For Us, By Us : Happy Dining for Elderly

As the Chinese saying goes, “Food is people’s paramount concern”. Food brings us joys. As long as we are enjoying our meals, we are happy. Sadly, some people are having swallowing difficulties due to senility or disability. As such, they are not able to enjoy normal meals, and pureed meals have to be prepared for them instead. However, the taste and appearance of pureed meals are often undesirable that their appetite is affected and thus health and emotional problems arise.

In recent years, members of the public have been proactively improving the menus and cooking methods of the meals provided in care homes and home-based meal services. The Hong Kong Council of Social Service is promoting “care food”, and through the “Happy Eating” Senior Food Cooking Competition, participants can share their experience and exchange their opinions on “soft meals” in aspects such as the preparation, mix of ingredients, taste and nutrition, while enhancing public awareness.

In the programme, two past participants of the competition, CHAN Tsz-kwan, a novice, and Master YAU Ka-leung, head chef of a residential care home for the elderly (RCHE), will share with our audience their knowledge of “care food”, as well as the joy and experience serving in an RCHE.

Producer: May WONG