flavour choice but also acts as a subtle cue for residents as this can help signal what type of meal is being served without needing to rely on menus. For residents living with dementia, these sensory prompts can create a greater sense of independence.
• Table Settings as Gentle Cues – We explored how different table arrangements can serve as visual markers, helping residents living with dementia orient themselves to the time of day. A breakfast table may feature lighter, brighter settings, while dinner can be more formal and cosier. These simple cues support memory and enhance the overall dining experience.
• Resident Involvement – Encouraging residents to help set tables supports mobility and coordination, and helps residents feel part of the mealtime routine, and awareness of the daily schedule. For those living with dementia, these familiar tasks can also spark memory and provide a comforting sense of purpose.

Protecting Independence Through Nutrition

Behind every dish lies the deeper purpose of our culinary care: to protect health, foster independence, and bring moments of joy to our residents’ lives. From fortification strategies to creative recipes, our chefs are united in their mission to make food not only delicious, but truly meaningful.

At Boutique Care Homes, our Food, Dining and Hospitality Forums are an important way for us to share ideas, develop skills, and continually raise the standard of mealtimes for our residents. This was our very first held face-to-face forum which proved to be a truly valuable opportunity. We will be making these forums a regular occurrence, ensuring our Head Chefs connect directly, collaborate creatively, and bring fresh energy to our shared mission of delivering dining with dignity, joy, and purpose.