Wholesome food is essential for optimum aging, supports early recovery, and improves patient treatment. It also displays cultural distinctiveness and aids in emotional ease and mental support.

The Victorian government is well aware of this, and therefore, it is devoted to serving healthy, high-quality, and local food in Victorian public hospitals and aged care facilities.

In this article, we will break apart Victoria's nutrition standards along with their review of regular foodstuffs. Let's begin.

The review of Victorian hospitals' food standards

The government carried out an intensive food review of the foodstuffs to ensure that patients are granted high-quality food, which does not deteriorate their sensitive health.

The review was performed from 2019 to 2020 to check on the food standards and nutritious value of the meals served in the local hospitals and aged care residents. The aim is to ensure high-quality, healthy, and local food that mainly supports the economy, local agriculturalists, and manufacturers of Victoria.

At the Manosh Health Central Production Kitchen, Cheltenham, the Minister of Health Martin Fley and Acting Premier James Merlino declared the proposal of the review. This declaration was made on 12 April 2021.

Key recommendation of the review

Focusing on high-quality food that incorporates rich nutrients will benefit the patients at the Victorian public hospitals. The government looks forward to each meal fulfilling the particular and separate requirements of the patients, including children, adults, and adolescents.

1. Apart from providing healthy and high-quality food, the government also ensures that everything is sourced locally to support local farmers and producers and assist in improving the regional economy. Also, the chefs and cooks were instructed that the food offered to the patients must not be loaded with spices and elements.
2. The creation of a policy to promote the wellness and health of the visitors and staff by introducing in-house cases, vending machines, and sugar-free drinks.
3. Every public aged care service and Victorian public hospital was directed to follow the guidelines regarding hospital food standards and quality announced in August 2022.
4. In recent times, the government has been committed to serving healthy, high-quality food in Victorian public hospitals and aged care facilities.

How Victorian Hospitals and aged care facilities are improving their food services

A study was conducted between October 2019 and February 2020 about the food given to aged-care residents and patients at Victorian public sector residential aged-care facilities and Victorian public hospitals, details of which are as discussed below:

Menu overhauls

Numerous aged care facilities and hospitals are adjusting their menus to incorporate more nutrients and provide a range of options for patients. Chefs, dietitians, and even residents and patients contribute to the creation of the menus. The aim is to develop a perfect balanced diet for each patient according to their separate needs.

Partnership with local farmers

In order to deliver fresh meals to patients, the hospitals are directed to use local food and ingredients, including meat and dairy products. For this purpose, the hospitals partner with local farmers, which benefits both the hospitals and local manufacturers.

Interacting with residents and patients

One more primary approach is the interaction with the residents and patients. The interaction between patients helps to understand their needs and review them, which further helps generate an effective diet plan. When patients are given a chance to show their preference for their food, they feel satisfied and happier.

Staff training and development

The hospitals are providing their staff with special training sessions that would help further increase the quality of the food and its making process. This is because now the hospitals are supporting in-house production, which requires training the staff accordingly. These sessions include training the staff to deal with food making, understanding the nutritious requirements, and developing cooking skills.

Freshness of food

Food sources from outside the territory must usually travel a long distance. They might even be contaminated with corporate preservatives, which could harm hospital patients. Comparatively, local food and ingredients are much fresher and more nutritious.

Supporting the local manufacturers:

To support Victorian farmers and manufacturers, the government committed to using only local food. This act helps the farmers and local manufacturers keep growing and flourishing.

Seasonal variety: Victorian food is sourced locally, so the meals change as the new season brings a different variety of food and vegetables. This way, the patient can enjoy a variety of meals instead of the same thing every time.

Nutrition and Quality Food Standards for Health Service

The nutrient plan has been upgraded by incorporating new nutrition and standard fare in the hospital food menu for aged care and Victorian hospitals. The latest changes in the hospital food standards regarding nutritious standards and quality have replaced the standards being followed at the hospitals since 2009.

Healthy choices, providing and encouraging healthy food by hospital vending and retail

Since mid-2021, public health services have been directed to make healthy choices. The policy was about making sure that the services encourage, supply, and sell healthy, high-quality edibles.

Every Victorian health service was directed to abide by the policy, which included public sector residential aged care services, integrated community health services, and public hospitals. The policy also incorporated each vending machine, in-house production, catering, and retail food outlet, together with everything bought by the patients and staff.

According to the present healthy choices, highly sugary items cannot be sold, retailed, encouraged, or manufactured within the boundaries of hospitals and aged care services. Several health services have successfully implemented the guidelines and policy.

Conclusion

With the above information, the government is trying hard to provide the best health services to the residents and patients. Local food is an excellent source of nutrition, along with a better taste, and helps to prepare high-quality food.

On the other hand, staff training further increases the overall quality and experience. Read the content above from start to finish to find the details about each essential component.